Ford Mustang Mach 1
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| Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback | |
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| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 1969–1978 |
| Class | Muscle car |
| Body style | 2-door fastback |
| Engine | 1969-1970
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The Mach 1 Ford Mustang is a performance model of the Mustang that began in 1969. The first span of production Mach 1s ended in 1978 with the retirement of the Mustang 2 for the Fox Mustang of 1979. The Mach 1 returned in 2003 as a mid-level high performance model of the Mustang. The model was discontinued after the 2004 model year with the S197 Mustang chassis introduction in 2005.
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[edit] Introduction of the Mach 1
The Ford Mustang was introduced in 1964 as a sporty "pony car" to attract younger buyers into Ford products. After only a few short years of development, Ford saw the need to create performance Mustangs to compete with GM and their release of the Camaro and Firebird. While several performance options had existed in the form of factory 289's (from the '65s on) & factory FE code engines (new for 1968), the vast majority of Ford Mustangs's performance mantle was carried by cars modified by the legendary Carrol Shelby. 1969 was the benchmark year for Ford Mustang in its proliferation of performance names and engines. No less than 6 factory performance Mustang models were available (Boss 302, 429, Shelby GT350, GT500 and the Mach 1). Additionally, 9 variations of V-8s were available in the 69-70 cars.
The new Mustang chassis, the last of the 1st generation models, allowed for larger engines than previous generations and could fit even the monstrous 429 for Ford's planned homologation of the engine for NASCAR competition. For Ford, the Mach 1 was introduced as an in-between model, a fit between the lower priced GT and the track oriented Boss 302s and 429s.
The Mach 1 started with the fastback "Sports Roof" body and added several visual and performance enhancing items such as matte black hood and optional spoiler, hood pins, chrome gas cap and wheels, chrome exhaust tips (optional), chin spoiler and a 351 Windsor motor as base with either a two barrel or four barrel carburetor. A 390 CI four barrel as well as the huge 428 Cobra Jet were also available engines. Standard on Mach 1s was a fierce but cosmetic hood scoop that had integrated turn-signal lights mounted in the back. A more functional option was the signature "Shaker Hood", an air scoop mounted directly to the top of the motor, used to collect fresh air and so named for its tendency to "shake" above the rumbling V-8 below. The interior came complete with teak wood grain details, full sound deadening material and high-back sport bucket seats. The name Mach 1 could not have been more appropriate as in 1969, Performance Buyer's Digest put a new Mach 1 through its paces at Bonneville, breaking some 295 USAC speed and endurance records. Ford kept the Mach 1 alive into 1970 and little changed outside the visual. New Mach 1 specific bucket seats, Magnum 500 wheels, recessed taillights on a black honeycomb rear panel as well as new side and rear badging and striping were the main visual differences. Outselling the base GT model, Ford canceled the GT altogether to make the Mach 1 the primary street performance Mustang.
[edit] Growth happens
With Ford's withdrawal from Trans-Am officially following 1970, the high end Boss 302 and 429 disappeared and were replaced by the large street-oriented Boss 351. 1971 marked the 2nd generation Mustang's debut, one that purists cried had strayed too far from the stable. The 1971 Mustang was larger in almost every dimension, earing the nickname the "Clydesdale". In 1971 the Mach 1 started with a base engine of the Windsor based 302ci engine, with a 2 barrel carburetor. The lineup of engines included 4 351Cs, some changed midyear. The lineup topped out with 2 429ci option, the CJ & SCJ. Roughly 500 Mach 1s were produced with the CJ and SCJ motors. The SCJ came with a drag pack, oil cooler and a different Carbutetor than the CJ, along with a mechanical lifter camshaft and adjustable rockers. The 1971 Mach 1 Mustang 302ci was featured in the James Bond Film, Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
In 1972 the 429's were dropped from the lineup, and horsepower dropped across the board. This year also produced the fewest Mach 1 sales of the 1971-73 generation. There are no major differences in the 1971 and 72's externally, other than different script on the trunk panel. The 302 was still the base engine, with now a 2 barrel and 4 barrel 351 Cleveland being the other options in the Mach 1 lineup.
In 1973, the Front end was changed to fit new bumper standards, and a new Mach 1 grille was made. The Mach 1 grille in prior years had 2 "sportlamps" horizontally across the grill on the left and right side. In 1973 it was changed to have the sportlamps faced vertically. The side mirror bases were also truncated in height. The Mach 1 graphics also changed in, while engine options remain unchanged. One of the most recognizable features of the Mach 1 is from this era, the NASA (NACA) hood featuring two scoops that functional only on certain models. These were the last of the Falcon based mustangs; the first generation.
A 1971 Mach 1 dressed as a 1973 Mach 1 was extensively featured in the 1974 movie Gone in 60 Seconds, where it starred as a car named 'Eleanor'.
[edit] Sticker package
In 1974 was the birth of the black sheep of the Mustangs, the Mustang II. The Mustang II is often mocked in the enthusiast crowd and some even will say it's not a Mustang. Mach 1 was the performance package, fitted with the 2.8L V6 rated at 105 HP. The 1974 Mach 1s outsold the previous 4 years with the V6 in the light for its size 2700 pound II. Next year the 302 was brought back into the Mustang, giving a much needed performance boost. At 140 hp and 240ft/lbs of torque, the MII was available with a 4 speed standard. It formed the top end of performance in the Mustang II's. With 1976 came the introduction of another "performance" model, the Cobra II. In 1977 little changed but the grille of the Mustang and 1977 proved to be the lowest selling year of the Mach 1 yet, selling only 6,719 cars. It is also worth noting that four of the five years of the Mustang II are on the top-ten list of most-sold Mustangs ever. Nothing changed for 1978 other than Ford adding yet another performance model to the lineup, the King Cobra. This became the final year for the Mustang II as well as their performance models. The Mach 1 name was discontinued.
[edit] Mach 1 reborn
| Ford Mustang Mach 1 SN-95 | |
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| Production | 2003–2004 |
| Class | Muscle car |
| Body style | 2-door coupe |
| Engine | Modular 4.6 Liter DOHC 32 Valve V8 |
During the 1990s, the preeminent performance Mustang was the SVT Cobra. Following the departure of the Fox chassis in 1993 and the arrival of the SN-95 in 1994, Ford also sought to eliminate the 302. (Now termed in its metric 5.0 Liters) Drawing on its newly developed OHC architecture engines known as Modular motors, SVT created the 1996 and up Cobra around several variations of the 32 valve, all aluminium 4.6 Liter V-8. Below the SVT in performance was only the GT marque, reintroduced in 1982 with the 302 HO "5.0", later turning to the 16 valve SOHC V-8 in 1996. While keeping pace with GM competition at speed, the sales on the new SN-95 style cars skyrocketed and by 2002, Ford Mustang sales topped both Firebird and Camaro sales combined. With GM's withdrawal from the "Pony Car wars" in 2002, Ford had a free hand at the whole market but nonetheless created arguably the fastest stock Mustang of all (up until that time), the Supercharged 2003-2004 SVT Cobra. But concerns over a price gap between the GT and Cobra, as well as interest in keeping sales up before the release of the all new S197 Mustang, prompted the creation of two unique mid-range performance models. The 2001 "Bullitt" GT and the 2003 & 2004 Mach 1.
Following the stir caused by the retro 2001 "Bullitt" (A lightly modified 2001 GT, named for the famed chase Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in the movie "Bullitt") Ford saw the value of heritage in the Mustang name and as a follow up, sought to revive the Mach 1 name. While similar to the Bullitt in the use of the Cobra's 13" Brembo front brakes and unique Tokico gas shocks, as well as lower and stiffer springs, the Mach 1 received a huge performance gain over the base GT and even the 280hp Bullitt in the form of a totally unique variant of the DOHC, 32 valve 4.6 Liter Modular V-8. Commonly known by Mach 1 owners as an "R" code DOHC, (for the unique VIN engine R code) this all-aluminium engine features the same high flow heads as the 2003-04 SVT Cobras, Australian Boss 260/290 (see Barra engine), Lincoln Aviator and Mercury Marauders, but has intake cams drawn from Ford's 5.4 Liter "Triton" V-8 to provide better low end torque. While on paper the 305(228kW) horsepower seems a loss when compared to the 1999 & 2001 SVT Cobras of a similar engine running 320hp(239kW), in practice the motor produced nearly identical power with more torque, some 320 claimed lb/ft (430NM), occurring at a much lower 4,000 rpms.
Likewise, the Mach 1 had 10.1:1 compression as compared to the 99 & 02 Cobra's 9.85:1 and the Mach 1 had an aluminium block unique from the SVT aluminium blocks. The Mach 1 also featured the high redline of 6,800 rpms (5-speed cars) and fuel cut off at 7,000. Further differences included the use of Ford's 8.8 inch solid rear axle with a 3.55 final ratio (As opposed to SVT's Independent Rear Suspension) and the availability of a 4 speed automatic in addition to the Tremec sourced 5 speed manual. Factory steel "Box" cross section subframe connectors we also added to increase chassis stregth for both the added handling and to deal with the prodigious torque over the stock GT. Style wise, the Mach 1 was very distinct from other Mustangs as it drew heavily from the 1970 Mach 1. In addition to the matte black spoiler and hood stripe, flat black chin spoiler, Mach 1 rocker panel stripes and Mach 1 badging on the rear, there were also faux Magnum 500 polished 17x8 alloy wheels. A retro themed interior was included with well bolstered dark grey leather seats featuring 70's style "Comfort Weave" textures, a 1970's style gauge cluster, a machined aluminium shift ball, aluminium pedals and the sole option to add aluminium look bezels on the dash. The most noticeable difference visually from other Mustangs was the bulging hood with cut-out and the return of a semi-legitimate "Shaker Hood". While physically identical in placement and function (the scoop is said to be built on the same tooling as the 1970 Mach 1) it only provides a portion of air to the motor routing to the air box ahead of the MAF. It does function well as a cold air "snorkel" and a partial Ram Air at speed.
For 2004, the only changes were the ratings for the motor from 305hp(228kW) to 310hp(232kW) for the manual and 308(230kW) for the auto cars, and a bump in torque from 320lb. ft.(430NM) to 335lb.ft. (454NM). In reality, output is roughly the same but the factory ratings for both cars are low. Chassis dynomometers typically hold stock 2003 and 2004 cars at 275-285 rwhp [1] and 295-305 rwtrq (SAE). With a Drivetrain loss of 15% this equates to 323-335hp and 345-360 lb/ft of torque. 2004 Mach 1's can be identified by bare aluminium finished valve covers, as opposed to the 2003's Black finished covers. Outside, 2004 Mach 1's wear 40th anniversary tags ahead of the doors while the 2003 has the traditional Mustang Running Pony and Tri-Color bar.
Unlike many limited edition cars, 2003 Mach 1 owners had a variety of stand out colors from which to choose. To these, two new colors were added for 2004. In addition to Black, Dark Shadow Grey Metallic, Torch Red, Zinc Yellow (2003 Only), Oxford White and the Mach 1 only Azure Blue, Competition Orange and Screaming Yellow were added as color options.
With such improvements in power and a relatively light curb weight of 3,380 lbs (1,533kg), the 2003 Mustang Mach 1 posted magazine test numbers that were impressive given its $29,305 price tag. Magazine tests by Motor Trend found numbers from 13.88 @ 101.9mph for the automatic equipped 2003 Mach 1 with a 5.6 sec 0-60, up to the 5 speed's blistering 13.2 @ 106.7 mph with a 4.7 sec 0-60mph time.[2] All this while maintaining a decent 63.5 mph on a 600 foot slalom and .85g's on the skidpad, though the weight and higher CG of the larger DOHC motor has created a tendency to understeer more than the IRS weight balanced SVT's and lower CG and lower curb weight Bullitt GTs with the same basic suspension and brakes.[3]
Limited in production, the 2003 and 2004 Mach 1's ended with the SN-95 New Edge platform with 9,652 2003's[4] and 7,182 2004's[5] being built . Plans at Ford again call for a mid-range model between the GT and Shelby GT500 (Shelby has already set out with a GT-H for Hertz rental like the legendary GT-350, as well as a buyable version) but it is unlikely to be another Mach 1 as rumors are that either the Boss or the Bullitt name will be used again.
