Thinking of buying a Mustang - help needed

[Petrolhead]

I have been thinking about buying a mustange for a while but an not very clued up on them

All I know is I am after an early one, around 1965.

It seems to me there are a lot of different V8 engines and I keep seeing mention of Type A, Type C etc

I am also a bit confused by what sort of money I should spend, I have £20K buthave seen cars from £10K

For instance Malton Specialist Cars what look like a nice clean car for £20K, is it too much (I know it comes with a years warranty)

[Black-C5]

I'm no expert, but I have recently bought a classic Mustang so maybe I can help a little. The value of these cars depends on many things and I have seen prices in the UK anywhere from £10k to £80k! Ignoring the issue of mechanical and cosmetic condition for a moment, the cheapest classic Mustang will probably be a Coupe with a six-cylinder engine, and these will typically be hovering around the £10k mark (although you don't see many 6 cyl Mustangs for sale). Eight cylinder cars are far more common and cost slightly more, with Convertibles worth more than Coupes, and Fastbacks worth more still. Everything else being equal, the most valuable (and sought after) "first generation" models are probably the '67 & '68 Fastbacks. These tend to be advertised for £25k+. I am biased, but these are generally considered to be the best looking models.

Then you have to consider engine size (a big block 390ci engine car will be worth more than a small block 289 or 302 - although arguably the small block is the nicer car to drive), and within the small blocks there are the various "codes" (the K-code being the high performance 289). Of course the condition of the car will be the next factor in value, and most cars for sale in the UK will have been restored at least once in their lifetime - and this is where it gets difficult because "restoration" can mean anything from a bit of welding and a quick respray through to a full nut-and-bolt re-build. Originality is important to some people, not to others, but a "matching numbers" car will be worth considerably more than a car restored with mis-matched aftermarket parts. The exception to this are the "Eleanor" bodied Fastbacks which have become popular over recent years, which are essentially body-kitted reproductions of the Fastback featured in the film "Gone In 60 Seconds" - these are often fitted with powerful engines, modified suspension, steering, interiors, etc. and are typically advertised at £50k-£80k.

The holy grail of all early Mustangs is a Shelby GT350 or GT500. Original ones rarely come to market in the UK, and prices will tend to be in excess of six figures now...

Suggest you join the UK Mustang Owners Club and get on their forum where you will find plenty of people far more knowledgeable than me to advise you! Also, I suggest you spend a few quid on the excellent Mustang Buyers Guide by Matt Cook, which you can get on Amazon.

[sonicbloo]

I haven't read the mustang book referred to in the above post, but it is written by a Uk mustang owner who has first hand experience of rebuilding and owning a car over here, so it's definitely worth a look. The best book to get you 'speaking the lingo' and knowing about all the factory options for each year is the Mustang recognition guide 1964-73. I bought that book over 25 years ago, and it is still regarded as the bible for early Mustang info.

Make a note of the VIN code and decode it using a website such as this http://mustangattitude.com/mustang/1965vinmatrix.s... as many cars have been modified over the years

Good luck

[SimesJH]

I'm also considering buying a classic Mustang and have been doing my research on the model I'm after, which is an early 70's Mach 1.

I had a chat yesterday with a reputed specialist who advised that 'for investment' purposes, the pre-1970 models are very definitely the ones to buy as prices and future growth is strong.

My reasons for a potental purchase are twofold:-

1. To enjoy it.
2. To, hopefully, not lose anything on the 'whole life' cost should I ever come to sell it.

As 'breadvan' Mustang prices are much lower than their earlier counterparts, this is where my searches lie. Plus I prefer the looks and the muscularity, so I'd be buying purely because I like them and not primarily for investment.

However, what would the opinion be on these 'fat pig' models? My view is that as the early models increase in price, the later models will follow as potentially 'the next thing' and also because the Mustang II didn't really have that classic muscle-car look about it.

I've not joined the Mustang forum just yet. I will, should I decide to buy the one I'm considering.

[JiggyJaggy]

Some good advice on this thread. I am considering doing the same at the moment and am wondering if anyone has dealt with any UK companies/sites that have already imported cars in to save the time and hassle?

[Total loss]

My best advice for any model year is to buy a rust free car, not a car that is rust free now, because it has had the floorpans,quaters,chassis rails etc replaced, but a genuine un-welded car. So many 'restored' cars are very nice to look at, but hide horrors of bodged repairs that will cost you ££££ to get repaired properly.