Tag Archives: Mach 1

Fasten Seat Belt – Ford Mustang 302 Convertible

Seven years after the introduction of the original Mustang, Ford launched the forth and final face lifted version on the original 108″ wheel base chassis in 1971.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The model aimed originally at the youth market was now aimed at a far more affluent market that could afford to double the price of a basic model with sports packages.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

By 1972 however, when today’s featured model was built things were beginning to radically change. As an oil crises drove up fuel prices, sales of performance orientated models with high end 275 hp Boss 351 motors plummeted to just 351 units.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

With the increased perceived need for fuel conservation even the 140 hp 5 litre / 302 cui Windsor motor like the one above stood to be demonised as a gas guzzler against national interests.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

While performance was “out” safety was rapidly becoming the new “in”, the ’72 Mustang was the first to be fitted with a “Fasten Seat Belt” warning lamp on the dash panel.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

This particular ’72 model seen at Summer Classics in Easter Compton, fitted with a Mach 1 honeycomb sport lamp grill option was imported into the UK in May 2000.

Ford Mustang Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

1972 saw Mustang sales dip below 130,000 for the first time since the models launch in 1964 to just 125,903, the forth face lifted Mustang continued to be built with minor revisions into 1973 when sales slightly picked up.

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

Share

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 !

Share

Heavy Weight Luxury – Ford Mustang Hardtop

Within three years of it’s introduction sales of Ford’s “secretarial” pony car the Mustang had peaked at over 600,000 units per year and there after they fell sharply to level out at the 120,000 annual sales level.

Ford Mustang Hardtop, Bristol

For 1971 the Mustang grew in every dimension except height and gained 800 lbs, under the watchful eye Ford Design Product Manager Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen during his 19 month tenure in between jobs at General Motors and White Motor (Truck) Company. Knudsen is credited with pursuing luxury over the youth and performance culture at which the original Mustang had been targeted.

Ford Mustang Hardtop, Bristol

The ’71 Mustangs like the example seen here were 3 inches wider in both body and front and rear wheel tracks which when combined with the inherited height of the original made for a cramped cockpit.

Ford Mustang Hardtop, Bristol

However while the responsibility for the largest and heaviest Mustang of all time was the responsibility of Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen he was merely following the escalation derby that ended up with “option overkill” which saw $2500 vehicles loaded with options that doubled the value and profits of all of the contemporary vehicle manufacturers.

Ford Mustang Hardtop, Bristol

The Mustang Mach 1 performance option included the hockey stick stripes and Magnum 500 wheels, an all time favorite original equipment option.

Ford Mustang Hardtop, Bristol

Part of the justification for the increase in size and weight of the ’71 Mustang was the 7 litre 375 hp Big block Super Cobra Jet 429 cui motor option which could easily be fitted into the engine bay without the costly modifications that had come about from stuffing mid size cars with full size motors, an activity that can be traced back at least as far as the 1964 Pontiac GTO and was dropped on Mustangs from 1972 on. The 5 litre / 302 cui Windsor V8 on this car would produce between 190 and 210 hp depending on the carburetor option chosen.

Ford Mustang Hardtop, Bristol

The Mach 1 name first appeared on a concept Levacar, which offered a Jetsons vision of the future, in 1960. The Mach 1 name first appeared on Mustangs built for the 1969 model year.

Ford Mustang Hardtop, Bristol

Several sources I have read while preparing today’s blog have emphasised that the Mach 1 package was only offered on sportsroof models.

Ford Mustang Hardtop, Bristol

There was a Sports Coupé version of the hard top offered in the Spring of 1971 which included the hockey stick stripes and a black roof without the Mach 1 lettering of which only 500 are thought to have been manufactured.

It is thought that 1971 Mustang sales figures broke down to 83,000 hard tops, 60,000 fastbacks and just 6000 convertibles.

Thanks for joining me on this Ford Mustang Hard Top edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a celebrity edition of Ferrari Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share