I just noticed your handle. My brother use to have a 64 Sunbeam Alpine, not the Tiger, and that thing had as much problems as my British cars I had. But I had a friend who had a Tiger and he never had any issues with his except the trans got notchy, I think it was because the engine was too strong for the tranny they used; but that car ran like a bat out of hell. How long have you had yours and what problems have you had?

You might be shocked how badly body parts fit on cars and trucks back then, even off the factory assembly line. There were no computer designed panels and CAD stuff like they have now. Just steel stamped in a huge press. The fit was "good" but nothing like it is now. I bet the frame can be straightened by welding a tab to the rear rail and pulling it. Replacing a 1/4 can lead to rust issues later on welded portions that can't be reached to be coated or sealed. Once the E coat is burned off, you have bare metal condensing in hidden areas. On top of that, you're not exactly in the desert there. Salt is in the air 24/7. If you can get everywhere to coat the inner part of the welds, then go for it by all means.,,,,BD

To avoid thread-hijack I'll keep it short. 21 years and I've rebuilt most of it. With a 340HP 'crate motor' my biggest problem is -- traction.

So, the Civic's an '84?

Thats a different Mustang than most people would look for but its a great start! I was kinda hoping it would be Yellow and Black like the original gone in 60 car, But I think that one would be newer.

And I believe the Charger was a '68, also.

So, a '71 Mustang and a '71 Charger would be an updated Bullitt, or am I counting on my fingers again?

I had a friend whose dad went to Vegas around '75 and won some dough, bought the same GT in the same color out there (faded quite a bit from the sun) and drove it back to WI, presented to his 16-year old son. It lasted about 3 months.

Did anyone catch the last episode of American Dreams, a TV show a few years back? The son had wanted a '68 GT and his dad wouldn't buy it for him. The son goes MIA in Vietnam and makes it back, etc. The dad takes him for a ride in the family car, and they end up at friend's house, and the dad tosses the son some keys.. They open a barn up there and inside is a '68 GT.... the screen went black, and it was not quite the "top of the hour." I remember looking at my watch and wondering what was next. It fades back in to present day, and a tall young soldier is riding a bus to Philadephia from Ft. Bragg. He arrives to a coming-home party, and the dad is not around; the son looks a little peeved. The dad walks in and it's a little awkard, until they go for a ride in, yep, a '68 GT, same color. They talk about the car a bit, and end up a a friend's house, and the dad tosses a set of keys to the son...inside the barn sits another dark green GT, the retro '05, I believe... the screen fades out with just the Ford oval on the screen. I damn near went out and bought one right then.

Just a comment or two.

It looks like the previous repairs included pulling the Qtr panel already. Whomever did it either had a light touch on the frame machine or used the floor-mounted puller and took it in increments while hammering. Glad they didn't pull any holes in the rear body panel, because that actually doesn't look too bad. The rear floor pan may be kinked, but back then, they weren't that precise, and it looks like the impact was at an angle, nearly over the bumper instead of bumper-bumper. Odd, because most R/E impacts like this involve submarining, and the damge is lower. I'm wondering if this was a backing accident.

Having full-size spares back then tended to save some buckling in the floor pan. If a Qtr is available, I'd run the the whole thing, even the dogleg, because that may put your seams out of sight in the door frame. That way, the sail/lower lines stay really nice.

You've got to R/R the back glass, and I'm surprised the shop didn't do that when they pulled the Qtr. You may want to let the shop know that a glass firm may be best to do that, in case it breaks. Someone knows their metal, or it could be like it looks, a backing accident. If so, I doubt the frame rail is that bad, but you'll know when you put it on the machine. The Qtr apron, you said is fine, so I'd look where the differential hump is, and if the seams aren't moved, you could be in pretty good shape with a Qtr and the other parts. You've got to pull the rear seat to get the Qtr replaced, anyway, so that's a great time to really inspect it.

I've got a used Mustang parts dealer near here, out in the country, not even sure he advertises, so I'll see about that luggage lid.

IMO, I'd skip the louvers, even in Florida sun. They tend to pool water and rust out the window frame, and there's not a lot of pitch on the rear to let the water run off. I second the vote on Cragars, because they were "the wheel" back then, especially on Mustangs. I have no idea what tire sizes would be on it now, but back, you were looking at 60's on the rear and 70's on the front, for most folks, but I always found that 70's or their equivalent all around looked pretty good, too, RWL's of course. Red lines were about out by '71 were they not?

Now, I think I have some green paisley carpet for that back window, and maybe an underdash 8-track in my attic. I've not seen any Jensen Mindblowers lately, but that would be pretty cool.... I still have a copy of Bullitt and can rent Vanishing Point....

I like the looks of a Mustang with Keystone Classics. Like the one in this picture I found.

The Gone in 60 Seconds cars were '71s fitted with '73 grilles. There is a half-finished semi-tribute car (hood paint is a match; missing the blackouts on the bottom and rear) on the local Craigslist that's had just about every body panel replaced. Questionable, IMO:

https://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/3145665873.html

I took a good look under there for the first time, Robbie, and was quite pleased at what I could see from the visual inspection. The rear framerail appears intact, and there's no warpage on it down its length. Ditto for just about everything else save for a few bits of sheet metal. This isn't the best picture, but it'll do for now:



Rest of it looks pretty clean too:



And for those curious about the interior:





Under the hood:



Autolite 4300 - the carb that makes you yell "FIRE IN THE HOLE!"



-Kurt

With the right auto body man, it'll be perfect. For Tires, raised white letter Goodyears. G-60 15.

Pretty nice insides, It needs bright green Shag Carpet, with a Disco ball hanging from the rear view Mirror. I have a good collection of 8-track tapes.

you should have held out for a Mustang II..... my vote for the worst car ever. I had one for while (long story) suffice it to say it was the only car I have ever followed the speed sign on curves with....and was still nervous.

Thats one fancy Pinto.

Oh, they have their following. I'd take a Mustang II any day over a new whiz-bang Starship Enterprise Econobox.

Funny thing is, it took Ford until 2005 to bring respect back to the Mustang label.

-Kurt

Ahhh, you finally got ahold of him, Kurt! Glad you tracked down that owner, and it looks just like how I pictured it.

Let the fun restoration ensue! From what I can tell, the
damage isn't all too bad, and I think she'll make a great driver.

That's great!! Have you installed the aftermarket traction bars for it, wider tires with offset wheels, along with widening the fender skirts and quarters, and Koni adjustable shocks? They probably have better shocks on the market now, it's been awhile since I had messed with these cars. You probably keeping it stock in appearance but once you put an extra 100hp in that thing you kind of need a bit more stuff done to get the traction. There's a place called psvintagewheels.com that have offset wheels that will fit that car, and the rest of the stuff there use to be a Tiger aftermarket high performance shop in Los Angeles, but I'm not sure if their still around.

Worst car ever? I can think of a slew of cars worst then that! But those were sad years for Ford and GM in the performance arena. I have a 1979 Chev Z28...the worst year for performance of any Z28 ever made! I did however took the engine and stored it (so to have the numbers correct engine for it should I sell it) and installed a 383 Stroker 520 hp with a 125 hp NOS PowerShot...the PowerShot is my panic button, I've only used it twice for fun and haven't been able to use it on the strip. Without the PowerShot on it will run running low 11’s, with the PowerShot it should tip into the high 10's according to our estimates. Regardless I can take on any new performance car for far less money then buying a new performance car!

Looks like it will be a great project! Keep us posted on the restoration.

My brother-in-law had one of those. It could smoke the tires, no problem. And that was the only thing it did well.
Besides haul some Charlie's Angels...

Followed up with the '81's that simply fell apart, and then the Crossfires... I hear you.

I vote for air shocks, shackles, and a tunnel ram hood scoop mounted backwards. Glass pack mufflers with leaky flange gaskets. All very popular FORDaftermarket accessories.

M.O.P.A.R.: Move over, park, and repair.

-Kurt

Actually the two most reliable cars I ever had that I drove the schit out of them was 73 Dodge Charger with a 440 magnum engine, that car never saw a day that I wasn't trashing it and it held up for 130,000 or so miles when I sold it to another kid who continued the tradition of trashing. Then the other was a 72 Mercury Cougar XR7 with a 429SCJ, and it was a repeat trashing that the Charger took had taken. But of the two I think the 440 was a tougher engine and it had a tougher trans, plus the Charger handled way better then the light rear ended Cougar, but the Cougar was quicker in the 1/4mile. But by the time 1975 came along Chrysler became crap and never came back.

You better get a whole lot of oxalic acid! I don't have the first clue on what to do with a car, so i'm curious to see what you do with it.

Oh.... anyone here know Chip Foose? Maybe he'll get Kurt on Overhaulin'

I can see it now.........lowered suspension, custom bazillion amp sound system, 26" wheels, chrome chain steering wheel. Custom my little pony paint job. EPIC!!!

Maybe we can even talk Xzibit into donating an expresso machine or popcorn popper for the interior.