[zray]

If there’s ANY way your budget can swing it, for your FIRST classic Mustang, don’t buy a car that has rust or needs repairs to be drivable. Get something you can enjoy on the road from day one. Even drivable cars are going to need a lot of constant maintenance before they meet any standard of road-worthiness. The garage queens I’ve purchased took two years of constant attention before they were ready to go cross-country without worry.

You will spend more money up front by purchasing a car that’s drivable. But in the mid and long term, you will be saving thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours by getting a car that’s ready to roll.

Nothing wrong with buying a project for an experienced classic owner. But for a first time buyer, no, don’t do it.

Z

 

[zray]

As rare as Mustangs may be, patience is your friend. It may take a year to find the right car. Don’t rush into one the first ones you find.

What are the roadblocks to importing a car from say England, for example ? Many more Mustangs there than on the continent.

Z

PS : as AZ_Ryan points out, the opportunities for rust are endless, especially the cowl area . At least pour water down the outside cowl vent and see if if comes inside the car behind the dash.

Realistically, the entire car should be examined with a magnet for (excess) bondo and an ice pick or other sharp object to put some pressure on the floor board / pan, and other rust prone areas to see if there is any “give” or actual punch thru an area that’s been impacted by corrosion.

 

[zray]

“……This is probably a noob question but what is so bad about Bondo? Does rust continue underneath if the surface isn't treated correctly?……

These cars are not as rigid as they should be, even when everything is perfect. That is why there is a healthy market for export braces, shock tower improvements, and yes, even improved crossmembers

Rust diminishes the unibody strength and rigidity. Bondo adds back zero strength. That is my main problem with using it to excess, aside from it being a glaring indicator of a shoddy repair.

if the metal was properly treated first, bondo itself won’t enable rust. Trouble is, many (most?) people using buckets of bondo don’t care about proper pre-treating the metal.

Z