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1973 Ford Mustang

$34,997

1973 Ford Mustang

Vehicle Details

Make

Ford

Model

Mustang

Year

1973

Mileage

13,610 miles

VIN

J3F03F198711F

Body Type

Convertible

Transmission

Automatic

Engine

302ci 2V V8

Description

1973 Ford Mustang Convertible — Medium Green Metallic, 302 V8, Power Top, Solid Driver Why This Car Is Special The 1973 Ford Mustang convertible holds a distinction that most Mustang enthusiasts know well: it was the last open-air Mustang Ford would build for ten years. When the Mustang II arrived for 1974, the convertible body style was gone, and it would not return until the 1983 model year. That single fact has driven steady collector interest in the 1973 Ford Mustang convertible for decades, and it shows no signs of softening.

The 1971—1973 generation is often called the 'big Mustang' era, and for good reason. Ford stretched and widened the platform substantially over the 1969—1970 cars, giving the 1973 a longer hood, a wider stance, and a more muscular overall presence. The styling was polarizing when new — some felt it strayed too far from the original pony car formula — but time has been kind to these cars.

The long hood, the sculpted body sides, the sequential turn signal taillights, and the aggressive fastback-influenced roofline on the convertible all read well in person, especially in a color like Medium Green Metallic. For 1973, Ford also made the front bumper system heavier to comply with new federal 5-mph impact standards, which added some visual weight up front but also gives the 1973 its own distinct look compared to the 1971 and 1972 models. The 1973 is easy to identify by that beefier front end, and it is a detail that helps collectors date the car at a glance.

Convertible production numbers for the 1973 Mustang were relatively modest. Ford built 11,853 convertibles for the model year out of total Mustang production of approximately 134,000 units — making the ragtop roughly one in eleven cars built that year. With the knowledge that this would be the last Mustang convertible for a decade, the 1973 has always carried a premium in the collector market over its coupe and SportsRoof counterparts.

This particular car is finished in Medium Green Metallic over a black vinyl interior and wears a black power convertible top. The 302ci 2-barrel V8 is backed by a 3-speed automatic transmission with a floor-mounted shifter. The car presents as an honest, well-optioned driver-quality example with a solid undercarriage and a factory-style option list that tells you this car was ordered by someone who wanted comfort and style in equal measure.

Features List - 302ci 2-Barrel V8 engine - 3-Speed Automatic Transmission - Floor-Mounted Shifter - Power Convertible Top - Black Convertible Top - Power Steering - Power Brakes with Front Disc Brakes - Ram Air Hood Scoops - Front Chin Spoiler - Deck Lid Spoiler - Body Side Stripes - Rally-Style Chrome Wheels - White Letter Tires - Mud Flaps - Dual Exhaust - Black Vinyl Bucket Seats (front) - Rear Seat - Center Console - Woodgrain Door Panels - Full Round Instrument Pod - FM Stereo Radio - 8-Track Player - Heater and Defroster - Ford 8-Inch Rear Axle - Rear Leaf Springs - Solid Undercarriage - Modern Rubber Floor Mats Mechanical The 302 cubic inch V8 — Ford's small-block workhorse — was the standard V8 offering in the 1973 Mustang. By 1973, compression ratios and horsepower ratings had been reduced across the industry to meet emissions standards and accommodate lower-octane unleaded fuel, so the 302 2-barrel was not a performance engine in the traditional sense. What it is, however, is a reliable, well-understood, and parts-abundant powerplant that responds well to maintenance and modest upgrades if a future owner ever wants more from it.

Ford built hundreds of thousands of these engines across multiple platforms, and the knowledge base for keeping them running is extensive. The engine bay on this 1973 Ford Mustang presents cleanly, with the factory Ford Blue valve covers and the correct 302-2V air cleaner lid in place. The 3-speed automatic sends power back through a driveshaft to the Ford 8-inch rear axle, which is the correct rear end for this drivetrain combination

Classic Ford Mustang Buyer's Guide

Full guide
M
Mike Sullivan
Muscle Cars
1964–1973
~5 min read
Updated Apr 2026
The definitive buyer's guide for classic Ford Mustang 1964½-1973. Generation breakdown, rust hotspots, engine code identification, Marti Report essentials, and current market pricing.
This guide covers
✓ 10-point inspection checklist
✓ Common issues & what to avoid
✓ In-person inspection guide
✓ Market pricing by year & condition
✓ 6 FAQs answered
✓ History & fun facts

Ford Mustang Market Overview

Based on 453 Ford Mustang listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

453
Listed Now
$36,906
Avg. Asking Price
1964–2012
Year Range
Price Position on Our Site — Average Range
This car: $34,997
Low: $3,000 High: $284,995
Transmission Distribution
Automatic 55% ◄
Manual 31%
Condition Distribution
Excellent 6%
Good 6%
Fair 2%
Poor 0%
Project 0%
Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 453 listings →
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Classic Ford Mustang Buyer's Guide

The Ford Mustang launched on April 17, 1964 and sold a million units faster than any car in American history. Sixty years later, the first-generation Mustang (1964½-1973) remains the cornerstone of the classic car hobby — the gateway car for new collectors, the trophy car for veteran enthusiasts, and the most cloned, faked, and re-stamped muscle car on the market. Whether you're hunting a base inline-six coupe or a documented Boss 429, knowing what separates the real cars from the tribute builds is the difference between an investment and a money pit.

What to Check Before Buying

✓
Verify VIN against data plate and engine casting — Fifth digit of VIN = engine code. Cross-reference with block casting number behind cylinder head.
✓
Order Marti Report for any 1967+ car over $30K — Ford's original production records via Marti Auto Works. $25 confirms what the car actually was when it left the factory.
✓
Inspect torque boxes from underneath — Front and rear, where the unibody meets floor pans. Rotted torque boxes = $3,000-$6,000 repair and chassis flex.
✓
Pull kick panels and check cowl seam — Where windshield base meets firewall. Cowl rust here drains into the cabin and rots floor pans.
✓
Magnet test rocker panels and quarters — Body filler is non-magnetic. If the magnet doesn't stick, the panel has been filled — meaning underlying rust.
✓
Check shock tower welds for cracks — Cracks radiating from upper shock mount = beaten chassis. Common on Big Block cars and 428 CJs.
✓
Verify original GT/Mach 1/Boss equipment — Without Marti docs and matching data plate, treat all performance trim claims as clone candidates.
✓
Test all electrical functions — Every gauge, every switch, every light. Brittle 60-year-old harnesses and worn switches are universal.
✓
Compression test all eight cylinders — Should read 145-175 PSI uniformly. Variance >15% between cylinders = head gasket or ring problem.
✓
Drive at least 30 minutes on highway — Listen for differential whine, transmission slip, brake pulsation, steering wander. Watch for overheating in stop-and-go traffic.

Common Issues

Mustang rust is everywhere and predictable. The torque boxes (front and rear, where the unibody meets the floor pans) are the structural killers — rotted torque boxes mean the car flexes under load and the doors won't close right. Cowl rust hides under the dashboard where the windshield base meets the firewall. Floor pans rust through from the underside in any car that lived north of the Mason-Dixon. Rear quarters, lower fenders behind the front wheels, and the trunk drop-offs are all standard rust zones. Mechanically, first-gen Mustangs are simple but the small details matter. The Toploader four-speed is bulletproof when synchronized properly; the C4 and C6 automatics are robust but commonly leak from front pump seals. The 9-inch rear is bombproof — but make sure the gear ratio matches what's claimed. Engine identification by casting numbers is essential: many cars wear the wrong block, and a 1968 GT 390 with a 1973 351W block is not what the seller is advertising. Electrical issues plague any 60-year-old car. The original wiring harnesses are brittle, the headlight switches fail, the gauges read inconsistently, and the turn signal switches die. Plan to replace the headlight switch, the ignition switch, and at least the engine-bay harness on any first-gen Mustang you buy. Budget $800-$1,500 for a complete electrical refresh.

What to Look For

Always start with the data plate (door tag) and the VIN. The fifth digit of the VIN is the engine code — A=289 4V, C=289 2V, D=289 standard, K=289 HiPo, F=302 2V, J=302 4V (Boss 302), M=351 4V, Q=428 CJ, R=428 SCJ Ram Air, S=390 4V, Z=Boss 429. Cross-reference the VIN engine code with the actual block casting number — they must agree. For any car claimed as a GT, Mach 1, Boss, Shelby, or Cobra Jet, demand a Marti Report. Marti Auto Works has Ford's original production records and can verify exactly what the car was when it left Dearborn or San Jose. A $25 Marti Report will save you $25,000 in mistakes. Cars without Marti documentation should be priced as clones, period. Unibody integrity is the other non-negotiable. Pop the hood, look at the shock towers — cracks radiating from the upper shock mount are common on Big Block cars and indicate the chassis has been beaten. Inspect the torque boxes from underneath. Lift the trunk mat and look at the trunk drop-offs. Pull the rear seat and check the floor where the seat bolts down. Fresh undercoating on a project car is a red flag — it's almost always hiding rust repairs.

Price Guide

Base 1965-1966 coupes with the inline-six or 289 2V remain the most accessible classic Mustang at $18,000-$32,000 for solid drivers. Convertibles add $8,000-$15,000 to equivalent coupe pricing. Fastbacks (1965-1968) are dramatically more valuable due to Bullitt and Eleanor pop-culture demand — a clean 1967-1968 fastback small-block runs $45,000-$75,000. 1967-1968 GT 390 cars (Bullitt-style) trade for $60,000-$110,000 with documentation. The 1968 GT 428 Cobra Jet is the holy grail of the small-bumper era at $120,000-$220,000 for documented numbers-matching cars. 1969-1970 Boss 302 and Mach 1 cars run $70,000-$140,000 depending on condition and equipment. The Boss 429 is six-figure-plus territory — $300,000-$600,000 for documented examples. 1971-1973 cars (the Big Body era) have historically been the bargain entry point but appreciation has accelerated since 2020. A clean 1973 Mach 1 with the 351 Cobra Jet now runs $45,000-$75,000 — up dramatically from the $25,000 territory of a decade ago. Project cars (running but rough) start around $15,000 for coupes and $22,000 for fastbacks.

Did You Know?

The Mustang was originally going to be called the Cougar — Lee Iacocca's team had "Cougar" emblems already produced before a focus group response prompted the last-minute name change. The Cougar name was eventually used for the Mercury sister car launched for 1967. Ford originally projected first-year Mustang sales of 100,000 units. The car sold 418,812 units in its abbreviated 18-month launch year, and over a million Mustangs were sold by March 1966 — a sales pace that has never been equaled by any other American automobile launch. The iconic 1964½ designation isn't actually a real model year — Ford built the early Mustangs as 1965 models, but the cars produced before September 1964 had different alternators, generators, and other details, leading collectors to designate them "1964½" cars to distinguish them.

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