A Diamond in the Rough?
This is a well cared for and preserved original thoroughbred. It has survived the test of time and maintained its factory given stature. There’s a special feeling for a Mustang enthusiast upon discovering an original, unrestored pony car for the first time.
The owners provided a few facts about their special car. Yes, it was an original with supporting documentation including a Marti report, build sheet and maintenance records. They had traveled south from Michigan to celebrate the anniversary of the Mustang. The owners had chosen this special event to make a debut.
The ’69 Mach 1 was purchased in 2003 on eBay by Tom and Roz Kerkstra from Grandville, Michigan. To their dismay, it never received a bid during its entire multiple day sales run. Perhaps an indication of the way the economy was headed or overlooked by perspective buyers as they thought this one will bring in “big bucks”.
After watching the entire auction, Tom could not help wonder why it had not been grabbed up. He contacted the seller and traveled from western Michigan to a suburb near Detroit to look the car over. At first glance, he could only mutter the words “Wow”. Tucked away under a car cover was an original, unrestored 1969 Mustang Mach 1, looking factory new like the day it rolled down the final line at the Ford Metuchen, New Jersey, assembly plant. Seeing it for the first time took Tom Kerkstra back to 1969.
The Mustang Mach 1 brought back fond memories of the one Tom had purchased new in 1969 and owned for six years. That daily driver had rusted out floor pans and door skins. Harsh Michigan winters with snow and road salt had taken its toll on the Mustang. It was gone in the mid-’70s.
His dream remained to own a ’69 Mach 1 again. Many hours were spent searching the Internet and classifieds in search of “the one”. In this case, there was no way he would make the trip home empty handed.