[tfrost17]

I have been looking for an old mustang and decided against buying a few different ones. I want a mach 1 or a fastback but I found a 1971 Mustang Grande that has a 302. It has a holly 750 dual line carb and “all the goodies” for 5 grand. He claims it is 425 rear wheel horsepower is this possible with the 302? I am just concerned that the grande version is a “grandma” car and am wondering if I should buy this one or pay about double or more and get a fastback. Any input would be appreciated because I have to make a decision today.

[67ragtopStang]

That's a nice looking Mustang, but it looks like a standard coupe. Grande's have a vinyl roof. Possibly it was removed prior to painting the car. I'm sure a 302 can be built to produce 425hp, but only a dyno test can confirm if this car gives 425hp at the rear wheels.

It's hard to tell from the photos if it is hiding some shoddy body repairs, but it does look good for a $5K car. Did you take it for a ride? How does it run? It doesnt look like it has power steering which I would think a Grande would have had originally. Take a close look for quicky cheap body repair work.

You need to ask yoursef if you really like the style of this car. If you like Fastbacks better, I hold out for what you want.

[cindys_sn95]

it looks like a nice $5000 coupe. 425 at the rear wheels, no. without knowing the engines complete combo, i would say no more than 225-230 at the wheels. based on csat iron factory heads, performer intake, and a too big holley 750.

[J. Rhapsody]

It might sound like it has 425 rwhp

[andrewmp6]

Yes a 302 can make that much his can't tho those cast iron heads choke it of any power.

[Jay H 237]

A Grande would actually make a nice sleeper, it was the luxury model. The VIN will tell what it is, a regular coupe has a "1" in the 4th digit of the VIN, a Grande has a "4".

If the car looks as good in person as it does in the pics it sure is worth the 5k.

[tfrost17]

It is just the standard coupe version not the grande. I am going to look at it this afternoon is there anything else I need to look for other that the usual rust spots before I purchase it? It concerns me that he says it has 425 hp if he lies about that he may not be telling the truth about something else.

[Jay H 237]

Originally Posted by tfrost17

It is just the standard coupe version not the grande. I am going to look at it this afternoon is there anything else I need to look for other that the usual rust spots before I purchase it? It concerns me that he says it has 425 hp if he lies about that he may not be telling the truth about something else.

Nothing jumps out different with the big bodied cars that's really different from the earler ones. Bring some cardboard or something to lay on to look under the car real well.

Just so you know the stock 302 2v in '71 was rated at 210 hp. As other's said, with only the intake, carb and headers I'll be very conservative and say he's at the max 250 hp. He may not know he's lying either if he didn't build the motor, someone else may have done it and told him it's 425.

I say possibly 250 too as there's no garauntee it's the original engine. If it's an earlier 302 it would have been rated higher, J code in '68 was 230 hp stock and the F code 302 in '69 and '70 was 220 hp stock. By '71 they were down rated due to added government emissions regulations.

[Calponycarsmike]

Originally Posted by tfrost17

It is just the standard coupe version not the grande. I am going to look at it this afternoon is there anything else I need to look for other that the usual rust spots before I purchase it? It concerns me that he says it has 425 hp if he lies about that he may not be telling the truth about something else.

He may not be telling lies, he could just be dumb . When I worked for California Mustang we had a guy that worked there and he basicly took the stock hp rating, and a calculator and added up each items hp gain claims and came out with a 400hp small block.

"well the intake adds 20, and the headers add 20, and the exhaust ads 10, and" etc...

[WildStyle]

Looks like the cowl vent grates have been filled with sheet metal as well. Check under the dash, around the fresh air vents for cowl rot. Very common on these cars.

[tfrost17]

I bought the car. It looks a lot better in person than in those pictures. I do not think it has 425 hp but it is a beast. Driving it is a lot different that driving my 07 gt especially stopping. It has a few problems here and there nothing major. The hurst shifter rattles pretty bad at about 80 mph. It was media blasted when it was redone and I have the pictures of it thought all the stages of the rebuild so maybe rust will not be a huge issue however there is a small paint bubble in the door . The engine only has 10000 miles on it since it was rebuilt and the odometer was reset at 0 to keep up with the mileage. I am conflicted on the wheels I do not like them but they are original and people keep telling me not to change them. Im sure I will have a lot more questions as I upgrade parts on the car. The first projects are going to be replacing the cheap gages the previous owner put in and put some kind of led light in the original gages, maybe wheels and tires and make the ram air hood functional and some hood pins. Thanks for all the help on deciding what car to buy. I will post some pics as soon as I get a chance.

[andrewmp6]

Rust is the worse thing look anywhere and everywhere.The floor pan the cowl and around the rear wheels are most common rust spots.Its a used car never trust what the person selling it says. There are honest people out there but some just don't know things too.A car don't lie people do so go over everything crawl under it anything looks odd or wrong walk away.If he says that much ask for a dyno sheet or him to have it dynoed.