So I have this old Mustang chassis that I put out to pasture over 10 years ago. One of those "I'll get to it someday" projects.
All this time I did not have a VIN for the car (the VIN was cut out by the PO and I bought the car as a top-donor). The idea to use the top and convert a coupe into a fastback. Recently I decided i did not want to mess with a coupe to fastback conversion and figured I'd unload the car on eBay.
Me and a buddy were out taking pics and getting the car ready for eBay. We took the fender off the driver's side and lo and behold! There was a nice clean VIN stamped into the fender apron a bit further back toward the windshield (that I did not know about, and the PO probably didn't know about either). So, I have a VIN, which means I can get a title for the car (bonded for 5 years, then converts to a standard title).
I originally thought I had no VIN for the car, since it was cut out of the driver's side (and the passenger side fender apron is so rust pitted that the VIN is indistinguishable). So the car was not a candidate for restoration (just a donor). But now since I have a VIN I'm thinking about making this car my next project (or at least save it for a future project). I'm finishing up a restoration of another 1965 fastback, and I have about enough leftover and duplicate interior and fastback-specific parts to complete this one too.
What I know about this car:
"A" code VIN
Factory 4 speed
Factory dual exhaust
Factory disc brakes
Factory GT sway bar
Grey exterior
Red and white interior (white vinyl top, red windlace)
Not a pony interior
No power steering
No A/C
Not a radio delete
Not a heater delete
Vin number is 6F09A106862
Cons:
Rusty!
Front right damage
Pros:
A-Code fastback
Already have a lot the parts to reassemble
I understand it will cost $$ and time to do this. Like I said, I'm finishing up up on another fastback restoration now. I'm not a professional welder, but I have done my share of "shade tree" welding with my trusty mig welder.
Here are some pics:
Looks like a fastback! Not too shabby from this angle.
The factory dual exhaust reinforcement plates.
Uncut dash, floors are rusted through.
Lots of surface rust, and rust-through here and there. But I've seen a lot worse.
Another shot of the interior.
Trunk area. Rear section of the frame rail on the driver's side is toast. I expect the worst for the rest.
The elusive VIN! Early 1966 production car.
Looks like a good quarter from this angle.
Little fender-bender on the front passenger side. You can see where the VIN was cut out of the driver's side fender apron.
Not too bad engine compartment.
Another shot of the missing VIN.
A pillars, B pillars and roof rail pinch welds on both sides are good (rust free) and front and rear window opening pinch welds are rust-free.
So the question is: would you keep the car, maybe cover it or roll it into a barn to prevent any further decay, or unload it on eBay and let someone else be the happy owner of a 1966 A code Mustang 2+2?
All this time I did not have a VIN for the car (the VIN was cut out by the PO and I bought the car as a top-donor). The idea to use the top and convert a coupe into a fastback. Recently I decided i did not want to mess with a coupe to fastback conversion and figured I'd unload the car on eBay.
Me and a buddy were out taking pics and getting the car ready for eBay. We took the fender off the driver's side and lo and behold! There was a nice clean VIN stamped into the fender apron a bit further back toward the windshield (that I did not know about, and the PO probably didn't know about either). So, I have a VIN, which means I can get a title for the car (bonded for 5 years, then converts to a standard title).
I originally thought I had no VIN for the car, since it was cut out of the driver's side (and the passenger side fender apron is so rust pitted that the VIN is indistinguishable). So the car was not a candidate for restoration (just a donor). But now since I have a VIN I'm thinking about making this car my next project (or at least save it for a future project). I'm finishing up a restoration of another 1965 fastback, and I have about enough leftover and duplicate interior and fastback-specific parts to complete this one too.
What I know about this car:
"A" code VIN
Factory 4 speed
Factory dual exhaust
Factory disc brakes
Factory GT sway bar
Grey exterior
Red and white interior (white vinyl top, red windlace)
Not a pony interior
No power steering
No A/C
Not a radio delete
Not a heater delete
Vin number is 6F09A106862
Cons:
Rusty!
Front right damage
Pros:
A-Code fastback
Already have a lot the parts to reassemble
I understand it will cost $$ and time to do this. Like I said, I'm finishing up up on another fastback restoration now. I'm not a professional welder, but I have done my share of "shade tree" welding with my trusty mig welder.
Here are some pics:
Looks like a fastback! Not too shabby from this angle.
The factory dual exhaust reinforcement plates.
Uncut dash, floors are rusted through.
Lots of surface rust, and rust-through here and there. But I've seen a lot worse.
Another shot of the interior.
Trunk area. Rear section of the frame rail on the driver's side is toast. I expect the worst for the rest.
The elusive VIN! Early 1966 production car.
Looks like a good quarter from this angle.
Little fender-bender on the front passenger side. You can see where the VIN was cut out of the driver's side fender apron.
Not too bad engine compartment.
Another shot of the missing VIN.
A pillars, B pillars and roof rail pinch welds on both sides are good (rust free) and front and rear window opening pinch welds are rust-free.
So the question is: would you keep the car, maybe cover it or roll it into a barn to prevent any further decay, or unload it on eBay and let someone else be the happy owner of a 1966 A code Mustang 2+2?