1969 Ford Other T5 Cabrio 976A Convertible

***Not a Mustang***
Born on the 7th of October, 1968,our 1969 Ford T5 Convertible was purchased by Hermann Meier of Lahr, West Germany. Enjoyed by one otherGerman and 2 Canadians, we became the 5th owners back in May of 1986.
It came to us with the original 30day owner card, the German government Kraftfahrzeugbrief with all of the official stamps and signatures, a 69 Mustang ownersmanual in English and a 1970 T5 Owners manual in German. A letter to the FordKoeln head office in 1989 was answered with them sending the last original 1969Ford T5 owners manual available. Apparently when the writer checked the filingcabinet on T5s, there was one lone, near mint copy tucked away in the file.
The car was built in Metuchen, NewJersey and shipped as a T5 for conversion, to thefacility at Ford Stuttgart. An absolute requirement to be a T5 was for allMustang nameplates to be deleted. Even the tire pressure inflation decal on thedoor has the name Mustang cut out of it. Then, destined for average speeds onthe Autobaun of 130 km/80 mph, standards at that time required an extensiveupgrade to meet safety standards for German highways. Our T5 was certified fordelivery to the customer on the 28th of November, and delivered to him on the5th of December 1968.
Though ordered with the 302 2Vengine, the car came with the largest brakes available, an oversized frontstabilizer bar, heavy duty suspension (original shocks replaced with adjustableKONI's) and 7 inch rims were refitted with HR70X14 radials. (even though 390 and428 Mustangs came with Es and Fs back in those days) The German spec page rates the power at 152PS/ 4000 U/min. It was tested at idle and at 175 km per hour for noise levels.They were dB (A)73(10) and dB (A)81(10) respectively.
Other modifications include, a 200kph speedometer, added Ford/Hella rear reflectors, neutralized front side markerlamps and no front park lights. In the speedometer, the signal light markers arered and the high beam light which is usually in the form of a small runninghorse, was cut out and is a (bright blue in color) rectangle to ensure thedriver would note the light position (high or low) on busy German roads. One ofthe most innovative additions to the car is the red light mounted on the dash atthe lower left side of the steering wheel. The purpose being to indicate thatthe electrical system is properly charging. When the light is on and bright, thesystem is working great. When it gets dim or goes out (and it did once 27 years ago) trouble soon follows. Amazing how even back then, they recognized theinaccuracy or lack of dependability of the stock Ford gauge and decided tosupplement it.
As conversion was expensive initself, many T5s were ordered with the factory 3 spd standard transmission.Originally equipped with Ford electrics, T5s were upgraded to Bosch. On ours,the alternator, voltage regulator (added to supplement; not replace), coil,plugs and even windshield wipers all carry the Bosch label. Interestingly, ourcar still uses the original 4 Westinghouse bulbs that it arrived fromGermany with. I believe these may bethe original sealed beams from the factory.
One of 94 recorded in theproduction numbers, this car is one of only four that have turned up in the T5registry. It is to the best of ourknowledge, the only fully documented 1969 T5 convertible currently known toexist on planet earth. Letters to international Mustang clubs inGermany, France, Luxembourg, England, Australia and New Zealand wereanswered. So was a letter to the President of Mustang Club International who hadseen one and eventually sent me a photo of one he found in a parking lot inAlbequerque, NM many years ago. Of the others lettersanswered, each was accompanied by a copy of my detailed questionnaire and gavereturns of NO 69 T5s right across the board. So today, at best, there are 4 intotal presently accounted for. The two others are in Norway and Georgia.
To further identify the car, theengine heads and shock tower were stamped with the car's serial number and aunique identification plate was affixed to the passenger side fender apron justahead of the original Ford factory plate. The car even has it's own unique bodyserial code of 976A and has all of the original factory plates still intact.Other options on the car include power steering, power brakes, power top,standard clock (still working), map reading light, courtesy lights, driveractivated trunk light, dual racing mirrors with left side remote control, fullfloor console and we have 2 sets of wheels which we rotate from time to time. Wehave 5 Magnum 500s and a set of 4 styled steel chrome Rally wheelswith trim rings and hub caps.
The car has to date been shown in 4provinces and 3 states and driven to every show. It has also been used forweddings, graduations, parades, charity events, road ralleys, lapping racetracks at Shannonville, Mosport and Watkins Glen, touring and just plain oldfashioned Sunday driving. Of the many vehicles owned since our first Mustang (a67 Lime Gold Convertible), this car has been the most fun and most versatile ofthem all. It is also the least expensivevehicle to maintain due to it's 3 season only use and in over 29 years we'velogged just over 51,000 km. We sure do love our T5. It provides many memories ofgood times shared with great car clubs, activities and especially the people,over many years.
T5 was the original project namefor the first generation of Mustang and though every Mustang started out as a T5, no T5 has ever been a Mustang. It is our belief, after years of letter writing and research, that this is the only fully documented German conversion of a 1969 Ford T5 on the planet. There are 3 more known to exist of the original 94 built, two to American specifications as ordered by Americans serving in Germany; the other unknown but was rescued from a wrecking yard in Georgia if my memory serves, within the past 15 years.
Now, the few negatives on this rare car.
Painted once, 30 years ago, the paint is in very good condition. (It took 1st Place twice in it's last 3 shows). There is no rust anywhere. The carpet has separated next to the drivers left foot. It is certified for New Brunswick every year. The odometer is metric (200 kph). Now showing 163831 kms. Console and Mirrors and rectangular electric clock (Ford NOS) not original, added 29 yrs ago. Bumpers replaced new at that time; I still have the originals. This car has always been maintained and babied; stored under full cover in a closed garage. It was sprayed underneath when new with a heavy wax from rocker panel to rocker panel. This was refreshed at Ford in 1993. There is a light scratch on the original windshield from a broken wiper. The lower right windshield chrome trim has a slight bend in the corner. The top has a small piece (-1") of the border stitching missing. The rear valence (splash pan), has a small dent that is hard to see even when looking for it. I have 2, new in the box, rear backup light assemblies I bought for it 25 years ago and never put them on. I was going to fix the dent then. And lastly, there is a scratch on the centre of the seat panel on the rear seat. Can't think of anything else but if I do I will add it.
I have every receipt for work done or parts replaced over 29 years and these, along with all documents and letters, go with the car to the new owner.
Any specific questions or photo request, please send me send me an email.

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