As I posted before, after a vigorous (not read ‘desperate’) I finally found my next personal project. The 1973 Mustang Sports Roof Fastback is what I settled on. Now we start the project that has been dubbed #ProjectSportsRoof (yes I find it necessary to use the ‘hash’).
1973 Mustang Color Code 2B.
I run my car projects much like I run my IT projects. You always have to know where to start and know the end game and the key to that is knowing what you are starting with. As with any project that isn’t being built from scratch, in other word, you have to work with what you’ve got, the final goals may change based on what you start out with and/or find later. To help reduce the surprises, there will always be something that pops up unexpectedly, it’s a good idea to begin with an inventory of what we have and what is needed and a logical starting point. We (as in me and you the reader) are at the beginning of the project.
Coming up next are the a few videos (maybe on only three, never sure, since the camera guy and I are one in the same) will be my first inspection.
Please feel free to interject via a comment or an email, always welcome the discussions.
1973 Mustang SportsRoof. If Mach 1 Mustangs have gotten a little too pricey for you, may I suggest a less flashy fastback like this? The 351 under the hood isn’t as powerful as the top-of-the-line Cobra Jet, but it’s the same …
With the near completion of a customer’s project (1975 Model 110 VW) and the beginning of another customer’s Jensen Interceptor, I’ve finally completed my search for my next personal project.
Having recently completed and sold my 1984 Corvette and my 1970 Mustang, I’ve found my next project.
Introducing “Project SR”. It is a 1973 Mustang Sports Roof. The VIN breakdown looks like this:
Born: April 1973 in Dearborn, MI (Code F)
Body Series: 02 Sports Roof Code: 63D
Engine F Code – 302 2V V8
Color Code 2B – Bright Red
Trim Code GA – Black All Vinyl, Mach 1 Luxury
Axle Code: 8 – 3.00:1 gearing
Transmission Code: W – C4 Automatic
DSO – Originally delivered to dealership in Omaha, Ne. and then shipped to Arizona(??)
That’s how it left the factory, however, that is not how it’s sits today. Here’s a little back ground.
Project “SR” is a rescue project for the second time. The first ‘known’ attempt was by the immediate previous owner. Pulled from a junk yard by father/son combo for salvation. This team has spent some meaningful time on this project. As the factory codes show the car was powered by 302 2V as built. When the father/son team pulled it out of the desert sun, it had 351 cid engine that was seized. That is how is end up with the current 351 2v from a 1972 Mustang. Putting the power to the rear wheels as it drove off the assembly line was a C4 automatic transmission, after all these years it now has a C6 automatic. Front end was completed by the team and then a couple fateful fender benders (both front fender on different days) and a desire to build a rat-rod had led this ‘Stang to it’s new home – my drive way!
Why pick this particular car out of the thousands I’ve viewed online and 30 or so I’ve looked over? Well, I have a thing for Mustangs (and Corvettes) and this one is significant. It is the last year for the big Mustangs as the 1974 models were…..um…..different. What’s more the Code 63D Sports Roof/Fastback has a limited production for the 3 years is was offered. 1971 shows a production number of for the 63D 23,956 units, 1972 end with 15,622 Sports Roof examples and 1973 bottoms out the list with only 10,820 units – that is less than production of convertibles. So out of the total Mustang unit produced of just over 518,000 for 1971-1973 only 53,358 63D’s were produced. So you have last year production for the big bodied Mustangs and for the 63D and the lowest production.
So we are going to have some fun restoring this one and my followers on WordPress, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and a couple more will be able to keep up. Search on #ProjectSR.
Over the next few weeks I’ll do a project shake down that will uncover what it needs which will help me arrive and what I want to accomplish with this beauty. Follow along and I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, hints and tips.
1973 Mustang SportsRoof. If Mach 1 Mustangs have gotten a little too pricey for you, may I suggest a less flashy fastback like this? The 351 under the hood isn’t as powerful as the top-of-the-line Cobra Jet, but it’s the same …
I know a lot of guys that have too many project cars (as if that’s a real thing!!). I don’t have that luxury – space is limited to my driveway and my garage. So, as I search for my next project car, I need to satisfy the urge to work on something…vintage. While surfing around on the Internet I ran across this 1961 Comet instrument panel and picked it up.
It’s in good shape.
I thought I might use it as a bit of Man Cave art and have it light up with altering it too much or destroying it.
So I’ve been working the wiring and testing with a 6 volt battery.
The Comet was developed as a sub-model for Edsel. As you know 1958 saw the end of the Edsel and the Comet was released in 1960 as an orphan model. It remained badged only a Comet until 1964 when it became part of the Mercury marque.
Right Turn Signal works – bypassing the flasher.
Oil Light is functioning.
Generator Light working.
The Temp and Gas gauges work when power is supplied.
With the exception of the left turn single everything is working.
I’m missing the main light that would light up the instrument panel when the headlight are on, doesn’t seem to be a bulb there.
The goal would be get this wired to keep all the lights on at one time. May be even find a way to have the gauges (Temp/Fuel/Speedometer) to jump to life and then fall back.
Hey…it keeps me off the street and since electrical isn’t my strong suite (mainly being colored blind limit the ability to match up the colors) it can be a bit of a challenge.
This is a video of a 1961 Comet salesman film comparing the car to two other compacts from the time. The 1961 Pontiac Tempest . This is the original slide sh… Video Rating: 4 / 5. Tags: 1961, Comet, Dealer, Film, Part, …
Here in the U.S. we tend to be a bit myopic when it comes to cars. Of course American muscle is what it’s all about and toss in some well deserving European and Asian models and maybe just maybe you think about the culture down-under (I do, anyway. Love to get a hold of the a Holden!!!). Very little thought is given to the rest of the Globe – especially considering that a few U.S. car manufacturers’ last stands were south of the border – way south!!
Here is one example from Hemmings – chase the link below to see the entire article. Oh, I just ordered Banovsky’s book Weird Cars. It is in the mail from Amazon.
Sticking with the Steve McQueen theme (his cars seem to be popping up all over the Internet) here is a video on his 275 GTB/4. Great looking car!!!
This is one of Steve McQueen’s own personal cars which he bought during his time working on BULLITT. Steve absolutely loved his NART spyder until it was totaled only a couple days after purchase. So when there weren’t any more available he bought the hard top version.
The guy great taste in check out his 1956 Jag in the next posting.
The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (Estimate Available Upon Request) will be offered without reserve. With an approximate 10,000 miles from new, this 275 GTB/4 is an original four-cam model. After being held by one family for more than 40 years, the four-cam …
Stuff my dreams are made of. I often dream of distant relative (one you never knew existed and therefore won’t really miss…but are still grateful for) passing on and leaving me an old barn. As I walk to my new building I’m wondering how much reclaimed barn wood is bringing on the market and I swing the door open and “WOW” I see:
In the years since it has been neglected but BMW has planned a complete restoration of the car after showing it in as-is condition in their museum in Munich. As the story goes, Elvis had his eyes on a Porsche Spyder but couldn’t get his hands on one …
Feb. 1 (Bloomberg) — An Aston Martin DB5 discovered after three decades in an old garage with a mouse nest in its engine bay is estimated to sell for $300,000. The mice had moved out of the sports saloon before its cylinders were re-lubricated and it …
So called ”barn finds” – cars in untouched condition – are highly prized by collectors in a selective market for classic models that puts a premium on originality. With blue bodywork, the DB5 was bought by a bidder in the room against an estimate of …
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for last full week of April 2015.
April 22, 1954 – Nash and Hudson merge to from AMC
When does this:
Nash Rambler
PLUS THIS:
’53 Hudson Hornet
EQUAL THIS? :
Javlin
Well that’s the equation formed when Nash merged with Hudson and produced AMC. AMC (American Motor Corp) produced some of the most memorable cars of the ’60’s-’70’s. Although they often used components from other makers, they did have some unique sheet metal.
Gremlin X
1975 Pacer
April 23, 1987 – Chrysler buys Lamborghini.
Lamborghini was founded in 1963 and sold in 1974. It changed hands in 1980, 1984, 1987, 1994 and 1998 and now sits under Volkswagen Group ownership and managed by their Audi division.
Interesting how once buying Italian car companies, Chrysler is now owned by one!!! I guess you need to be careful who you buy, some day they might help you out by returning the favor!!! Chrysler is now owned by Fiat and Lamborghini is now owned by the Volkswagen Group via Audi.
April 25, 1970 – Mazda began importing cars to the U.S. for the first time.
1970 Cosmo
They’ve come a long ways in the eyes of the American buyer. Not sure if it was the “zoom..zoom” commercials or the cute little “girls” car Miata or dominating a lot of local SCCA racing meets – drat!!!
On this week’s episode of Ignition, we celebrate the 45th anniversary of an iconic piece of American automotive history, the AMC Gremlin. Despite its peculiar design and strange proportions, owners of the Gremlin seemed to really love this car, and …
One of the great attributes this collection has is some of the first cars and other types of early transportation. So let’s get right to them.
Let’s just start at the beginning. That would be this beauty!!!!
1886 Benz
1886 Motorwagen – engine
Benz Motorwagen
Here is the next one in line. It’s a 1905 Cadillac – in white!
1905 Caddy – It’s the 4 Door Touring Model AC-F. 6.5 HP is produced by the 98.2 cubic inch engine.
What something a little ‘racier’? How about this 1914 Ford Model T Racer – knocking out 40 hp from it’s 4 cylinder Rajo over-head-value engine.
Burns Intake and Winfield Model S1 Cab get this 1000lbs car up a moving!
Here a fly-by for you.
Let’s stick with the racing theme for a bit and take a look at this 1922 Chevy Sport Roadster, body by Mercury Body Company. Mr. Martin purchased this and drove it in the 1999 Hemmings Motor News Great Race.
Called the “Superior Chassis”
Looks Fast to me – 26HP!!!
That copper tubing is make-shift oil cooler.
Headers are nicely wrapped
Looks like pretty comfy cockpit vs. the 1917 Model T Racer
I wanted to jump to couple more utilitarian transportation modes of a vintage nature.
This is a 1915 Depot Hack by Ford.
Motometer in tack
Back of the Hack!!!
Hack Cockpit
I want to wind this up something I’d never seen before.
1917 Douglas Dump Truck
Powering this 6000 lbs utility vehicle is a 60HP Buda engine.
Coming up some of my favorites at the Martin Museum.
Vintage cars for vintage pinstripes. NEW YORK (AP) — Some riders using New York City’s subway system to get to Yankee Stadium for Opening Day are also going to get a trip back in time. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says a four-car …
About 150 vintage cars and tractors will be up for grabs at the auction. Some noteworthy items include an original 1967 Ford Mustang convertible that still drives, 1959 Ford Edsels and a 1961 Studebaker Lark. Wolf estimated more than 200 items will be …
He was 76 and a plumber by trade. He lived in Buena Park. He also loved vintage cars. He collected them. A lot of them. Sixty-nine of them to be exact. KCAL9’s Brittney Hopper previewed the collection which is about to go on the auction block. It might …
Last week my wife had to sit for a certification exam for her profession. It was conducted over multiple days and held in Phoenix, AZ. That is about a 1.5 hours drive (unless I’m driving the Vette, just joking always, obey the speed limits kids!!) north of Tucson and it made sense to grab a hotel room and spend 3 days. While she was enduring the slow torture that they cleverly called “taking the exam”, I was left with a very rare, continuous span of free time.
I don’t know about you, but when I end up with unappropriated time and I’m in a hotel room, I don’t spend it watching HBO. I’ll jump on the WiFi and find some car action. This was a perfect time to find some local car shows or events. Just so happens on the way to the hotel I saw a sign, a few exits before the one we exited to reach the hotel, that read “Auto Museum”.
I gave that a Google and found the exact address. The museum was called Mel Martin’s Auto Museum – “Phoenix’s Largest Auto Museum” and it was only open from noon to five the next day and asked for a $5 donation. So I put that on my to do list and head there the next day.
The museum is on a one way frontage road. The building looks to be an old self-storage place converted in to businesses. The museum entrance looks unassuming and you wouldn’t think it large enough to house 60 cars and a ton of automobilia.
Here are some highlights:
What kind of car museum would you be without a Corvette or two?
This beautiful 427 is an eye catcher!
Check out Corvette Row!!!
Here is a Vette you don’t see anywhere!!!
The 1992 Lister Corvette
Great lines…barely resembles a C4.
Front end looks like a Jaguar’s
I think the 17″ wheels are great looking!!!
The hood has those breathing holes for a reason. The LT1 under the hood…yeah it’s Vortech Supercharged!!! 500HP and 454 LB-FT of torque!!! Only automatic produced.
It also included the 1978 25th Anniversary Indianapolis Pace car.
Only 15 miles on this well-preserved beauty! (No, I don’t know why I took the pic this way.)
Thanks for reading. More coming up on Mel Martin’s Auto Museum.
You no doubt know about Ford and Carroll Shelby’s Cobra winning the 1965 FIA World Manufacturer’s GT Championship – breaking Enzo Ferrari’s reign on the in that event. But this short video tells more about what Bob Bondurant endured during those races. He is a true racing icon.
I’ve had the thrill of running Bondurant course here in Phoenix, AZ., include the F1 event held at Phoenix International Raceway. All great experiences from a well run organization.
Check out the story of how the U.S. Team (with Bob and two English drivers) took home the win.
