How rare are these 69's, and where to start on restoring?
Hello, I have two 69's that have been in the family for years but I was wondering how rare they were and where should I start restoring. One has complete mint seats and the other has just the back seats. Mostly complete, only missing a few parts. Pretty much just need the dash and carpet and the interior would be complete. But anyways, here are the codes for them, could anyone tell me how rare these are? It is weird, it says Ivy Gold seats but the rear seats in both were black. The front seats had covers on them but I am pretty sure they were black too..
Warranty Number: 9F02L149559
Year: 9 1969
Plant: F Dearborn, MI
Body Series: 02 SportsRoof
Engine: L 250 1v I6
Unit: 149559 149559
Miscellaneous Vehicle Data
Body: 63A SportsRoof, Standard Interior
Color: 2 New Lime
Trim: 2G Dk. Ivy Gold Vinyl and Dk. Ivy Gold Kiwi Vinyl, Standard Interior
Date: 16A January 16, 1969
D.S.O: 62 Houston
Axle: 3 2.79:1, Conventional
Trans: W C4 Automatic
Warranty Number: 9F02T124583
Year: 9 1969
Plant: F Dearborn, MI
Body Series: 02 SportsRoof
Engine: T 200 1v I6
Unit: 124583 124583
Miscellaneous Vehicle Data
Body: 63A SportsRoof, Standard Interior
Color: I Lime Gold Metallic
Trim: 2G Dk. Ivy Gold Vinyl and Dk. Ivy Gold Kiwi Vinyl, Standard Interior
Date: 11L November 11, 1968
D.S.O: 61 Dallas
Axle: C 3.08:1, Conventional
Trans: 1 3-Speed Manual
Hi, and welcome to the site! Sounds like you have your hands full with not one but TWO '69s!
I may have an explanation on the difference between the build tag interior codes and your actual interior. In all likelihood, one of two things happened:
1. Both cars have a misstamp on the data plate, and were originally equipped with black interior.
2. Both cars were originally equipped with the green interior, and down the road, someone swapped black interiors into both cars.
Personally, I'd bet that both cars came with green interior, and were later swapped to black. Production being what it was in 1969, however, it is theoretically possible that both cars were misstamped and did indeed have black interiors all along. Stranger things have happened.
To find out how rare your cars are, check out Kevin Marti of Marti Autoworks. Do a Google search on that name, and it should bring up his site. Marti purchased all of Ford's production data from 1967-1973, so he can literally provide a breakdown of your car's original options, as well as provide figures as to the rarity of both cars.
It isn't rarity that's so important, its type! The few who care about VIN numbers hang out at Barrett Jackson, not the real world! '69 sportsroofs (Mach 1, Boss, or regular sports roofs) are the most sought after mustangs of all. Sports roof models will often bring more $$$ than the convertibles! They are also the most beautiful Fords since the war, perhaps the best looking of any brand name ever. For that reason you can get parts! Now, don't get me wrong, as far as this goes, it is nice that the numbers match, but not vital. People love these how ever they are restored. I am a purist and would like to see all the six's left in, but you will get more out of them if you can do them up as Mach 1 style, V-8's, knitted vynal seats, etc. PLEASE, don't cut the bodies up though (like on the TV shows)! Preserve them for future generations yet unborn! It won't be cheap, expect to spend as much as 15 grand or more to do up a complete six cylinder '69. We sank 14 into the last one we did (a 69 coupe) for a customer last year. Got all the parts from NPD.
There are many cars that are much more rare than these, but that doesn't make them worth more. They are rare 'cuz people didn't buy them new or didn't like them enough to save them. '69 coupes (for example) are fewer and farther between for this reason. The coupes were pretty drab compared to the sportroofs. Up here in the snow belt rust was (and still is) the killer of these cars. There were fewer '69's sold new than '64-66 so naturally, after the rust was done, there were fewer left for us to enjoy today. I actually scrapped a '70 back in 89 'cuz it was rusted away so badly! I'd just love to have two '69 sportsroofs to work with today, in any condition!
Go to car shows. Attend Mustang events. Look at what other guys (and gals) are doing with theirs. Join the forums. Surf the photo arrays. This will help you make up your mind about what to do next. You have a gold mine here just having two '69s to start with.
If it was me, I'd do one up original as a daily driver, even with the green lining and the six, and the other as a Mach or Boss for the shows!
Yeah, my grand pa already has a 390 to go in one. Both the engines are missing though. There were 3 but my uncle took one and restored it already. I remember like 5 years ago when we got them, it was $600 for all 3. I wanna fix one up and sell it, and fix up the other to keep.
Lol ok.. Probably wont start on them for a long time. They need alot of work. Have pics if anyone wants. But I am probably gonna get like a 69 GTO and start with that, and hopefully work my way up to the mustangs.
Actually now that I look at it, the 428 engines aren't that expensive, they aren't like the 428 HEMI that is 3x more, at $15,000.
I have a 69 Mach 1 that was built at the Dearborn plant. It's currently covered and garaged and is going to be my next project once I'm finished with my 65 convertible. Something important for you to know is that Marti Autoworks has the original factory (Iminger) invoices for all 69 Mustangs built at the Dearborn plant. This invoice details exactly how your car was equipped when it left the plant. I was able to purchase the invoice for my Mach 1 and it's been very helpful to me in determining the originality of my car's body, interior, engine, drive train and options. If you plan to keep your cars, I'd get my hands on these invoices, as well as a Marti report. Even if you plan to sell them, the more documentation you have on these sportsroofs that you can show a potential buyer, the better.
Also, check out this site. Is it possible that you have one (or two) of these sportsroofs? If so, I'd hold onto them.
1965 Convertible 200 I-6, C-4 Auto (originally 3-speed manual) "Groovy Red" (originally Wimbleton White, then dark green) Newly restored and finally home!
1969 Mach 1 351 (W) 3-Speed Manual, Winter Blue, Deluxe Interior, All original, per Marti Report/Eminger Invoice. Hopefully starting restoration in the fall of 2009!
No, they are not. It would have been neat if they were the 600 edition. Maybe I could build one up as that. They are basically identical to the 600 editions.
I would swap in a V8 in at least one of them, origionality is nice, maybe keep an I-6 in yours, but you will get the most money if you convert to a V8!
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1968 Mustang Coupe with 331 stroker, Explorer 8.8" rear-3.73 Posi, '88 T-5,hydraulic clutch, dual Flowmaster exhaust, 4-wheel discs!
Hello, I have two 69's that have been in the family for years but I was wondering how rare they were and where should I start restoring. One has complete mint seats and the other has just the back seats. Mostly complete, only missing a few parts. Pretty much just need the dash and carpet and the interior would be complete. But anyways, here are the codes for them, could anyone tell me how rare these are? It is weird, it says Ivy Gold seats but the rear seats in both were black. The front seats had covers on them but I am pretty sure they were black too..
Warranty Number: 9F02L149559
Year: 9 1969
Plant: F Dearborn, MI
Body Series: 02 SportsRoof
Engine: L 250 1v I6
Unit: 149559 149559
Miscellaneous Vehicle Data
Body: 63A SportsRoof, Standard Interior
Color: 2 New Lime
Trim: 2G Dk. Ivy Gold Vinyl and Dk. Ivy Gold Kiwi Vinyl, Standard Interior
Date: 16A January 16, 1969
D.S.O: 62 Houston
Axle: 3 2.79:1, Conventional
Trans: W C4 Automatic
Warranty Number: 9F02T124583
Year: 9 1969
Plant: F Dearborn, MI
Body Series: 02 SportsRoof
Engine: T 200 1v I6
Unit: 124583 124583
Miscellaneous Vehicle Data
Body: 63A SportsRoof, Standard Interior
Color: I Lime Gold Metallic
Trim: 2G Dk. Ivy Gold Vinyl and Dk. Ivy Gold Kiwi Vinyl, Standard Interior
Date: 11L November 11, 1968
D.S.O: 61 Dallas
Axle: C 3.08:1, Conventional
Trans: 1 3-Speed Manual
Man, those are nice cars! Yeah the V8s bring the money but it's rare to see a 6 cyl Sportsroof. They do get attention when they are seen. I personally like the "L" code one. The "L" code, the 250 6 cyl, was a "large 6" and came factory with 5 lugs and a small block V8 suspension. It was the only 6 cyl to come like that as all the other 6s the Mustangs had were 4 lug and had the smaller brakes and suspension.
Here's some production numbers for you from Marti's book.
I'll start with the first car, the L code:
Color: 2 New Lime ,Trim: 2G Dk. Ivy Gold......1,456 Sportsroofs produced with this combo.
250 6 cyl and C4 automatic........3,187 Sportsroofs.
One of 3,276 Sportsroofs that went to Houston, DSO 62
This was one of 3,743 Sportsroofs to go to Dallas, DSO 61.
Note: Both cars had the same color interior. Not only were the seats green in color so would the dash, steering wheel, carpet, door panels, headliner, and rear panels. While the data plate could have been stamped wrong if the other bits of the interior are green then the car most likely did come with green interior. The seats get the most wear and may have been recovered or replaced with better ones. Black was the most common interior color so they would have been the easiest to find. Also if they were replaced in the early or mid 80s then the person may have gone black since green was no longer a popular interior color as it had been in the 60s and early 70s.
If you decide to do another interior color do NOT toss the original green steering wheel and interior panels if they are in decent shape! They are difficult to find and aren't reproduced. There are people out there looking for them.
Look through the links towards the end and you can see the green interior. Personally I do like the green interior, not my favorite I will say, but I still like it as it's something different and wouldn't mind owning a car with it.
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1968 Mustang coupe, Acapulco Blue, 289 2v, C-4, Power Steering.
Hopefully a 1969 convertible or Sportsroof (non Mach or Boss) for next Mustang project
Trying to find my father's 1973 Mustang Grande he bought brand new. 3F04F126773 last known registration and title was in New Jersey, 1982.
So does anyone know what it would be to media blast the whole car inside and out?? I want to make one of these my first car, also, all the rust on the cars is just surface rust.. There is NO rust through in the floors and trunk, I was really surprised. The only bad part is the tail lights of the grey one, it has some rust through, but that is it.
I also have some video walk arounds that show alot more of the car and the interior if anyone wants me to post those too.
How rare are these 69's, and where to start on restoring? 
