Customer Reviews

Mustang 1964 1/2 - 73 Restoration Guide (Motorbooks Workshop)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've recently purchased this book and have read the other reviews. Despite what others have said this book is amazing. No it doesn't come with basic instructions on the steps to replacing carpet, dash pads, or uphosltery. Instead it has all the exploded diagrams and correct examples of everything found on and in a vintage Mustang. This information is vital to a full car restoration and won't be found in the commmon (any I've seen) restion mannual. Other restoration books are a help in doing some fixing up to your Mustang, this book will show you what you need to know to build a complete car and make it an MCA Award wining Mustang.

Although the book is an informative technical resource with many exploded views drawings of system assemblies and part numbers, it is not exactly a restoration guide. There is not really anything in the book that would step a restorer through the nuts and bolts of working on their mustang. There is some helpful caption information underneath the photos identifying types and options available for the different systems found on the cars.

This book contains a much higher degree (and number) of charts, exploded views etc. but is missing the step by step how to's that belong in a book entitled "Restoration Guide" I thought detailed restoration projects would be featured. However, it still could serve as a reference manual.

The stuff I wanted for my '66 had small pictures for the details and some were even faded out! It looked like some of the pictures had either been 1) poorly scanned in and placed in the book, or 2) it was a poor printing. I'm giving it 3 stars because the book is still worth purchasing, but this isn't a substitute for a good official diagram.

I bought a 68 as a project in a semi dismantled condition, this book is an excellent reference for piecing together which bits go where (& which are missing!), the notes on options are also useful.

This is my first restoration & this book will be a valuable source of information.

This book has alot of information/data but none of it is useful unless you need specific concourse part numbers, etc. Even so, the diagrams are jumbled several to a page making them virtually unreadable and hiding any detail you might be looking for such as how exactly the 1968 headlight bucket attaches to the fender/grill (just as an example). If you need detailed, specific information, it would be best for you to purchase your car's make/model/year factory service manual. The most irritating issue I have with this book is that it's a regurgitation of diagrams and data tables but does not include listings of part numbers to match the diagrams. For instance, the body panel breakdown contains part numbers listed with the body panels but there's no cross-reference to find out what exactly the body panel's name is as you would need to order it from a parts house.

This book is an excellent guide for anyone who is restoring an early Mustang or needs information identifying an existing car or possible purchase. Richly supplied with photos, diagrams and tables of specifications, the book gives nearly all the informtion to do an accurate restoration of a 64-70 Mustang.

The biggest flaw is that many of the data charts do not include information past 1970. The engine identification photographs and charts fail to give information past 1970. Since the motive power for a Muscle Car is of great interest to most owners, this is an important oversight. The section on interiors also fails to show photos or diagrams beyond 1970. Since I am restoring a 1972 with a trashed interior, I was very disappointed not to be able to tell how my interior should look. The trim codes list didn't go beyond 1970 so I couldn't tell what the colors should be. The suspension section and driveline section is also short of critical information.

For a person working on a 64-70 Mustang, I highly recommend the book. It is richly filled with information and visuals. I would still get the book as a restorer of a 1971-1973 because there is lots of great information, such as complete information on the body and paint. Much of the missing information can be inferred from the 1970 model and since one also needs a shop manual, the rest of the information would be there.

As mentioned, this book is not a restoration guide, in that it doesn't give you any instructions on how to restore. It's a parts guide. I saw that it was highly recommended on various sites, so I assumed that resto meant resto and bought it. Wish I'd read some of the reviews on here, geesh! So that's why I'm bothering to write a review.
And that's the only reason it looses a star, because otherwise it's fantastic. Excellent, easy to read exploded diagrams. And while I don't know Mustangs well outside of my own model, it seems to be quite comprehensive for all manner of fastbacks, hardtops, etc.

As long as you realize this book provides all the nitty gritty details of a Mustang, you should be happy with it. You will note many of the diagrams are the same ones used in the parts catalogs like NPD. Since I am in the stage of disassembly and early restoration, it won't get much use yet but once I start to put things back together, I see this book as very valuable. There is not much verbiage so this will not give you the "tricks" to put things together but should be a good supplement to other books.

Gives you good information about model development, and original and optional equipment and modifications. Good photgraphs. Good description of essential parts by model year. The exploded line drawings give you a general impression of the build and parts, but they are not adequate for do-it-yourself projects. I miss information about function (i.e. ventilation or heater regulation) and about fluids (oil, cooler etc.)