Ford Mustang Mach 1

Mustang Mach 1 at a glance

The Mach 1 is a version of the Ford Mustang, and the catalogue lists it as a model of its own so that each era keeps its figures. On 1CARS the 1969–1973, 2003–2004 and 2021–2023 cars count as muscle cars; the Mustang II Mach 1 of 1974–1978 does not.

1969: the package that replaced the GT

The first Mach 1 was offered only on the SportsRoof fastback. It came with a 351 Windsor V8 with a two-barrel carburettor, a three-speed manual gearbox and a 9-inch open rear axle with 28-spline shafts. The look was part of the deal: a matte black hood with hood pins and a dummy scoop, Goodyear Polyglas tyres on revised wheels and a chrome pop-open fuel cap. A functional "shaker" scoop mounted on the engine was optional.

All Mach 1s had the competition suspension. With a big-block engine, Ford added front shock tower bracing, a thicker front anti-roll bar (there was no rear bar in 1969) and heavier springs and dampers. Options included a chin spoiler, a rear deck spoiler and rear window louvers. Inside, the Mach 1 had the deluxe trim with simulated teak, extra sound deadening and high-back sport bucket seats.

The package was a sales success. Ford built 72,458 Mach 1s in 1969, while the Mustang GT found only 5,396 buyers and was discontinued after that year.

Ford also took the car to the Bonneville Salt Flats: in 1968 Mickey Thompson and Danny Ongais drove three Mach 1s for a Hot Rod magazine feature and set 295 speed and endurance records over 500-mile and 24-hour courses. Ford of Europe also notes that the original Mach 1 won back-to-back SCCA Manufacturers' Rally Championships in 1969 and 1970.

1970–1973: from Cleveland V8s to net ratings

The 1970 Mach 1 had single headlights, with the former inner lights turned into sport lamps, recessed taillights on a black honeycomb panel and no side scoops behind the doors. It received revised bucket seats, deep-dish wheel covers and new badges and stripes. During the year the 351 Cleveland replaced the Windsor; the four-barrel M-code version was rated at 224 kW (300 hp) at 5,400 rpm.

For 1971 Ford cut the standard content. The base engine became a 302 two-barrel with a three-speed manual, and the interior returned to base vinyl, although the competition suspension stayed. Dual NACA-style hood scoops were standard on most cars, and the Ram Air hood was now functional. At the top of the list sat the 429 Cobra Jet and, with the Drag Pak, the 429 Super Cobra Jet. The 351 Cobra Jet (Q-code) followed from May 1971.

In 1972 the 429 engines were gone, and the switch to SAE net horsepower, together with a change in camshaft timing, made every rating look smaller. A 351 HO (R-code) was added. Sales were the lowest of the 1971–1973 cars. The 1973 Mach 1 lost its two-tone paint and bright trim, gained wide body-side tape with a "MACH 1" cutout, new bumpers for federal standards and a black honeycomb grille with the running horse; the 351 HO and the sport lamps were dropped.

Engines and power, 1969–1973

Ratings up to 1971 are SAE gross, measured on a bare engine; from 1972 they are SAE net, measured as installed. The drop between 1971 and 1972 is therefore partly a change of method, not only of hardware. The 1970 Cleveland torque is given by Wikipedia as 385 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm.

The Mustang II Mach 1 (1974–1978)

The name moved to the smaller Mustang II in 1974. A detuned 302 V8 with 104 kW (140 hp) became available in 1975. The weakest year was 1977, with 6,719 cars, and the package ended after 1978. With small engines and a compact body, this Mach 1 is not counted as a muscle car on 1CARS; the Mustang hub covers it with the rest of the Mustang II.

2003–2004: the New Edge Mach 1

The Mach 1 returned on the fourth-generation Mustang for 2003. Its 4.6-litre DOHC 32-valve V8 (R-code) had an aluminium block, 10.1:1 compression and intake cams from the Lincoln InTech engine. It produced 227 kW (305 hp) and 434 Nm (320 lb-ft) and revved to 6,800 rpm with the five-speed manual. A Tremec five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic were offered, with an 8.8-inch solid rear axle (3.55:1) and steel subframe connectors.

The styling looked back to 1969: a shaker-style scoop through a cut-out in the bonnet, 17 × 8-inch polished wheels in the style of the Magnum 500 and a 1970s-style instrument cluster. The seats were dark grey leather with Comfort Weave inserts. In 2003 Azure Blue was offered only on the Mach 1; for 2004 Zinc Yellow became Screaming Yellow and Competition Orange was added.

Ford had planned 6,500 cars but built 9,652 in 2003 and 7,182 in 2004. The car weighed 1,533 kg (3,380 lb). Motor Trend timed 0–60 mph in 5.2 seconds with the manual and 5.6 seconds with the automatic; magazine quarter-mile times ranged from 13.5 to 13.88 seconds.

2021–2023: Mach 1 with GT350 and GT500 parts

Ford revealed the third modern Mach 1 online on 16 June 2020 as a 2021 model. Its 5.0-litre Coyote V8 produced 358 kW (480 hp) and 570 Nm (420 lb-ft) in 2021 and 350 kW (470 hp) and 560 Nm (410 lb-ft) in 2022, according to Wikipedia. The intake manifold, oil-filter adapter, oil cooler and front and rear subframes came from the Shelby GT350, and the rear axle cooling, rear toe links and rear diffuser from the Shelby GT500. Two large openings beside the grille badge identify it. Wikipedia gives a top speed of 166 mph (267 km/h) in the Mach 1 article and 168 mph (270 km/h) in the sixth-generation article; the Mustang GT was limited to 155 mph.

The European version was shown at Goodwood SpeedWeek in October 2020. Ford of Europe rated it at 338 kW (460 PS) and 529 Nm. It came with MagneRide dampers, bespoke springs and anti-roll bars, a limited-slip differential and 19-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, and Ford said it produced 22 per cent more downforce than the Mustang GT. Each car was individually numbered.

The manual was the Tremec 3160 with a twin-disc clutch and rev matching; the automatic received an upgraded torque converter and an extra air-to-oil cooler. Production of the Mach 1 ended in 2023. By Ford's count, more than 300,000 Mach 1s had been built since 1969.

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