Some interesting pictures of the rainbow of colours that came under some of the these Mustangs, dependent on body colour and
the factory building the car. This one that we're doing in our shop, has the 'slop gray' paint underneath (that we scanned and obtained a formula for) and orange body colour oversprayed all over it, followed by the black from the pinch welds on the sills. Note the reproduction of the factory drips in the paint underneath. These are not as easy to reproduce as you'd think, as the factory basically hosed this paint on with a pressure washer style attachment with little care as to how much product they applied and then the car was cooked in the oven, drying up the drips. Very hard to reproduce, but we're happy that we can get it fairly close. You can never avoid a paint run when you don't want one and when you want them everywhere, you can't get as many as you want! Murphy's law!
the factory building the car. This one that we're doing in our shop, has the 'slop gray' paint underneath (that we scanned and obtained a formula for) and orange body colour oversprayed all over it, followed by the black from the pinch welds on the sills. Note the reproduction of the factory drips in the paint underneath. These are not as easy to reproduce as you'd think, as the factory basically hosed this paint on with a pressure washer style attachment with little care as to how much product they applied and then the car was cooked in the oven, drying up the drips. Very hard to reproduce, but we're happy that we can get it fairly close. You can never avoid a paint run when you don't want one and when you want them everywhere, you can't get as many as you want! Murphy's law!
'70 Mach-1 Cobra Jet body fresh off the rotisserie and almost ready for final paint. It's been a long slog getting this one to this stage, but
it's nice to see it coming together properly for the first time since it was built. It had unfortunately been the victim of some very ordinary alleged bodywork repairs in it's hard life, with 1mm aluminum sheet pop riveted to the A pillar in a structural capacity, to hold the doors on, as one glaring example of crafty body work!
it's nice to see it coming together properly for the first time since it was built. It had unfortunately been the victim of some very ordinary alleged bodywork repairs in it's hard life, with 1mm aluminum sheet pop riveted to the A pillar in a structural capacity, to hold the doors on, as one glaring example of crafty body work!
Here is the CJ, all painted and looking fantastic. We're very happy with how it has come up in its original colour. Nice & straight, too.
Well, the big CJ is starting to come back together, after a long, long time in parts and a significant restoration. Starting to look good!
Don't mind the appearance of the ill fitting exhaust system, as it's only hanging by the muffler hangers and the single rear hangers at this stage. I hang and bolt on as much as I can while the car is on the rotisserie, so that when it comes down, the only time you slide under it, is to attach the transmission crossmember and mount, speedo cable and tailshaft/driveshaft, basically. The exhaust being fitted like this on the rotisserie, means that as it comes down, the diff slides in, hooks up and there is no chance of scratching it trying to man handle the exhaust over the top of it. All the front suspension, brakes, power steering and hoses are attached and set up while up on the rotisserie, which also makes light work of it.
Don't mind the appearance of the ill fitting exhaust system, as it's only hanging by the muffler hangers and the single rear hangers at this stage. I hang and bolt on as much as I can while the car is on the rotisserie, so that when it comes down, the only time you slide under it, is to attach the transmission crossmember and mount, speedo cable and tailshaft/driveshaft, basically. The exhaust being fitted like this on the rotisserie, means that as it comes down, the diff slides in, hooks up and there is no chance of scratching it trying to man handle the exhaust over the top of it. All the front suspension, brakes, power steering and hoses are attached and set up while up on the rotisserie, which also makes light work of it.
Now that the undercarriage is mostly done, it was bought down off of the rotisserie and back onto the wheels for the first time in a very long time (hopefully to remain ON it's wheels for a very long time to come!). Now it's starting to look like a tough car, again.
Well, below you can see that the big 428 Cobra Jet has made its way back into the engine bay for a final visit, all detailed and ready to roll. The exhaust was fitted and everything plumbed up and it fired into life as expected and without incident. Cam was run in according to our engine builders spec's and we couldn't be happier. Note the small details, such as the FOMOCO exhaust clamps and the overspray on the undercarriage and textured black paint on the hood, as correct for a '70 and those cool 'trim rings and hub caps' as noted on the original window sticker for this Mach-1 - a very unusual wheel option for the '70 Mach-1, as most were fitted with sports wheel covers or the 5 slot steel wheel. I like these, as they're different. Very much like a stock '70 Boss 302 arrangement, only with a 14 x 7 rim. The car is also fitted with 'no size' Goodyear Polyglas tyres, as period correct for the build date of this car.
You'll note that I couldn't help myself with the shaker assembly, throwing it on the car even though not yet detailed/restored - but you have to admit, they look tough poking through the hood..!
You'll note that I couldn't help myself with the shaker assembly, throwing it on the car even though not yet detailed/restored - but you have to admit, they look tough poking through the hood..!
Well, we made it! Just in time for the concours at the Nationals and just under 4 weeks from rotisserie to finished car and it won Gold in original class, concours..! We're very happy to bring this back from the dead, to a Gold Concours car.