KNOW THIS GENERATION.
Inspect the cowl, floor pans, torque boxes, shock towers, rear frame rails, and trunk drop-offs. Verify engine and body identification against year-specific records. Restoration quality and structural integrity matter more than fresh paint.
The first cars reached buyers in April 1964 as 1965 models. Early-production cars are often called 1964½. The 1967 redesign created room for larger engines; 1969 introduced the Boss models and Mach 1. The larger 1971–73 cars closed the first chapter.
TAKE IT ONE CHECK AT A TIME.
Checks are temporary and reset when you reload. Print the page to take notes beside the car.
ORIGINAL, RESTORED, OR MODIFIED?
These are different purchase decisions. An original car needs evidence of provenance. A restored car needs evidence of workmanship. A modified car needs a documented combination of compatible parts, tuning, and supporting systems. A desirable badge cannot answer those questions on its own.
Compare the vehicle with its period Ford reference, then use the applicable manual for technical checks. For modern cars, check NHTSA recalls separately; a VIN decode does not show an individual car’s open recalls.