Dream cars come in all shapes and sizes. For some folks, it’s a brand new Bugatti Chiron or some Konigseigg space machine. But for others, the dream car can be a crusty old barn find 1970 Ford Mustang Mach-1 with rust holes and no steering column. After 11 years of searching, Jarrod Frankum finally found his swiss cheese Mustang barn find saving it from an even rustier future. 

The Ford Mustang Mach-1 seed was planted early

According to MotorTrend, after finding a tattered polaroid of his dad’s 1969 Ford Mustang Mach-1, Jarrod was set on owning one of his own as soon as possible. 11 years later, Jarrod was skateboarding through his neighborhood on his Mach-1 skateboard (dude, really likes the Mach-1) when he spied a 1970 Ford Mustang Mach-1 barn find peeking out from underneath a carport in Lubbock, Texas. 

With barely a shred of hope that the owner would sell, he knocked on the door anyway. The car’s owner came to the door. The owner, Bryan Hamilton, wasn’t interested in selling the car at first, but the sincerity of Jarrod’s love for the Mach-1 was hard to ignore. After getting the no, Jarrod left his phone number with Hamilton and asked him to call if he changed his mind. 

The next day, Jarrod gets the call he’s been waiting on for 11 years, “You live close by, come on over,” said Bryan. Jarrod grabbed his flashlight and hit the road on his Mustang Mach-1 skateboard. 

How long had this Mustang Mach-1 barn find been sitting? 

The owner told Jarrod the Ford Mustang Mach-1 had been sitting under that carport since the ‘90s. Over the years, Hamilton had collected many parts gearing up for the restoration. Like any good barn find, the Mach-1 had some minor rust, and Hamilton had removed the steering column as a way to deter theft while the project sat outdoors. 

Since parking the dream barn find, Hamilton slowly lost interest in the restoration and let the car languish in its brilliant gold paint. 

What’s so cool about a Mustang Mach-1 barn find? 

 Most importantly, this was the car Jarrod’s dad had shown him the picture of when he was 16. It was the dream. It also doesn’t hurt that the Mustang Mach-1 is super cool-looking, fairly obscure in the Mustang world, and they had some cool motor options. 

• 351 cu in (5.8 L Windsor) 
• 351 cu in (5.8 L Clevland) 
• 390 cu in (6.4 L) 
• 428 cu in (7.0 L) 

This golden Mustang barn find came with the 351-2V, making around 250 hp, and an automatic transmission. The owner didn’t really have any intentions of selling the car. Still, between local ordinances, the threat of fines, and Jarrod’s story, Hamilton let the car go and supposedly way under market value. He also gave Jarrod his collection of parts along with Mustang. 

The Mustang Mach-1 was in pretty good shape for sitting outside for 20 years

Once Hamilton agreed to sell, Jarrod called his dad to share the good news. His father then drove from Dallas to start the restoration with his son. They cut out some rust from the floor pans and the gas tank mountain flange. 

The plan is to restore the car to be a fun driver, not a show car. He wants to paint it Grabber Blue and toss a more modern, fuel-injected power plant in the barn find. This Mustang Mach-1 barn find will be a member of the family forever, according to Jarrod.