Looking to buy classic mustang to just drive around to local meets and shows. Not interested in collectors car. Any downside to buying a GTclone vs. original?

 

A clone of what?

There are no Mustang clones.

There are "GT clones"... or "Shelby clones"....

I'm not sure if anyone understands your question. Please clarify and we'll try and offer our opinions.

Dave

 

+1

 

Thanks for the clarification. I was referring to GT clones. I see many listed for sale nicely restored. Is there a downside to buying one rather than sticking with an original? Also, how difficult is it to convert the 2bbl 289 to a 4bbl?

 

Okay, this we can answer!

The factory records for every Mustang built before 1967 were destroyed. In 1965 or '66 you could ordera Mustang with the GT option.... or you could walk intoyour local dealer and buy most all of the items to convert your non-GT Mustang into a "GT clone". GT clones are EVERYWHERE.... and they havebeen for a LONG time. It takes a trained eye to distinguish a cloned GT car from an original one... and even then some people are fooled.

If someone is trying to sell you a "real" GT car and is advertising it as such, make them prove it. Do your homework and find out what the tell-tale signs/giveaways are. I know a few of them, but not all of them.

To your original question, the decision is up to you. Do you want an authentic car? Or one that looks authentic? It sounds to me like you don't care which way or the other.... then why pay for an authentic one? You can buy a nicely done clone cheaper (usually) than you can an original one. Just remember that the day will come when you'll want/need to sell the clone and it won't bring as much as an original car. This is usually where the problems come in. Some people(a lot of people) buy a clone under the premise that it's an original GT car, overpay, and then end up short on a later slae because the car turns out to be a clone. To not come up short, they'll try and pass the car off as a real GT car... the cycle then continues with each subsequent buyer.

It's estimated that there are FAR more "GT's" on the road today than were ever sold. Be very careful when buying a "real" GT.

Dave

 

Thanks for the help. Any answer to converting the 2bbl 289 to a 4bbl and is it worth the effort for any added HP?

 

Converting from a 2V to a 4V is a very simple matter that usually consists of bolting on a new 4V intake manifold and carbuerator.

It's a very simple procedure that can be accomplished by a novice with common hand tools.

Dave

 

you can also get a conversion spacer for the manifold that is on the car if you just want a little more power for kicking around. go to pep boys or advance auto and pick this up. all you do is position it correctly and put your new 4bbl.

i have a 1968 Dart GT and i did this very thing. To tell you the truth, i think there is a marginal difference if that. My 273 runs better with it's original 2bbland saves me more gas (although some cases prove opposite as some 4bbls are more economical because they are either suited better for the car or are vacuum secondaries and you run on the primaries until you want to kick it down or go like halfway on the pedal.)

a more permanent solution is to get a 4bbl intake manifold, but i like the conversion plate on some original cars because it is easier to go back to an original setup.

 

Dont you have to match cams up to intakes to get optimum performance?

thats probably why there was little difference.

-Gun

 

yea i guess you're right.