Warehouse Find Ford Mustang Reborn After 18 Years Dormant

Warehouse Find Ford Mustang Reborn After 18 Years Dormant


Important takeaways

  • A Mustang enthusiast’s dream comes true when a car that has been abandoned for 18 years gets a much-needed makeover.
  • The crew at WD Detailing overcomes the challenges of cleaning and restoring a 1968 Ford Mustang, giving it new life.
  • The owner successfully presented his daughter with a restored Mustang as a graduation gift, fulfilling a lifelong dream.



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Mustering up the courage to wash a car after 18 years of rotting on the side of the garage can be difficult to manage. The gear head decided that his 1968 Ford Mustang He had gone too far to solve it alone, so he decided to prepare in Description of WD staff to help him.


The driver was eager to pass the beautiful machine on to his daughter as a graduation gift, as he had pestered her for years about getting it running again. The guys at WD decided not only to get a million dollar looking car but to run like one too. They faced a steep climb to emerge successful in their challenge though, especially after encountering more wildlife than they’d like inside a timeless body.

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1968 Mustang Left Alone For 18 Years Is Being Revived

The WD Detailing duo Brent and RJ started by talking to the beauties Ford The owner of the Mustang, who revealed that the car had been left in the corner of his garage for almost two decades. Painted in Wimbledon White with a burgundy interior, the car covered 100,000 miles during its long life.


He explained that he owned it barn find for 22 years in total, having troubled his neighbor for many years. The original patron was looking to give it to his children, although they didn’t like it he chose to sell it to a desperate neighbor instead. Due to lack of time, he parked the Mustang, which was prone to rust, a few years later.

1968 Ford Mustang Coupe

Strength training

289 ci V8, four-speed automatic transmission

Strong

195 hp

Weight

2,966 pounds

Carburetor type

Two barrels

Source (Ford)

He admitted that he was interested in giving it to his daughter Hailey, who was about to graduate from college soon. He was always protective of the Mustang, so he wanted to let him enjoy it in full working order. The machine, which cost him only $500, was covered in stuff, although fortunately, it seemed to be in good shape considering how long it had been abandoned. The guys at WD found that the Mustang’s antiquated brakes weren’t holding up, so they were able to easily fold it onto their trailer, allowing them to take it back to the workshop with ease.


Mustang’s Disgusting Body Gives Way to Flashy Paintwork

Intent on continuing to program the Mustang, RJ immediately jumped on the beautiful American Racing wheels featured on the car. Using a powerful wheel cleaner and power washer, the components started to shine again after a few passes. Tires were also given a new lease of life by using a tire cleaning machine.

Next was the body, which was covered in nearly 20 years of dirt. The power washer was able to lift most of the dirt without too much trouble, although this exposed some of the weakest parts of the body. Despite being stored in a dry, well-protected garage, some rust had begun to form. The hood had several bad patches of rust, while the door cracks were also starting to peel.


The chrome bumpers had survived their sleep well, and they shone brightly when given a thorough rinse. Once the first pass was complete, Brent used a large amount of snow foam. This softened the etched dirt so it could be removed. One final pass with a power washer did the job and the Mustang paint, the bits that were not crusted at least, looked great.

RJ and Brent finished the body using a brush to clean the logo and grille of any dirt before using a special cleaning solution to remove any metal from the clean coat. If left, the metal can eat through the protective coat and cause damage to the base coat underneath.

Interior Reveals Some Scary Secrets About Mustang’s Long Sleep

YouTube @ WD Detailing


With the body gleaming, it was time for the WD guys to tackle the interior. Their task was immediately made worse when they found a dead rat in the passenger compartment. This was followed by another back, then another. Now worried about how many could fit into the whole interior, they took a deep breath and cleared the seats.

Upon further inspection, they found an entire rat’s nest lodged inside the back seat of the bench. After cleaning it up, the men were confident that they had cleaned it up enough to make the area look like the interior of a car once again, rather than a small mammoth graveyard. They then deep-cleaned the seats and carpets with an industrial-grade solution, before cleaning the dirty door cards.

1968 Ford Mustang Coupe Price

Average Price

$23,639

Lowest Sale Price

$4,000

High Selling Price

$59,400

Source (Classic.com)


The burgundy finish came off well, except for a few areas of the carpet that had seen steam paint. A simple VAX cleaner was brought to attention to remove any dirt left on the seats, which brought about a general cleaning process. Although it needed a little restoration to look factory fresh, the Mustang provided an excellent starting point.

Mustang V8 Refuses to Play Ball

YouTube @ WD Detailing

The next task was to get the Mustang running and moving. The WD guys had already cleaned the 289 ci V8 engine, although they quickly realized they lacked the necessary expertise as they couldn’t get the engine to start. The new battery was providing power to the electrical systems, although the engine still refused to start.


Some local mechanics quickly discovered an oil problem of some sort that was preventing the V8 from firing, as it was producing sparks. After unsuccessfully cleaning the fuel lines, the technicians installed a brand new fuel pump. The part did the trick, and the car caught fire immediately. It sounded a little rough and was a little smoky, but it was a good place to start.

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With the car now being driven, the guys at WD decided to quickly polish the Mustang’s rims as they were a bit ahead. The wheels were now fully protected from the elements, now it was time to return the car to its new owner.

The Owner’s Daughter Was Happy With Her New Mustang Shaped Toy

YouTube @ WD Detailing

Before taking it back to Hailey, the guys needed to make sure the Mustang was moving under its capacity. The automatic transmission was selected in reverse and, with little difficulty, the machine began to reverse. It stalled several times with RJ backing it up from the workshop, which the mechanics determined was related to an old carburetor issue.


Work Done To Abandoned Ford Mustang

  • Complete cleanliness of body, rims and engine
  • The interior was stripped and restored, the remains of the rat family were removed
  • The 289 ci V8 was revived with a new fuel pump

Although not ideal, the owner of the Mustang had bought a replacement some time ago, so it can be replaced without much trouble. With the Mustang now in transit, the WD boys made their way to Hailey’s house.

He and his father were pleased with how the machine turned out. Hailey had never seen a car in pristine condition since it had been driven out of the garage when she was just three years old. Unable to contain himself any longer, his Father handed him the keys and the news that it was now his.

Grabbing the keys with glee, he finally claimed ownership of the car he would cherish for the rest of his life. He was eager to fix the remaining issues, in his desire that the Mustang finally look like the car that came out of Detroit more than 50 years ago.

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Sources: YouTube @ WD Detailing, Classic.com, Ford