Bodystyles

[tdo]

Hi I'm new here,

After being converted over to V8's (after wanting a cossie for years!) I've started looking at mustangs but i'd like to know what years the body styles changed i've been looking at the 60's-70's ones but can't decide on the shape/style I like best.

Cheers

Dan

[LuS1fer]

In approximate terms, I think the original classic shape lasted until 1969 and then there were derivations of the basic shape and the noses changed and they got heavier. The 1973 one was the big Mach 1 shape and this lasted through until 1975/6 when the ugly Mustang II was launched. This lasted until 1977/8 when the Mustang III was launched. That was the one that looked like a big Escort in later life. This changed to the 90's shape Mustang which was itself supplanted by the SN95 around 1999/2000. The 2005 Mustang tops off the line. However, I'm no expert and you might want to try www.mocgb.net which is the owners club. You'll get far more information there as this section tends to be a little slow.

[steve-p]

64-66 and 67-68 are the classic shape. 67-68 has some detailed changes (wider engine bay, better instruments, bigger front grille, concave rear light panel, more options available) but still looks similar. Of course you probably already know there were coupe, fastback and convertible body styles. The coupe is the cheapest and the other two seem to be similar in value. A lot of people seem to think the 67-68 is the most desirable Mustang ever built. 69 onwards I can't help you with because although it's still a good looker, it wouldn't fit in my garage very easily so I haven't bothered researching it.

Pictures and lots of information here:

http://bradbarnett.net/mustangs/timel

[tdo]

Thanks for the links and info, I'm like the '67 fastback

[steve-p]

tdo said:

Thanks for the links and info, I'm like the '67 fastback

Yes, so does everyone else - that's why they are so expensive I'm looking for a 67-68 fastback right now. I'm thinking about importing one because I can't find anything that isn't overpriced or cosmetically questionable. The weak dollar means it may be a better option, and there is certainly more choice.

[tdo]

how much do they go for if you import one? importing one sounds really difficult, is it?

[steve-p]

I haven't done it yet, but yes it does seem like a lot of hassle. Apart from the issue of buying a car unseen, there are the shipping costs, and you have to pay 10% duty and 17.5% VAT on the value of the car and shipping once it arrives. Then you have to get some things changed such as lights to make the car legal in the UK. However there are a hundred times more Mustangs on eBay in the US than here, and there are a lot of specialist dealers selling nice restored examples too. Price wise it's not likely to be much cheaper, but there's a lot more choice. I would prefer to buy a car that's already here, but I haven't found one yet. I'm still looking though.

[tdo]

good luck with your search mate!

[Mustang Baz]

tdo/Steve - importing not as difficult as you would think and the majority would say well worth the trouble, myself included. See the following thread for advice and further links -

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=269130&f=105&h=0

[tdo]

thanks baz, i'll look into that, i know a few people in the US too. what sort of prices do they go for in the us? (know any good sites?)

[steve-p]

Thanks for the link. I already found that company when researching importers. I also found another one that looks really good but unfortunately I bookmarked the link on one of my other PCs so I don't have it to hand.

Sterling may be heading towards the $2 mark which makes the prices even more appealing. However Mustang values are really on the rise in the US right now. I found a website which tracks classic car values of all marques in the US, and 1960s Mustangs rose on average 29% in the last 12 months. I doubt it would work out much cheaper, but there's literally 200 times as many to chose from if eBay is anything to go by. If I was buying unseen, I would probably want to buy from a reputable specialist dealer though.

[MikeyT]

Can echo everyone's comments, the prices have gone daft in the US even for basket cases - the 66 fastback to restore I bought on ebay recently was a lot of money, but I wouldn't have got one in the States on ebay any cheaper to be honest, after the shipping, tax and VAT ... christ knows, I was looking long enough - (six months).

Steve-p, if you don't find one over here, then if you're buying an immaculate on from a dealer, I'd definitely fly over and see it - in the scheme of things you're saving a bit of money by buying over there so the airfare is free to be honest. And you can see it on the boat/in the container yourself (and pick up any parts to ship as well).

For a restore job, you can get a pretty good feel for the car by way of digi pics and if you're perhaps paying a lot less, then you'll get away without seeing thwe car 99 times of 100. Saying that, I bought my coupe unseen in the flesh from ebay (dealer though) and it was fine.

I used to spend hours on US ebay trawling through the fastbacks - they just don't seem to come up here - hence the prices. You only need two interested parties (such was the case with my fastback) and as far as prices go, the sky's the limit.

The '67s *are* lovely but you can't beat the original shape IMO.

Best of luck in the search - keep us posted.