False Finale: 1973 Ford Mustang Convertible 46K Survivor – Sold?

October 19, 2023, Update – We confirmed the listing for this “ClassiFIND” expired, so with no replacement found, we’re assuming this ride is “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

August 23, 2023 Update – The seller replaced their two-week-old Craigslist ad with a fresh listing.  In it, they changed the asking price back to $19,995 and provided a fresh set of pictures with their Mustang featuring a set of chromed American Racing five-spoke rims.

August 4, 2023 Update – The seller replaced their fourth expired listing with a fresh Craigslist ad in as many months.  This time, they elected to post a fresh set of pictures with a nice backdrop and slightly decreased the asking price from the already-lowered $19,995 to $19,900.

July 10, 2023 Update – The seller replaced their third expiring listing in as many months with a fresh Craigslist ad.  While the pictures and description are carryovers from the prior listings, the seller elected to lower their asking price to another one large to land at $19,995.  If you’ve been following along, that’s a five-grand decrease from their original ask of $24,995.

June 18, 2023 Update – The seller of this 1973 Mustang convertible replaced their expired second Craiglist ad with a fresh listing. In it, they reduced their asking price by another two thousand dollars. The current asking price of $20,995 is four thousand dollars less than their original ask two months earlier.

May 26, 2023 Update – This 1973 Mustang convertible’s seller replaced their original Craigslist ad with a fresh listing.  While the description and pictures are carry-over, the seller decided to lower their asking price from $24,995 to $22,995.

By the early 1970s, new car buyers’ convertible options continued to decrease, especially sporty four-passenger models. For 1973, General Motors did not offer convertible versions of its new “Colonnade Hardtops” mid-size cars, and the second generation F-Body Camaro/Firebird twins only came in fastback form.  The only sporty convertible holdout that model year was the 1973 Ford Mustang.  This Light Blue 1973 Ford Mustang Convertible, first spotted in May 2023 for sale in Riverhead, New York (Long Island), is a 46K-mile survivor featuring the typical 302 cubic inch V8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission, the most common powertrain combination that year.  This example features factory air conditioning, a rare option for a convertible in the early 1970s.  The seller references a Marti report indicating this example is only one of three hundred produced in this combination.

Last offered for $19,995 (the original ask was $24,995), Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is slightly below the one-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for first-generation Ford Mustangs of all body styles produced between 1971 and 1973.  By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the Mustang featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls between this guide’s #2 Very Good” estimate of $16,900 and its #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $25,900 before making adjustments for equipment.

While still technically considered part of the first-generation Mustang family, in September 1970 Ford launched a longer Mustang for the 1971 model year.  The updated 1971 Mustang grew inside, most notably gaining three inches in width, primarily to fit Ford’s Big Block V8s without modification.  Ford continued to offer Mustangs in three body styles: Hardtop (available in base or Grande trim), SportsRoof (available in base or Mach 1 trim), and convertible (no specific trim packages available).

The 1973 Mustang Convertible offered a range of engine options. The base engine was a 2.8-liter inline-six, which produced around 95 horsepower.  There were also several V8 engine options available. These included a 302 cubic inch V8 with around 140 horsepower and an optional 351 cubic inch V8 with around 163 horsepower.  The standard transmission for the 1973 Mustang Convertible was a three-speed manual. However, a three-speed automatic transmission was also available as an option. Mustangs continued to feature unibody construction, which integrated the body and frame into a single structure for improved rigidity.  The Mustang’s front suspension consisted of an independent coil spring setup, while the rear suspension featured a live axle with leaf springs. This setup provided a balance between comfort and sporty handling.

Ford’s launch of the Mustang II for the 1974 model year brought the end of the convertible body style. It would be nearly ten years before Ford once again offered a factory convertible on the Fox Body third-generation Mustang for 1983.

The Classic Car YouTube Channel features this montage of 1971 Ford Mustang commercials featuring actor Sid Ceasar:

This 46K-original mile 1973 Ford Mustang convertible for sale offers a nice preservation candidate for those who prefer originality over restoration. We would address some of the minor surface rust issues (look just above the passenger side tail light) immediately after purchase to ensure the spots do not grow any larger.  Other than the non-original radio and rare factory air conditioning, this 1973 Ford Mustang convertible offers a glimpse back at how most of these cars left the Dearborn factory in 1973.

If you are serious about buying this Mustang, you can start the conversation by contacting the seller using the information provided in their Craigslist ad.  When you connect, please remember to mention you saw their convertible survivor featured here on GuysWithRides.com. Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description:

Show or go: What would you do with this 1973 Ford Mustang convertible survivor for sale?  Please comment below and let us know!