Robert’s 1969 Ford Mustang Mach I

Robert had a 1970 Ford Mustang when he was younger, but he let it go. He knew a woman that had purchased a new 1969 Ford Mustang Mach I from Helmold Ford. Living in the same town of Apex, North Carolina, and more importantly, being friends, Robert expressed interest to the original owner.

Robert said, “I knew this car was around and it was just kind of setting up for about a year before I bought it. It was setting around and they didn’t drive it anymore, so I just started to plug her about ‘When are you going to sell me this car?’”

Robert thought that his son, who would soon start driving, would like the classic Ford. “What I was doing when I bought it, I was going to fix it up for my son for when he got his license. And then as we started to fix it, we realized that it probably wasn’t the best thing for him to be driving to school and stuff. So we ended up buying him a new Mustang. He actually did real good with it and he didn’t get too many tickets.”

Robert continued to work on the Mach I even though it wasn’t going to be his son’s primary transportation. His plan was to keep it original just like it came from the factory as much as possible. In 1993 Robert repainted the 1969 Mustang, still powered by the numbers matching original 351 V8 engine and automatic transmission.

“I had to put some valve seals in it because it would smoke a little bit when you first start it up, but I never tore the engine down,” said Robert. “The original owner just drove it around town, and today it only has 131,000 miles on it.  I did redo the seats because they were cracked up and I did the dash, but it still has the original carpet and center console. It has the original spare tire too. Once I got it, I kind of redid it and she (original owner) was really pleased with it. So I told her she could drive it anytime she wants to.”

Robert did change out the factory 2bbl carburetor and installed a Holley 650 cfm in its place. He used an original Ford 4bbl intake manifold from another ’69 Mustang to make the swap. The car is now how Robert likes it.

“Me and my wife we take it and go get ice cream on Sunday. It doesn’t have air-conditioning so we wait till the weather cools down. I drive it in the Christmas Parade in Apex every year. I like all of them,” Robert said scanning the parking lot filled with other cars in the show, “but I just wanted to keep mine original. It’s one that you can drive.”

Robert does admit that the shine of an engine dress up kit is tempting when he is at a show. “I have thought about putting some chrome on the engine, but that’s not how it came from the factory. I could probably make it a little nicer if I took the engine out, but there’s something about the engine never being out. Right now, I drive it anytime I feel like it. Because actually when I got it and started putting it together, it wasn’t for show, it was just for driving.”

Robert’s future plans for the car could go a number of ways. “I am going to keep it like it is but everything is for sale. I guess if somebody came by and really wanted it more than I do, than at that price, I could replace it with two more,” he said laughing.

But let’s not forget about Plan A. “My son he’s been looking and he wants and older car now,” Robert said with a wink and smile.

Classics Feature – 1969 Ford Mustang Mach I – Robert resides in Apex, North Carolina. Pictures were taken August 22, 2009 at the Capital City Cruisers Car Show in Raleigh, North Carolina.