Owning a Classic Mustang.
Discussion
Hello,
I've always loved the older Mustang's (late 60's), specifically the fastback. I've always had something for Shelby versions and then Elanor from Gone In Sixty Seconds (
).
One day I'd love to own a Mustang, but to be honest I know very little about them. Were any officially imported into the country in RHD? What are they like to own - reliable? What sort of cost are very well sorted examples?
Might just have to be my first hard-top car when I graduate
I've always loved the older Mustang's (late 60's), specifically the fastback. I've always had something for Shelby versions and then Elanor from Gone In Sixty Seconds (
). One day I'd love to own a Mustang, but to be honest I know very little about them. Were any officially imported into the country in RHD? What are they like to own - reliable? What sort of cost are very well sorted examples?
Might just have to be my first hard-top car when I graduate
By late 60s do you mean the classic shapes - ie Bullitt etc?
There were three 'classic shapes' as it were: 64.5/65/66 - then 67/68 and then 69-on.
I had a 67 but preferred the look of the earlier ones so now have one of those. Can't say if any were imported as RHD cars into the UK - but if you were to import one from say, South Africa, they drive on the right and I have heard of a few over there that are RHD. I'd say stick with the LHD - it's a doddle.
I think you're with either a Coupe, Convertible or Fastback man - I'm not to keen on the convertible to be honest, lookswise. the V8 engines are unburstable and the Cruise-O-Matic boxes easy to live with although manuals could be specced too of course. The great thing about the Mustang when it was introduced was that it came quite bare and then you specced it up as you liked - power brakes (disk or drum), power steering, interiors, consoles, mirrors, and engine size too obviously - back axle ratio - LSD etc - you name it, you could have it - as an extra though - so you'll hardly ever find two Mustangs the same.
Coupes came in 64 - Fastbacks came in 65. I'd have liked one but the budget wouldn't stretch to a really good 'u so maybe next time.
You could buy and import an excellent Classic Fastback from the States for under £11k. Would cost you far more in this country to buy the same car.
Costs? Insurance for me is £120 agreed value fully comp but then I'm ancient. Road tax is nil of course. I bought mine from the States and shipped it on for a shade over 7k. I'd buy over there again and ship without hesitation - the choice is so much bigger - for all budgets too.
Nil depreciation as well ...
But you know what - I have never, I mean never, got so many looks from other motorists as when I'm out in the Mussie - I had a Chimaera before and it might as well have been invisible - but the Ford gets loads of attention because people just never see 'em!
With the exchange rate as it is - it's gotta make sense!!
There were three 'classic shapes' as it were: 64.5/65/66 - then 67/68 and then 69-on.
I had a 67 but preferred the look of the earlier ones so now have one of those. Can't say if any were imported as RHD cars into the UK - but if you were to import one from say, South Africa, they drive on the right and I have heard of a few over there that are RHD. I'd say stick with the LHD - it's a doddle.
I think you're with either a Coupe, Convertible or Fastback man - I'm not to keen on the convertible to be honest, lookswise. the V8 engines are unburstable and the Cruise-O-Matic boxes easy to live with although manuals could be specced too of course. The great thing about the Mustang when it was introduced was that it came quite bare and then you specced it up as you liked - power brakes (disk or drum), power steering, interiors, consoles, mirrors, and engine size too obviously - back axle ratio - LSD etc - you name it, you could have it - as an extra though - so you'll hardly ever find two Mustangs the same.
Coupes came in 64 - Fastbacks came in 65. I'd have liked one but the budget wouldn't stretch to a really good 'u so maybe next time.
You could buy and import an excellent Classic Fastback from the States for under £11k. Would cost you far more in this country to buy the same car.
Costs? Insurance for me is £120 agreed value fully comp but then I'm ancient. Road tax is nil of course. I bought mine from the States and shipped it on for a shade over 7k. I'd buy over there again and ship without hesitation - the choice is so much bigger - for all budgets too.
Nil depreciation as well ...
But you know what - I have never, I mean never, got so many looks from other motorists as when I'm out in the Mussie - I had a Chimaera before and it might as well have been invisible - but the Ford gets loads of attention because people just never see 'em!
With the exchange rate as it is - it's gotta make sense!!
oh I'm not in the position to get one at the precise moment (still a student and have just bought a Marlin Roadster), but I was wondering if you could drive one as an everyday car?
I'd really prefer RHD, stick with what I know (is it possible to swop it over?) and I like fastback style - I'm not keen on the others for some reason, guess it's the Bullit thing.
Do you run yours as an everyday car? What are they like? Do they rust easy (lets face it, it rains a lot here)? Are they reliable for an older car (i.e. with careful maintaince they will work fine)?
Ancient, that makes you 25 then
You're only as old as you feel, a firm belief my dad and I share.
Are you coming to pistonfest, planning on bringing the 'tang?
thanks for the reply
>>edit - I can't spell.
>> Edited by docevi1 on Tuesday 13th April 00:33
I'd really prefer RHD, stick with what I know (is it possible to swop it over?) and I like fastback style - I'm not keen on the others for some reason, guess it's the Bullit thing.
Do you run yours as an everyday car? What are they like? Do they rust easy (lets face it, it rains a lot here)? Are they reliable for an older car (i.e. with careful maintaince they will work fine)?
Ancient, that makes you 25 then
You're only as old as you feel, a firm belief my dad and I share. Are you coming to pistonfest, planning on bringing the 'tang?
thanks for the reply
>>edit - I can't spell.
>> Edited by docevi1 on Tuesday 13th April 00:33
I know a handful of people in the US who drive a Mustang on a near-daily basis. One of them just shipped his '66 GT-350 clone yesterday to the UK - we'll be meeting up for Le Mans, traveling together to Austria for the International DeTomaso meeting, and he'll be leaving the car in Europe for most of the year and using it to get from motoring event to motoring event.
I don't own a classic Mustang, but know lots who do because many share the engine with my Pantera, and for some reason many Pantera owners have a Mustang at home as well.
Like any 30+ year old car, you may need to pay particular attention to condition. There is nothing particularly special about the Mustang that wouldn't apply to a 30 year old MG, Ferrari, or Peugot. A low-mileage car that has seen little use will probably not be an ideal candidate for daily use. Hoses, belts, seals, and anything else rubber will be dried out and need replacement. The advantage of the 'Stang is that there is a large aftermarket parts market and parts are both reasonable and easy to find.
If you wanted to use one as a daily driver, I'd get one recently restored (applies to any car over a certain number of years). Low mileage cars will require a lot of work to bring them up to spec, and high mileage cars have, well, a lot of miles.
There is nothing inherent in the Ford engines that make them unreliable. Leave it stock and you'll easily get 100,000 miles without touching the engine. Want more power? Options are only limited by your checkbook or technical know-how.
They really are pretty cars, and there's nothing like the burble of a V-8....
I don't own a classic Mustang, but know lots who do because many share the engine with my Pantera, and for some reason many Pantera owners have a Mustang at home as well.
Like any 30+ year old car, you may need to pay particular attention to condition. There is nothing particularly special about the Mustang that wouldn't apply to a 30 year old MG, Ferrari, or Peugot. A low-mileage car that has seen little use will probably not be an ideal candidate for daily use. Hoses, belts, seals, and anything else rubber will be dried out and need replacement. The advantage of the 'Stang is that there is a large aftermarket parts market and parts are both reasonable and easy to find.
If you wanted to use one as a daily driver, I'd get one recently restored (applies to any car over a certain number of years). Low mileage cars will require a lot of work to bring them up to spec, and high mileage cars have, well, a lot of miles.
There is nothing inherent in the Ford engines that make them unreliable. Leave it stock and you'll easily get 100,000 miles without touching the engine. Want more power? Options are only limited by your checkbook or technical know-how.
They really are pretty cars, and there's nothing like the burble of a V-8....
Check out www.aacint.com for more advice on this subject.
Basically you can use a Mustang as a daily driver. the only ones they officially imported were some early 80's ones and they were all RHD conversions.
However, forget the RHD. LHD is a doddle and if you want a certain way to destroy the value of any American car, the first thing you do is convert it to RHD. the next thing you do is throw it away.
Basically you can use a Mustang as a daily driver. the only ones they officially imported were some early 80's ones and they were all RHD conversions.
However, forget the RHD. LHD is a doddle and if you want a certain way to destroy the value of any American car, the first thing you do is convert it to RHD. the next thing you do is throw it away.
www.madders.freeserve.co.uk/mainpage.html
Have a look here for some early Mustangs being imported into the country. Now convert that to dollars at the current exchange rate.
Then surf some US Mustang sites eg: www.fordmustangsales.com and see what you can get for your dollars ...
There's a RHD Mustang in this month's Classic amercian classifieds but I have to ask ... why?
Have a look here for some early Mustangs being imported into the country. Now convert that to dollars at the current exchange rate.
Then surf some US Mustang sites eg: www.fordmustangsales.com and see what you can get for your dollars ...
There's a RHD Mustang in this month's Classic amercian classifieds but I have to ask ... why?
Hi, lets not forget that these cars were made as normal everyday cars not exotic sports cars, so sure you can use them as every day drives. Just don`t expect them to behave like a modern saloon because they are nearly 40 years old technology, however well maintained and restored. good example of this;- does a 1970 ford cortina drive like a 2000 ford focus?
I use my `70 mustang daily in the summer months but not so much in the winter when roads are salted, it makes a good daily driver, brings a smile to my face everytime I take it out. The only thing that stops me using it more is the cost of fuel and being paranoid about leaving it parked where I can`t see it.
I use my `70 mustang daily in the summer months but not so much in the winter when roads are salted, it makes a good daily driver, brings a smile to my face everytime I take it out. The only thing that stops me using it more is the cost of fuel and being paranoid about leaving it parked where I can`t see it.
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