Ford Mustang (1969 – 1974) Review

Item: Ford Mustang (1969 – 1974) Review 2024
Author: David Ross

Ford Mustang
GT V8
£29,195

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Ford Mustang (1969 – 1974) At A Glance

The fastest classic Mustangs

Middle-aged spread was already creeping in

The Ford Mustang was completely restyled for the 1969 model year and the character began to change – it was growing. A new Mach 1 appeared, powered by a 5752cc V8, but also available with the 7014cc Cobra Jet unit. The ‘Boss’ series Mustangs were named after stylist Larry Shinoda's nickname for Ford president Semon Knudson. Boss Mustangs were built to qualify for the NASCAR series and came with a race-ready 7030cc V8 with ram air induction, header type exhaust manifolds running through a four-speed manual gearbox and a 3.91:1 Traction-Lok axle.

1971 was a watershed year for the Mustang as grew again – but just as damaging to the Mustang image was the disappearance of the Shelby and some of the Boss models. Engines were detuned for emissions and the 351 V8 had dropped to just 156bhp.

Ask Honest John

What do you think is the best classic car to buy for £100K?

"What do you think is the best classic car to buy for £100K? Which would be fun and not too expensive to keep and might increase in value?"

Whatever classic you buy, you'll need to budget for maintenance and running costs, but really the best classic depends on what you want to do with it. Fancy something for solely for investment purposes? Ferraris and Porsches are often solid bets - think Testarossa or 911 Turbo. A high days and holidays car to enjoy with your significant other might be a W113 era Mercedes SL or a Jaguar E-type. If on-track action is your thing, you may be able to get a race car with FIA Papers - there are a few race-specific auctions to keep an eye on. Alternatively, an iconic piece of American muscle car action is well within your budget (think 1969 Shelby GT350 Mustang). Prefer your classics older? Then a Lagonda 2-Litre could be a smart buy. Stately and smart? 1950s Bentley S1 Continental. Modern high-performance? Ford Sierra RS500. Just make sure that whatever you buy you do your homework... and enjoy it.

Answered by Keith Moody

What's the best way to insure a young driver on a classic car policy?

"We're having difficulty finding insurance for my son for a 1970 Ford Mustang Couple, left hand drive, 5.7-litre engine. He's 21 and has been driving for three years. He'll be doing less than a 1000 miles a year in it. Are there any insurance brokers you can recommend that specialise in this area?"

Adrian Flux, Heritage and Footman James all have young driver policies - but insuring a young driver on a 5.7-litre Mustang is always going to be a tough ask. You might find it easier and cheaper to get insurance for a classic with a smaller engine.

Answered by Keith Moody

Which classic coupe would you buy for say 20-30K?

"I want to buy a coupe with 4 seats and which is/or will become a classic and have 20 to 30K to spend and would like your advice on what you would suggest and where to get it from."

There's a 1970 Mustang 428 CobraJet coming up in the Historics auction on 30th August estimated at £25k - £30k. If it's a good car I think it's worth more than that: http://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/top-10s/top-10-classics-at-historics-auction-august-2014/?image=3 Don't expect much more than 10-15mpg, though.

Answered by Honest John