Why This Car Is Special

The 1973 Ford Mustang convertible holds a distinction that most collectors have come to appreciate over time: it was the last open-top Mustang Ford would build for eleven years. When the Mustang II arrived for 1974, the convertible was gone from the lineup entirely. It didn't return until the 1983 model year. That makes every 1973 Ford Mustang convertible a legitimate endpoint in a specific chapter of Mustang history — and it makes survivors in solid, driving condition increasingly difficult to find.

The 1971 through 1973 generation is often called the largest Mustang ever built in the original pony car era, and that's accurate. Ford stretched the platform considerably compared to the first-generation cars, adding muscle car proportions to a nameplate that had started life as a compact. By 1973, the body had been refined with a new egg-crate grille and color-keyed front bumper, giving the car a cleaner nose than the 1971 and 1972 models. The rear bumper also received an update for 1973, with a full-width chrome unit that tied the tail together more neatly. These changes make the 1973 the most visually refined version of this generation.

Ford sold just under 11,900 convertibles for the 1973 model year across all engine configurations. That's a relatively small number when you consider total Mustang production for 1973 was over 134,000 units. Convertibles represented less than nine percent of the total build. Most of those have been lost to time, accidents, or simple neglect. Clean examples like this one have thinned out considerably.

The VIN on this car decodes to confirm it was assembled at the Dearborn, Michigan plant, which was Ford's primary Mustang production facility throughout the first-generation era. The body style code confirms the convertible configuration, and the engine code aligns with the 302 cubic inch two-barrel V8 as originally installed.

This particular 1973 Ford Mustang convertible presents in its original green exterior over a black vinyl interior, wearing a black power convertible top. It has dual exhaust, rally-style chrome wheels, and a solid undercarriage that puts it well ahead of most comparable 1973 convertibles currently on the market.

Features List

- 302ci 2-barrel V8 engine - 3-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, floor-mounted shifter - Power convertible top, black - Power steering - Power brakes - Dual exhaust with dual rear exit tips - Ram Air hood scoops - Rally-style chrome wheels - White letter tires - Center console with dual cup holders - Black vinyl bucket seats, front and rear - Full round instrument pod with individual gauges - FM Stereo radio - Underdash 8-track player - Woodgrain door panel inserts - Body side stripes - Solid, coated undercarriage - Modern rubber floor mats

Mechanical

Under the hood sits the 302 cubic inch two-barrel V8, Ford's standard small-block displacement for this era. The 302 was built on the same basic architecture as the 289 that came before it, a platform that had already proven itself in everything from street cars to road racing. By 1973, emissions equipment had reduced net output compared to earlier years, but the 302 in two-barrel trim remained a tractable, reliable engine with a long service record and excellent parts availability. The air cleaner lid on this car is clearly marked 302-2V, confirming the correct engine designation as built.

Behind the engine is a 3-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, with the shifter mounted in the center console. Ford's SelectShift unit allowed the driver to hold individual gears manually if desired, giving the automatic more versatility than a conventional automatic of the era. The transmission has been confirmed by inspection to be correct for the application.

Braking is handled by power front discs and rear drums, backed by a power booster — a factory option on the 1973 Mustang that significantly reduced pedal effort. Power steering is also equipped. The combination of both power assists makes this car notably easier to drive in modern traffic than a stripper-spec 1973 would be.

The undercarriage photos tell an important part of this car's story. The floorpans, frame rails, and structural sections are solid and coated, showing no evidence of the rot that typically compromises these large-body Mustangs after fifty years. The rear axle housing is a Ford integral-carrier unit, carried on rear leaf springs as factory-spec. The dual exhaust runs the length of the car with a pair of mufflers positioned just ahead of the rear axle, exiting through dual tips below the rear bumper. The suspension geometry remains intact and correctly assembled at all four corners.

Interior

The 1973 Ford Mustang convertible was equipped from the factory with a full round instrument pod, which replaced the simpler gauge layout used on earlier base-trim Mustangs. This car has that pod, and the gauges visible in the photos include a speedometer graduated to 120 mph, a fuel gauge, and a combined oil pressure, temperature, and alternator indicator — all housed in the deep-set nacelles that give the 1971-73 Mustang dashboard its distinctive appearance. The Mustang script and running horse badge is present on the dash face, correct for the year.

The seats are black vinyl bucket units, both front and rear. The rear seat in a 1973 Mustang convertible is a genuine split-back design, not a bench, and it's trimmed consistently with the front. The black vinyl has held up reasonably well across all seating positions, showing the kind of age-related character you'd expect on a car from this era rather than damage requiring immediate replacement.

The center console runs the length of the floor between the front buckets and incorporates dual cup holders — an addition that is not factory-original but is clean and functional without altering the fundamental character of the cabin. The floor-mounted automatic shifter sits forward of the cup holder section, with its correct gate and indicator.

Both door panels carry the woodgrain insert that was a standard appointment on the 1973 Mustang's interior. The chrome window crank handles are present and correct. The lower door panels are carpeted, consistent with the black interior trim.

Audio is handled by two separate units: an FM Stereo radio in the dash — visible with its five preset buttons, fine tuning slider, and Stereo indicator — and a separate 8-track player mounted below the dash. An 8-track cartridge is still loaded in the player. The combination of the factory-style FM stereo and the period-correct 8-track player gives this car its full era-authentic soundtrack without modification to the dash.

Modern rubber floor mats have been installed over the original carpet, which is a practical decision that protects the underlying material. They do not materially affect the appearance of the interior.

Exterior

The green exterior on this 1973 Ford Mustang convertible is a deep, rich shade that works particularly well on the large-body proportions of the 1971-73 platform. The 1973 model year front end features the updated egg-crate grille with the running horse in the center, flanked by rectangular parking lights and a horizontal bar treatment that is unique to 1973. The front bumper on 1973 models was integrated more closely with the body than in prior years, giving the nose a cleaner transition from bumper to sheet metal. This car's front end is intact and correctly assembled.

The hood carries the functional-appearing Ram Air scoops that were a visual signature of the 1971-73 Mustang. These twin forward-facing scoops feed into the hood structure and were available as a factory option during this generation. They give the car a purposeful profile when viewed from the front quarter.

Body side stripes run along the lower body, a period-correct appearance option that emphasizes the length and profile of the car. The body panels show consistent color and reasonable alignment. The rear of the car features the full-width chrome bumper unique to the 1973 model year, a Mustang script badge on the decklid, and the round gas cap centered in the tail panel. The taillights are the correct segmented units in a horizontal bar surround.

The wheels are rally-style chrome units, a classic period look that suits the car well. They are mounted with white letter tires that carry adequate tread depth for driving. The black power convertible top is in serviceable condition and operates as designed, folding and raising without difficulty.

Conclusion

The 1973 Ford Mustang convertible represents a specific and historically significant endpoint. When Ford discontinued the open-top Mustang after this model year, it closed a chapter that had run continuously since 1964. The next buyer of this 1973 Ford Mustang convertible is getting a car built in Dearborn during the final year of that unbroken run — one with a solid undercarriage, a correct 302 two-barrel V8, working power top, and an interior that retains its core character after five decades. It is a driver-quality car with the correct options and configuration to enjoy immediately, and the structural integrity to build on if a more thorough cosmetic refresh is desired down the road.

If you have questions or want to arrange an inspection, call Skyway Classics in Sarasota, Florida at 941-254-6608.

Disclaimer Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.