How to Buy a Classic Mustang

The Mustang is an American icon. Introduced late in 1964, these cars became incredibly popular. Today, there are still thousands on the road, and a whole industry has grown up around keeping them going.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cars
• Used-car Quote Requests

1. Look for a 1964 to 1966 Mustang for the classic, original body style.

2. Consider a 1967 or 1968 Mustang for a more muscular look.

3. Find a fastback-style Mustang. These cars are somewhat rare, and are worth almost as much as the convertibles.

4. Consider a Shelby Mustang if you want a solid investment. Be prepared to pay quite a bit more.

5. Look for cars with power steering for improved drivability.

6. Know that six-cylinder Mustangs don't have the value of the V-8 cars, but they offer much of the driving fun.

7. Look for a convertible for top-down cruising. These cars are quite a bit more expensive than the hardtops but will hold their value quite nicely.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid heavily modified cars.
• Consider a 1987 to 1993 Mustang if you want a more modern car that provides a lot of bang for the buck.

[seige-eh]

on 4/13/2007 I think that this is the stupidest "how to" thing I've ever heard of. If someone is into classic cars, they already KNOW how to buy one. Anyone who is interested in starting to buy classic cars will not find this information helpful. I'm just flabbergasted at this topic. It's as though you're talking to 4-year olds ... sorry this one's a bummer.

on 11/22/2005 Bring a non marking magnet with you to determine if the vehicle is loaded up with plastic filler. The vehicle might look great, but you will have a mess on your hands in the future.

on 11/22/2005 When looking for rust, be prepared to crawl under the car. Get upside down under the dash to look for rust at the forward corners. Look in the trunk on the back sides (down in the wells). Stick your finger in the holes in the forward and rear subframes. Feel as far forward as you can on the sides of the quarter panels from the trunk, and see if your hands are rusty. Use a hammer and tap lightly on the subframes. Do you hear crackling?

on 11/22/2005 Always check the original state in which the vehicle was sold along with any other states it has been in. This is very important because of rust. If a vehicle has been in a state with much rain and or snow like in Washington, it would 90% of the time have rust damage. Rust is most often found in the wheel wells and in the flooring.

on 11/22/2005 Become familiar with the engine codes.
Make sure the engine code matches the engine in the car. For example, a C code
in the serial number means that a 289
V8 came in the car. If it has a 6 cylinder in it, it is not original and therefore worth less.