Yes, I am a nostalgic person. This is very, very close to my first car.
- Grabber Blue exterior over medium blue Grande interior (blue/black houndstooth cloth seats)
- 351 Cleveland with Edelbrock 600CFM 4-barrel carb, Lunati cam and unknown headers
- C6 automatic
- Rumored to have a traction-lock diff, but I haven’t checked
- Factory AC
- Factory console
Original specs were 351-2V and wide-ratio, four-speed manual transmission and 3.00:1 open diff. On a Grande, this is a pretty unusual build – Grabber Blue was really a Boss and Mach 1 color, as far as image, and most Grande models came with automatics and 302s, just like my old car.
This car was down to bare metal in the 90s and lived in New Mexico most of the time since – appears to have NO RUST! Clearly, previous owners were interested in mild hot rodding, and I don’t see anything wrong with that.
Plans:
- I’ll keep the engine upgrades, but it will go back to a manual trans at some point. I have the pedal assembly, which can be hard to find.
- Install a new exhaust from mufflers back – current has pipes cut at muffler exits. The plan is to go with stock turn-downs, just like an M-Code, 351-4V would have had.
- I will install front disc brakes and a power booster, as it currently has manual drums at all four corners. I have the spindles, complete with rotors and calipers
- The Centerline wheels (all I ever wanted at ages 16-18!) will stay for a while, then I will go with 15″ Magnum 500s or another Mustang-appropriate wheel. The original 14-inch steel wheels came with the car and I might clean them up and get tires to swap on the absolutely stock look at times.
- I may eventually go back to a stock hood appearance, as the scoop and black paint were added
- Naturally, there are other little things I will address over time, but the car seems to be good and solid, without major needs
- The AC isn’t connected, but I’m not in a hurry here in Southern CA. When I eventually work on it, I might go with a modern compressor
Front-half landau roof is a signature Grande item, though buyers could opt for full coverage.
This is what a basically stock Grande interior looks like, save for the black shifter bezel (?). Only factory AC cars had the center vents. I’ll unwrap and restore or replace the steering wheel someday and do some other tidying up items (armrest pad!), but this is in very good shape overall. I probably won’t bother to change the automatic shifter bezel – will be swapped out when the manual trans goes in.
Car has an MSD ignition box in addition to the obvious aftermarket valve covers and air cleaner. I’m not sure if a stock air cleaner will fit the Edelbrock/Carter carb, but I kind of like the engine dress-ups at this point. The Cleveland lettering reminds people that the car shares an engine with the DeTomaso Pantera. Original valve covers did come with the car…
Here’s a redacted Marti report:
Comments
3 responses to “The Oddimotive Fleet has a new addition!”
Congratulations! Awesome car. I love the description of the interior trim being Corinthian vinyl years before Mother Mopar had Corinthian leather.
Thanks! My only concern is that it's not clear to me that this is whether the Corinthian vinyl is "fine", like the Chrysler leather.
cool, i have a 70ies grande T5 with black/white houndstooth… check out here: https://www.facebook.com/benny.ritter.1