1981 Ford Mustang, One Family Original Survivor

Make:	Ford
Model:	Mustang
Type:	Hatchback
Trim:	Leather
Year:	1981
Mileage:	93,000
VIN:	1FABP15A4BR125597
Color:	Orange
Fuel:	Gasoline
Transmission:	Manual
Drive type:	4 Speed w/OD
Interior color:	Brown
Vehicle Title:	Clear
Item location:	Gainesville, Florida, United States

Extras

T-Tops, AM/FM 8 Track

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Private seller

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Description of 1981 Ford Mustang

This is a one family owned car. My mother in law ordered it new from the factory in 1981. she wanted it to match the one on the cover of that years Mustang Sales Brochure. She drove it for 10 years and parked it in her barn. We saved it and brought it back to health a few years ago. We won a Gold award in the one show we put it in. We also submitted it to Fox Mustang magazine and it was chosen as the feature car for issue 10. Here is the text I wrote for the magazine: ************In the spring of 1981. Judy Neely was thinking she wanted a Mustang when she went to Boone Ford in Olympia Wa. After looking at the sales brochure. she ordered a near duplicate of the Mustang featured on the cover. Almost exactly two months later. the car was delivered to Judy for a sum of $10. 40. In 1982. Judy and Jean. her daughter. were outside Butte MT on their way to a family gathering in Colorado when a deer jumped out in front the Mustang. While the damage wasn’t extensive (to the Mustang. it was fatal to the deer). it did require a 3 quarter front repair. The Mustang continued to serve Judy well until the early 90’s when it was parked in her barn in favor of something better suited to her job as a rural mail carrier. Forward to late 2011. with Jeans help. Judy is planning for her retirement and downsizing her living accommodations. Jean had married a Ford enthusiast named Frank Paty in 1994. After one of her trips to visit Judy. jean mentions the forlorn Mustang in the barn to Frank and wonders what to do with it. The Mustang hasn’t moved since 1992. it is still in the barn. covered in dust. sitting on four flat tires. After looking at pictures. it was clear that the car had little or no value as it sat. Frank and Jean live in Florida which didn’t help the situation. Being the car guy that he is. Frank saw a unique survivor that might be worth saving. After some discussion. Judy gave the Mustang to Frank and Jean as a gift. the resurrection began. The first call was to John Benoit of Cascade Classics. John was tasked with retrieval. getting the Mustang running. braking and ready for transport. A new battery. gas tank. brake cylinders. carb rebuild were needed to get it ready. The tires. flat for so many years actually held air. After starting it for the first time in 20 years. the hidden mouse nest not only blew out of the tailpipe. but created enough back pressure to blow a hole in the muffler. John replaced the muffler. then Bat’s Motorsports was contracted to transport the Mustang 3000 miles from Washington State to sunny Gainesville. Florida. Being a restoration kind of guy. Frank’s next call was to Marti Auto works for a deluxe report. The report revealed that the Paint/Trim combo made the car one of 13 built that way. Now tucked into Franks shop. the work of making the car roadworthy began. A new timing belt. thermostat. water pump. radiator. rag joint and a set of tires got the Mustang back on the road. A tune up got the 2. 3 liter purring againWith the car mechanically sound. the job turned to detailing. cleaning and finding missing pieces. A decision on the direction of the car had to be made. restoration or unrestored? Specifically in regard to the engine compartment and engine paint. but also for future MCA competition. After reading the MCA judging rules and examining the car. the decision was made to keep the car as original as possible. unrestored. As such. the engine and its compartment were spared the “rattle can”. While that may seem like an easy decision. the deer strike and subsequent repaint will likely cost precious points in the unrestored class. Conkling Automotive. Classic Car Cleaners and Gator Paint & Body all helped get the Mustang standing tall again. A goal was set to have the Mustang ready for its show debut at the Jacksonville Mustang Club’s 10th Annual show held on May 19th. 2012. Conkling Automotive. Classic Car Cleaners and Gator Paint & Body all helped in getting the Mustang ready for its big introduction. 88 miles one way. Florida heat and love bug swarms all stood in the way as the show day approached. After sitting in a barn for 20 years. the Mustang not only made the trip without a hitch. it also won first place in the 79-93 class. a Gold Award. May 19th also marked exactly 31 years to the day it was released from the San Jose Plant. ***************The pictures speak for themselves. it is a beautiful. unmolested original car. There are not many left like this one. We've had our fun with the car and now its time for it to find a new home. You'll find a copy of the marti report for this car in the pictures. it should tell you everything you need to know about the features and options. The car comes with a significant amount of 1981 vintage Ford sales literature. It also comes with some spare parts. some of which are NOS. In full disclosure. there are two nagging issues that need to be addressed. One appears to be a fuel delivery issue. the car will cut out after running or driving a few minutes. I've replaced the fuel pump which did not fix the issue and have a carb rebuild kit to go with the car. The other issue is a sagging headliner. A new repo headliner. dye and T-Top seals are included in the deal.