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Insurance Special – Ford Mustang 428 Cobra Jet Sportsroof

For the 1969 model year Ford introduced the second body upgrade to it’s popular Mustang range featuring quad headlights, a nearly 4″ longer body on the original 108″ wheel base, new Pony tribar logo and the fastback was renamed sportsroof.

Ford  Mustang 428 Cobra Jet Sports Top, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Ford offered three versions of the Mustang which were aimed with competition in mind, Cobra Jet as seen here,for Drag racers, Boss 302 built for eligibility in the Trans Am Series and BOSS 429 for engine size elegibility in NASCAR.

Ford  Mustang 428 Cobra Jet Sports Top, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Possibly the fastest of which would be the 428 Cobra Jet aimed at drag racers who if they opted for either the 3.90 or 4.30 locking ratio rear axle ‘Drag Pack’ options also got a bundle of performance improvements including an engine oil cooler which replaced the deleted Air Conditioning cooler, stronger crankshaft and connecting rods along with a better balanced motor, meaning more carefully matched parts which was known as the Super Cobra Jet.

Ford  Mustang 428 Cobra Jet Sports Top, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The Cobra jet in either form was quoted as a 335hp motor for insurance purposes though the actual figure was much closer to 400 hp. Cobra Jet motors could also be ordered with ram air scoops either attached to the bonnet/hood or ‘shaker’ scoops attached directly to the carburetor intake cleaner.

Ford  Mustang 428 Cobra Jet Sports Top, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

1969 also saw the introduction of the Mach 1 trim level which included distinctive Mach 1 body stripes, steel wheels with bold-lettered Goodyear Polyglas tyres, pop open fuel cap, dual exhausts, competition cable and pin bonnet / hood retainers, matt black bonnet / hood and simulated air scoop as seen here.

Ford  Mustang 428 Cobra Jet Sports Top, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The deluxe Mach 1 interior included simulated wood trim, high backed seats, additional sound proofing and remote sports mirrors.

Ford  Mustang 428 Cobra Jet Sports Top, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Of the 302,971 Mustangs built in 1969, 72,458 were fitted with Mach 1 interiors.

Thanks for joining me on this “Insurance Special” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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