Ford Mustang Mach 1
The Ford Mustang Mach 1 is a combination performance and appearance package offered as an option for the Ford Mustang.
It first appeared in August 1968 for the 1969 model year, and ran through 1978. After a long hiatus it briefly returned in 2003-2004, and most recently between 2021 and 2023.
The first generation of the package, available with various engines, debuted at its hottest, then was progressively eroded in performance as emissions controls, unleaded gas, fleet mileage quotas, and higher gasoline prices undercut the "horsepower wars" that had originally spurred the option. Similarly, early packages included other performance upgrades, such as suspension, that were deleted in subsequent model runs, leaving only a wide array of external and interior upgrades.
As part of a Ford heritage program, the Mach 1 package returned in 2003 as a high-performance version of the New Edge platform. Visual elements paying homage to the 1969 model were integrated into the design. This generation of the Mach 1 was discontinued after the 2004 model year, with the introduction of the fifth generation Mustang.
The Mach 1 returned again in 2021 in the sixth generation Mustang, offering marginally more power than the high-performance 5.0 L Coyote V-8 in the base GT V8, but borrowing front and rear subframes from the Shelby GT350 and various parts from it and the Shelby GT 500 models. It was produced until the debut of the seventh generation Mustang following the 2023 model year.
Introduction
The performance of pony cars became a major arena of competition, both for sales and manufacturer prestige. As the horsepower war escalated, the Ford Mustang platform and engine bay were redesigned to accommodate larger engine blocks. Late in the 1968 model year, Ford introduced the Cobra Jet FE engine in a small group of Mustang GTs and the 1968 Shelby GT500KR, its largest and most potent performance engine. For the 1969 model year, Ford produced an overall "performance package", which was available with two smaller V8s - the Windsor and FE, and topped by the Cobra Jet. It included some additional handling upgrades and heavy appearance enhancements and was dubbed the "Mach 1".First generation (1969–1970)
The 1969 Ford Mustang featured numerous performance-themed model names and engines. Six factory performance Mustang models were available. Additionally, seven variations of V8s were available in the 1969 through 1973 models; most of these were also available in the new Mach 1.Due to the success of the Mach 1, the GT model was discontinued after 1969 following poor sales of 5,396 units versus the 72,458 sales for the Mach 1. The Mustang would not have the "GT" badge until 1982.
The Mach 1 package was only available in the "SportsRoof" fastback body style. It included visual and performance-enhancing items such as matte black hood treatment with hood pins, hood scoop, competition suspension, chrome pop-open gas cap, revised wheels with Goodyear Polyglas tires, chrome exhaust tips, deluxe interior, factory or dealer optional chin spoiler, rear deck spoiler, and rear window louvers.
Standard equipment was a 351 cu in Windsor 2V 2-barrel engine with a 3-speed manual transmission, and a 28 spline open rear axle. A 351W 4V 4-barrel was optional as was a 390 cu in FE, and the 428 cu in Cobra Jet 4V with or without Ram Air, and a "drag pack" option with the modified 428 cu in Super Cobra Jet engine. A 4-speed manual or 3-speed FMX /C6 automatic transmission was optional, and the 428SCJ added a cast iron tailshaft in place of the regular aluminum one to the C6. A "traction lok" rear axle was optional, and the 428 CJ/SCJ included a "traction lok" with a 3.91 or 4.30 ratio, 31 spline axle shafts, and a nodular case. In 1970, the 3.91 ratio was a "traction-lok", while the 4.30 ratio was a Detroit Locker.
The Mach 1 came with upgraded suspension to varying degrees dependent upon powertrain choices. Big block cars had front shock tower reinforcement, thicker sway bars, and heavier springs and shocks. The 428 CJ/SCJ 4-speed cars also came with staggered rear shocks. Standard on Mach 1s was a non-functional hood scoop that had turn-signal indicator lights on the back visible to the driver. Optional was the "shaker hood" named for the functional air scoop that tended to move with the engine because it was mounted directly to the top of the engine. The interior featured simulated teak wood grain details, full sound-deadening material, and high-back sport bucket seats.
In 1968, racecar drivers Mickey Thompson and Danny Ongais took three Mach 1 Mustangs to the Bonneville salt flats for a feature in Hot Rod magazine, in the process setting 295 speed and endurance records over a series of 500-mile and 24-hour courses.
Ford kept the Mach 1 in production into 1970 with a few appearance changes. These included single dual-beam headlights with the position of the previous inner high-beam lights becoming sport lamps, the taillights were recessed on a black honeycomb rear panel, the simulated side scoops behind both doors were removed, the bucket seats were revised, new deep dish sports wheel covers, while the side and rear badging and striping were new. The 1970 model year used the Windsor 2V engine on some earlier built cars until the new 351 cu in Cleveland V8 in either 2V or 4V versions became available. The 351C 4V engine featured 11.0:1 compression and produced at 5400 rpm. This new engine incorporated elements from the Ford 385 series engine and the Boss 302, particularly the poly-angle combustion chambers with canted valves and the thin-wall casting technology.
Engines
First generation facelift (1971–1973)
For the 1971 model year, the standard content on the Mach 1 was reduced. Included were:- SportsRoof body style with unique "05" VIN code & "63R" body code on the door tag
- Color-keyed urethane front "spoiler" bumper & front fender and hood trim
- Honeycomb grille in black w/sportlamps
- Argent or black "Mach 1 – MUSTANG" decals on fenders
- Argent or black stripe and "Mach 1" decal on the trunk lid
- Argent or black lower body accent paint
- Bright trim at lower body paint line
- E70-14 white sidewall tires w/ hub caps & trim rings on 7" wide steel wheels
- Color-keyed dual racing mirror w/driver side remote
- Honeycomb taillight panel applique with bright trim
- Unique pop-open gas cap
- F-code 302-2V engine w/3 speed manual transmission
- Competition Suspension, variable quick-ratio steering box if ordered with P/S
- Base Mustang vinyl interior
- Flat hood – the NACA scooped hood was a no-cost option for the base engine
One of the most recognizable features of the 1971–1973 Mach 1 is the hood design with dual scoops. The hood was a no-cost option on the 302 cars and standard on all others. The basic hood had non-functional NACA-style submerged ducts, but when ordered with the Ram Air option, it became functional. It included a vacuum-controlled door inside each scoop, and a fiberglass under-hood 'plenum' that directed cool, outside air through a modified, rubber-ringed air filter housing and into the carburetor. Ram-air also included a pair of 1970 Mach1-style chrome twist hood locks and a two-tone hood paint treatment in either 'matte black' or 'argent', which coordinated with the decals and striping. The option also received either a "351 RAM AIR" or "429 RAM AIR" decal on each side of the hood.
In 1972, the 429CJ & SCJ engines were dropped from the lineup, and horsepower ratings dropped across the board due to the switch to new SAE net horsepower calculations and a 4-degree camshaft retard built into the timing set. This year also produced the fewest Mach 1 sales of the 1971–73 generation. There are no major external differences in the 1971 and 1972 Mach 1 models. The 1972 Mach 1 also saw the deletion of the pop-open gas cap, which was replaced with the standard twist-on cap found on the other Mustang models that year. The 302 Windsor remained as the base Mach 1 engine. There were again three 351 Cleveland engine options for 1972. A 2-barrel, the 4-barrel 351CJ, and a new R-code 351HO, essentially a lower compression Boss 351 engine.
The Mach 1 received appearance updates for 1973. The lower body accent paint and bright trim were gone and the entire car was one color from top to bottom. All 1973 Mach 1s received a wide body-side tape stripe in either black or argent, that featured a "MACH 1" cutout on the front of the quarter panel, and a standard "MUSTANG" script emblem on the fender. The deck lid tape stripe was revised, with the "MACH 1" lettering incorporated into the passenger side of the stripe instead of centered above it as in 1971 and 1972. The valance cutouts and bright tips were no longer available on 4V cars for 1973.
The Mustang needed to comply with new NHTSA standards, which necessitated a redesigned front and rear bumper. The front bumper on all models became a much larger body-colored urethane unit, mounted on impact-absorbing struts. Due to the revised bumper, the Mach 1 sport lamps were deleted and all models had the park/turn signal lamps moved from the front valance up to a vertical orientation at each end of the grille. The Mach 1 grille was black with a honeycomb pattern and a small running horse tri-bar emblem. The rear bumper was mounted on extended brackets which caused the bumper to protrude from the body further. A body-colored urethane filler piece at each quarter panel was added while a sheet metal filler panel was bolted to the taillight panel.
Engine options remained virtually the same as in 1972, except the 351HO engine was dropped. The 351-4V was not advertised in the 1973 Mustang as a Cobra Jet engine even though the 1973 Ford shop manual and other internal Ford documentation referenced the engine as the 351-4V CJ since the "Cobra Jet" nomenclature continued in Torino, Cougar, and Montego lines.
Because of problems with having the Ram Air option approved for emissions reasons, the 351-2V was the only engine available with Ram Air. A "Tu-Tone" hood paint treatment option that consisted of the black or argent paint treatment and twist locks was offered, but without the actual functional components of the Ram Air system.