Back in the early 1970s, a man ran a stop sign and slammed into the left-rear quarter panel of my beloved 1969 Ford Mustang fastback as we were driving to dinner on a four-lane country road.
The man told the investigating police officer that his grandson was standing on the front seat and he realized that if he slammed on the brakes after seeing the stop sign, his grandson would have been flung into the windshield — which he was anyway during the resulting impact, fortunately suffering only a minor cut and some bruises.
During the six weeks or so that my Mustang was being repaired, I drove a next-generation Mustang loaner, and hated it. First of all, it felt larger than my ’69, plus the fastback was more of a flatback and offered horrible rearward visibility.
But last weekend, as I was driving home from Thanksgiving dinner at a daughter’s, a dark-gray ’71 (or maybe it was a ’72) Mustang fastback merged onto the interstate and caught my eye.
At first what I noticed were the oversized wheels and tires beneath the car. But then I noticed how much the Mustang reminded me of the Ford Torino and Mercury Cyclone of that era.
Home, I decided to find a ’71 Mustang fastback for the Pick of the Day, searched ClassicCars.com and decided on this one, which is located in the Houston showroom of a classic car dealership chain based in Fairmont City, Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis.
“The 71-73 Mustangs haven’t set off any trend-setting records yet like the ’60s pony cars but that’s one thing that makes this one irresistible,” the dealer notes in the advertisement for this Mustang. “True muscle car ownership, classic distinguished styling and for now, a bargain.”
The asking price is $21,995.
The seller notes that the car has a 351-cubic-inch Cleveland V8 engine and has traveled only 5,000 miles since the engine was rebuilt.
The ad notes that the car is not a Mach I, even if it has the period-correct engine beneath the Mach I’s flat-black NASA hood with dual scoops. That powerplant is linked to an automatic transmission.
The color is period-correct Metallic Mint, and the stance is enhanced by Mustang Magnum 500 wheels and white-letter tires BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires. The car has “newer” brakes and calipers, according the seller.
“The black vinyl interior “looks fresh,” the ad notes, with air conditioning, tilt wheel, and AM/FM/cassette. “Although not numbers matching, it looks very close to being a factory car. “
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
I own ..beautifull…Grande 1972…with ram Hood…i prefer the Grande model…for the litte test window…and betterave coupé styling.
I thought the 1971 Mustangs all had chrome-plated moldings on the front edge of the hood? This one has a painted front molding.