Heres my story.
This is my 1972 Mach 1. It was ordered "retail" by someone in the San Jose district in November of 1971. It was built on December 10-1971 at Dearborn, 3 days behind schedule and released on the 13th.
It was then sent to Turner Motors in San Bruno, California. It was picked up on January 5-1972 by the owner. I'd love to find the original owner, if they ever see this page, please E mail me! If you may know who the owner may have been, show them this site please.
Here�s a bit of history that I have investigated so far. The earliest owner I have records on is a Marc Pezdirtz out of Phoenix, Arizona. I don�t know who he sold it to, I believe it may have been sent to auction perhaps? I have found out since, that the car was purchased at an the Glendale auction in Phoenix by a Dan Dus for only $1800.00 plus auction fees.
Dan drove the car less than 50 miles before selling or giving it to his brother Dave. Dan and Dave both said the car was completely stock and in showroom condition at time of purchase right up until they sold it. Anyway, Dan�s brother Dave had the car according to the records I have until Feb 2, 1988 when he sold it to a Larry Marlin. I have the original bill of sale and transfer of title in my possession.Larry Marlin changed the color of the car to blue from its original light pewter metallic. I spoke with Larry on October 25th 2005 and he confirmed this.He wanted a blue car so he painted it blue.
He enjoyed the car for a while before life got in the way with having kids, so the car was put up for sale again. He had advertised the Mach in a AutoTrader styled magazine. Larry confirmed that it was indeed Darren Cikaluk, who drove south with a trailer and towed the car back to Edmonton. Alberta. Im not sure but I believe that Darren Cikaluk had an accident in with the car somewhere in his ownership. This would explain damage we discovered at Neil�s body shop I have on the both rear quarter extensions, and front cross member in the engine compartment. I think the car may have been �sandwiched� at an intersection.
In talking with Darren he said that he indeed bring the car up to Canada from Phoenix. He had the car for a few years and eventually � miled it for most of his ownership. He added sub frame connectors and added the incorrect black colored stripes to the Mach. I think he grew tired of the car and sold it to a Patrick Fagan who lives in Calgary Alberta . He purchased it over the phone site unseen after sending a friend to look at the car for him. Patrick owned it for a while and then sold it to a Wayne Norbert in August of 1999 who lives in Lloydminister Alberta.
Lots of Beadblasting is obviously required throughout.
He kept the car and did virtually nothing with it until he sold it to Ken Biller in 2001. Biller lives in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. Ken Biller kept the car till 2004, when in need of money, put it up for sale. I saw the car advertised online on a site called CanadaTrader.ca. I watched the car for about a week and a half when I noticed the price dropped substantially enough for me to want to go look at it. It was a 3 hour drive North of where I live
I called Ken and arranged to pick him up that morning in my car to go look at the Mach. We did so and when it was rolled out of the garage, I knew I was buying it right then and there. I bought it and drove it to my home later that afternoon.
I drove it for 4 days before asking my friend Gord Kent (pictured here) if I might utilize his sandblaster at his workplace to just blast a "few" parts. Gord said "Sure". Little did he, nor did I realize what we were both in for. I mentioned to my wife I was going to just start "cleaning" it up by sandblasting the valve covers and odd little things, and that Gord said I could use his blaster in the evenings. She agreed. oops...5 days later the car was completely disassembled tagged, and bagged in my garage and a "close to concours" restoration began. I "finished" the car in October of 2005.
My son Nathan is thrilled to help me get the engine and tranny out, mostly becuase he got to stay up with me until 1am on a school night to do it!
Early stages of prepping the engine compartment.
Darren Beasley approves of the purchase and the start of things to come.
(A few loose ends still need to be addressed, drivers door panel has a 1" tear on the armrest pad, but I will be replacing both panels in the summer, Gas tank will need to be replaced, I will purchase a set of Firestone Wide Oval tires from Coker tire through the winter months, but thats about it...I think LOL)
Outer fender aprons and shock towers were stripped to baremetal, prepped, and re painted
The Mach was factory equipped according the the Lois Eminger build sheet and Kevin Marti Autoworks report with:
351 C.I.D. Cleveland CobraJet "Q Code", 3.25 Standard Axle Ratio, 4 speed Toploader with Factory Hurst Shifter, Factory Ram Air, Competition Suspension, "Saginaw" Power Steering, Power Front Disc Brakes, F60 x 15 Belted Raised White Letter Tires, Magnum 500 Chrome Wheels,Front Spoiler/ Rear Spoilers (Dealer Installed options)Exterior Decor Group, Door Edge Gaurds, Power Windows, Mach1 Deluxe Sport Interior, Console, Factory Tachometer, Deluxe Belts/Warning light, Deluxe Rimblow Steering Wheel, AM-8 Track, Tilt Steering, Air Conditioning, Tinted Glass Complete, Intermittent Wipers, Light Pewter Metallic Paint Ford # 3314-A
Base model price was $2552.38
Options total was $1390.79
Total Price was $4191.37
(Which included $5.20 for 13 gallons of gas!)
VIN: 2F05Q154XXX
BODY: 63R, COL: 5A, TRIM: GA, AXLE: 9, TRANS: 5, DSO: 72
The only change I have made to the car has been the addition of a Currie Enterprises 9" Detroit Locker with 31 Spline Axles and a 3:91 Richmond/Eaton Gear Set.
The majority of the parts were aquired through:
National Parts Depot (This company is absolutely terrific to deal with and I ordered almost all my parts from them) as well as AMK, almost every nut & bolt was replaced on the car.
Others great suppliers I utilized were:
Year One (Great for obsure reproduction decals)
The Paddock (NASA Reproduced Hood stencil for 71-73 Mach 1's)
AMK Bolts (all body, engine, chassis and interior bolts)
Ohio Mustang (Don Witt has great prices on a great selection)
David Kee's Transmissions (Toploader Guru extrodinaire)
Canadian Mustang (Suspension Components, exhaust etc.)
Currie Enterprises (9" Ford Rearend Experts)
...and of course E-Bay for hunting down obscure and non reproduced items.
Marc Pezdirtz told me one night he had accidentally backed the drivers quarter into a concrete light stand in college after a dance, so I opted to replace both quarters, trunk floor and drop off's as well as the rear tailight valance.
Here the passengers quarter has been removed.
Trunk floor was drilled out on all the spot welds and removed.
Replacement quarters are mocked into place
Another view, different side. Both quarters were "butt welded" then picked and filed to ensure a clean seam.
The Mach was completey sanded with 80grit for good adhesion of the upcoming primer applications.
Here Dennis Pagoda sprays the car inside and out with Sikkens Epoxy primer. Very expensive and excellent coverage and rust proofing protection.
Dennis then used a "coldmix" epoxy putty to ensure that the weld seam would never bubble or rust.
After sanding it down then conventional putty is applied, each time the putty was sanded smoothed, the car was resprayed with Sikkens Epoxy Primer for rustproofing.
A finer finish glaze putty is applied.
Again the car is re applied with the green epoxy primer.
The car is in its final coat of Epoxy resin primer.
The Mach is now ready for "guidecoating. guidecoating is a procedure that uses a water or Ash colored fine talcum style powder to check for any little imperfections missed before the car is ready for paint.
The car is now sporting a coat of Dupont grey primer. This again was sanded down and re applied until Dennis and Neil were happy with the straightness of the panels.
Here Dallas Krysak, the painter of the Mach1, applies the guidecoat to prepare the car for paint.
Jim Seimens helps me get the Cobrajet sealed up after a thourgh check as the engine was rebuilt shortly before I purchased the car, notice the 1.73 roller rockers valve train.
The ready and waiting engine bay.
Kevin Leek and I prepare to install the 351 Cobra Jet back into its appropriate home.
After a few minutes, the install is complete.
Tarped and sealed until the next steps.
