69 Mach 1 or 2016 GT

[Hack]

I have a '70 Mustang that I will probably never sell, but they are ox carts compared to the new cars. I would buy the 2016 any day.

Sponsored

 

[Wvmike]

Love the 69 Mach, but you can buy 2 or 3 2016 GTs for the price of a real nice 69 Mach I Cobra Jet.

 

[113]

One of my dreamcars is a '69 Boss 302. But if someone gave me the choice of the Boss or the '16 GT as my only car, I'm taking the modern car. You just can't beat the safety, reliability, and speed of modern cars.

 

[TNcoupe]

I'd take the 69 Mach one....they dont make those anymore. You'll be able to buy an S550 for many years to come.

 

[DreamingBig]

You know, I wonder about if they'll make em like I want em many years to come. I am set on the old school, naturally aspirated V8 engine. Not that I think the V8 will vanish, but I do think we'll be moving to DI soon in the Coyote and other variants.

I guess one option is to pick up the 69 or 70 Mach 1, and hope some day to grab a used gen 6 GT in a configuration close to what I want - but that assumes I could ever afford that. I sold my Harley to finish grad school, assuming I would be able to buy 2 of them after I became established. Hell, I've never come close again until now - 20 years later. So I've really got to look at this as a one-time decision.

Gotta admit, the ox-cart comment, and the safety/speed/suspension comments have made a huge impression on my thinking process.

Maybe I need to take the 69 Mach off of my screen saver on my computer and phone. I decide on the 2016...configure it on the build and price site...estimate my payments and insurance...make my list of mods...

...and then see that 69 on the screen!

Maybe I just need a nice poster or something in the garage.

T

 

[TNcoupe]

You know, I wonder about if they'll make em like I want em many years to come. I am set on the old school, naturally aspirated V8 engine. Not that I think the V8 will vanish, but I do think we'll be moving to DI soon in the Coyote and other variants.

I guess one option is to pick up the 69 or 70 Mach 1, and hope some day to grab a used gen 6 GT in a configuration close to what I want - but that assumes I could ever afford that. I sold my Harley to finish grad school, assuming I would be able to buy 2 of them after I became established. Hell, I've never come close again until now - 20 years later. So I've really got to look at this as a one-time decision.

Gotta admit, the ox-cart comment, and the safety/speed/suspension comments have made a huge impression on my thinking process.

Maybe I need to take the 69 Mach off of my screen saver on my computer and phone. I decide on the 2016...configure it on the build and price site...estimate my payments and insurance...make my list of mods...

...and then see that 69 on the screen!

Maybe I just need a nice poster or something in the garage.

T

If thats your decision then tell me where the 69 Mach 1 is for sale so I can go inspect it. It would go nicely with my 64 Fairlane Sport Coupe and 1970 Bronco.

 

[Hack]

You know, I wonder about if they'll make em like I want em many years to come. I am set on the old school, naturally aspirated V8 engine. Not that I think the V8 will vanish, but I do think we'll be moving to DI soon in the Coyote and other variants.

I guess one option is to pick up the 69 or 70 Mach 1, and hope some day to grab a used gen 6 GT in a configuration close to what I want - but that assumes I could ever afford that. I sold my Harley to finish grad school, assuming I would be able to buy 2 of them after I became established. Hell, I've never come close again until now - 20 years later. So I've really got to look at this as a one-time decision.

Gotta admit, the ox-cart comment, and the safety/speed/suspension comments have made a huge impression on my thinking process.

Maybe I need to take the 69 Mach off of my screen saver on my computer and phone. I decide on the 2016...configure it on the build and price site...estimate my payments and insurance...make my list of mods...

...and then see that 69 on the screen!

Maybe I just need a nice poster or something in the garage.

T

I feel bad - I don't want to crush your dreams or anything, but I want you to go in with open eyes.

If you really love the '69 feel free, but everything about it will be somewhat frustrating to actually use. I personally love old Mustangs and I don't mind their idiosyncrasies, but it's really embarrassing to drive into a cruise in and everyone hears that front suspension squeaking. I was really mad when I bought all new suspension and it seems thinking back on it that within a year (probably less than 2,000 miles driving) I couldn't stop it from squeaking again.

I had a similar experience with replacing the steering box and then having the wandering steering again 2-3 years later. I gave up and accepted it.

Points suck and have to be adjusted a couple times a year. This has an easy fix - Pertronix electronic ignition can go under the distributor cap.

I replaced the 4 wheel drums and got front discs, because I was afraid in freeway traffic EVERY single car could out stop me, and on a hot day those drums do not stop you quickly from 70. The old discs make clicking noises because the pads aren't retained as well as they should be. You can bend the pad backing plate to reduce it, but after one hard stop the pads will click again. Ugghhh.

The wandering steering and bump steer...

Rust can be an issue and there are a lot of dishonest people out there who will do super sloppy body work and then slap mud and paint over it. My car has a bunch of sheet metal screws and thin metal plates in the floor (just a lot of work I have to do to fix all that eventually). If you find it after you buy it then you have an ethical dilemma about passing the lie along vs. taking a loss by revealing the truth about the car before selling. I don't have to worry about that because I'm not selling mine, but it's something to consider.

 

[69mach1-395]

OP, I'm in the same boat as you...may end up with both.
http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/5220345010.html
Points? What are those?
Rack and pinion, check.
Overdrive, check.
But you can only do so much with a classic...not a daily driver for sure.

 

[DreamingBig]

Hack,
You mention every single reason why I'm hesitant to go with the 69. I once had a 65 Ford truck as my daily driver, and a few years later a 63 Chevy Stepside. They were my only vehicles, and while absolutely cool as hell on a trip to town, they weren't exactly vehicles I felt safe in (other than because of their size), and often I felt like I'd have to put my feet out on the ground to get the Chevy to stop. They were wonderful to look at...but more than once I wound up on the side of the road messing with the points on that Chevy, and the Ford was an absolute beast to keep running - I'll never forget crawling under that thing in the middle of a Helena, Montana winter.

I've got no problem working on a vehicle that I can actually work on. Ya know...8 plug wires and a coil. I grew up setting the points on my 69 Plymouth Satellite with a matchbook.

But...I'm not 17 anymore. The sun just came out after 2 days of rain here. I want to get in my car and drive! For hours. In the mountains. Take the turns...open it up...and know the binders will actually grab when I need them to! Grab a bite to eat and know the monster will actually start back up when I'm ready to go again. Get home tonight and not spend the evening in my garage trying to diagnose something that just isn't right.

At least not in my daily driver/weekend cruiser/250+ mile per weekend machine.

Guess you see where I'm heading with this. The feedback has been VERY helpful!

T

 

[5.0 435]

1969 all original mach 1 vs 2016 mustang GT. As a daily driver no contest 2016. As a car for cruise nights with limited driving ....69 mach 1 " rattle trap ". I used to think the 69/70 were the best looking mustangs until the 05 came out. Since 05 they have improved on the looks year after year. The new GT350 is in another league.

 

[DreamingBig]

Mike,

I'd love to get into that GT350 league. And the base 350 is not that much more expensive than the loaded GT. I didn't even add that as an option, though I'm seriously thinking on it. My hesitation is that I'm not really a racer...seems the 350 is just so much more...a car built for the track. But damn...the looks of that thing! I want it just for the hood and fenders! And the sound of that flat plane crank! OH!

T

 

[50hhh]

If its not a daily driver go with the classic.

 

[Hack]

OP, I'm in the same boat as you...may end up with both.
http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/5220345010.html
Points? What are those?
Rack and pinion, check.
Overdrive, check.
But you can only do so much with a classic...not a daily driver for sure.

This is where a classic can become VERY expensive. If you can afford to upgrade quite a few components you can have the best of all worlds.

Don't think I'm criticizing because this is the path I'm going down with my '70 convertible. Aftermarket front suspension, aftermarket steering, EFI, modern overdrive transmission (currently set up for AOD, but I want something more modern).

 

[113]

Mike,

I'd love to get into that GT350 league. And the base 350 is not that much more expensive than the loaded GT. I didn't even add that as an option, though I'm seriously thinking on it. My hesitation is that I'm not really a racer...seems the 350 is just so much more...a car built for the track. But damn...the looks of that thing! I want it just for the hood and fenders! And the sound of that flat plane crank! OH!

T

If you can afford a '16 GT350 you buy a '16 GT350. It's going to be a legendary car in its' own right. Looks great, sounds otherworldly, and has all the modern conveniences, features, and safety you want/expect.

 

[IvanCRF]

Only get a Mach I if you can find one in a relatively rust free condition such as from the desert. I sold my '69 Mach I a couple years ago because it became a real headache and I figured I was better off finding one that was already completely restored than fixing mine up. Fixing paint, engine, interior and small things would have put me into the realm of buying an already nicely restored one.

There are lots of fake Mach I cars out there. It is very difficult to be 100% sure it is a true Mach I. There are some small assurances you can make, however. Be sure to open up the driver's side door and make sure the tag says "63C" under the "body" label. Secure a Deluxe Marti report and also punch in the vin number into the classic Mustang vin decoder. Check under the hood for tags and factory sheet metal number stampings adjacent to the engine, use a magnet and a keen eye underneath the car and all around. Really take your time before you hand over any cash because you don't want a Frankenstein hack job that was prettied up.

Some things that stand out in my mind:

The Mach I rimblow steering wheel option is a nightmare. I wired an external one and never got around to changing it out.
I got about 12mpg with a 4 barrel 351.
I was paranoid about it disappearing. My friends told me to look into Hagerty insurance, however.
I would never dare to take a very long road trip in it.
I did not have issues braking in it and I attribute this to the Mach I's stock front disc brakes. The '69 master cylinder has two separate brake fluid chambers so you have a backup in that as well.

The looks are killer. Compliments are given by everyone.
The car is a legend and highly unique. I see '15 Mustangs everywhere I go.

Also, I have a '69 Mustang coupe, which I will keep because it stayed in the desert all its life and has its original sheet metal. I still cruise around in it and it is far from show quality, which is good so I don't feel as bad if something happens to it. Even though the '69 does not have any creature comforts and would likely get me killed if I crashed in it especially with its poor factory gas tank location, I enjoy it very much. I do not have working air conditioning in it and sweat like crazy in the summer when driving it. In winter, I am freezing in it, but it lures me into driving it despite being slow and backward technologically. With the Pertronix ignition, I don't worry about setting the points anymore. I just need to wait a bit for the car to warm up before I go anywhere.

I really prefer the looks of the '69, but the 5.0 engine is the only reason I bought the '15. It is nice not to have to roll windows by hand, to have a working air conditioning, heater, defroster and knowing if I crash, I will likely live. I still love hopping into the '69 for fun though. If I won the lotto, I would sacrifice my '15 and put all its guts into a '69 fastback. I would not to the opposite.

Sponsored