Graphics Gone: 1979 Ford Mustang Indy Pace Car
This 1979 Ford Mustang Indy 500 Pace Car replica has clearly fallen on hard times. With much of its paint gone and the original engine seized, there’s not much here than a shell at this point with a Recaro interior. However, the seller thinks the Mustang is an ideal candidate for dropping in a later-model SVO motor, made even more tempting as it is a 4-speed car. Find it here on craigslist for $2,099.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Ikey H. for the find. The Mustang still comes with some clues as to its Pace Car past, including the iconic hood graphics and the Marchal fog lamps in the lower front valence. These “four-eyed” models were never hugely collectible, even in Pace Car trim, but at least they offered decent performance with the manual transmission like this car has.
The Recaro buckets are a treat as well, but it’s hard to tell what sort of condition they’re in. The seller says the interior is “weathered” and the carpets have been removed, revealing a solid floor underneath. The seller also notes that he’ll include new black carpet for the hatch area with the sale.
The amount of dust in the engine bay is impressive, and not entirely surprising given the Mustang’s Las Vegas location. While the body will need a full repaint in addition to sourcing a replacement motor, the rust-free condition at least makes this Fox Body slightly more compelling as a project build. Which engine would you swap into it?
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Comments
Hell hath no fury like the Vegas sun.
Always thought that one of the early Fox body cars would be a ball with a late model 4 cylinder EcoBoost drivetrain in it. You would have to assume that if the outside looks that weathered the interior plastics would have to be pretty killed. Still, not a bad price.
I’d say more than the graphics are gone. I can’t imagine someone would want to save this. Maybe if it was a V8, but there are plenty of those around.
Can’t see someone spending the money to “restore” this but could see it as a basis for a interesting driver quality car.
There were about 10,000 of these built, and is often the case for specialty models, a larger percentage have survived as compared to a more common model. I like them, but even in restored or low-mileage-original condition, they aren’t particularly valuable.
The 1979 which, to me, is a better candidate for restoration is the Cobra; despite many being built, few are now seen. Or of course base model coupes (I have one), which is another example of everyday cars which were throw-aways.
Coincidentally, just this weekend I drove past a junkyard, er salvage yard, which had six of these lined up against the fence.
Have to agree, too much money asked for a car of so little value. Everything is baked or missing, restore this and it wouldn’t be worth a third of what it cost to restore. Maybe a shell for a northern rusted car.
We all have to agree that we can’t just arbitrarily place a value on any object. It’s monitary value is only what the final sale price is.
That said, the seller should have placed this car on eBay in auction format with a starting bid of 1 US& dollar for seven days and see what happens.