For Fan Car Friday this week we bring you a sleek 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 from our friend Jorge, or rather Jorge’s father David that passed on his love of the Mach 1 to his son. Fan Car Friday is a segment where we want to share with the world the automobiles that our fans have. We have absolutely no affiliation/relationship with the cars, the build or the owners. This post was made with written consent from the owner.
“My father owned about 7 Mach 1’s in his lifetime in Mexico where I grew up. So it was obvious that I fell in love with them at s very young age and continued thru out my life. I have now 4 sons all grown up but in order to afford their college I had to sell my 73 Mach 1 which I had worked on and restored back in 2007. It was also blue then once my sons got jobs they surprised me in 2010 in my bday giving me my actual car which is identical to the one I sold. I’ve been working on it to restore to original so it’s being a work on progress all it really needs is a paint job.”
Jorge’s dad David in his last Mach 1.
So a big thank you from us, to Jorge’s dad David for passing on the love of an iconic muscle car to his son and hopefully his grandchildren as well.
Jorge’s Dad
The Ford Mustang Mach 1 is a performance-oriented option package of the Ford Mustang, originally introduced by Ford in August 1968 as a package for the 1969 model year. The Mach 1 title adorned performance oriented Mustang offerings until the original retirement of the moniker in 1978.
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 connections to the 1969 model were integrated into the design to pay homage to the original. This generation of the Mach 1 was discontinued after the 2004 model year, with the introduction of the fifth-generation Mustang.
Ford first used the name “Mach 1” in its 1969 display of a concept called the “Levacar Mach I” at the Ford Rotunda. This concept vehicle used a cushion of air as propulsion on a circular dais.
In 1971, the Mach 1 was available with three 351 Cleveland engines; the H-code 2-V, the M-code 4-V and beginning in May of 1971, the 351CJ (Cobra Jet or GT engine). There were also two 429ci options, the C-code CJ (Cobra Jet) & J-code CJ-R (Cobra Jet – Ram Air). Buying the “Drag Pak” optional 3.91 (V) or 4.11 (Y) rear gears turned either 429 into a “Super Cobra Jet”, with solid lifter cam, Holley 780cfm carb and special rotating assembly with forged pistons.
One of the most recognizable features of the ’71-’73 Mach 1s 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 came as a non-functional item, but when ordered with the Ram Air option, it became truly functional. The Ram Air option 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. The ram-air option 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’ (matte silver), which coordinated with the decals and striping.
In 1973, the front bumper was enlarged in accordance with new NHTSA standards, and all Mustang models had their sportlamps changed to a vertical orientation at each end of the grille. As the new bumper covered part of the front valance (and therefore the previous turn signal location), the sportlamps also served as turn signals. Both a Mach 1 and base grille were offered, with differing insert patterns.
The rear bumper was also mounted on new impact-absorbing extensions which caused the bumper to protrude from the body further than before, and the 1973 Mach 1 graphics were also changed. Engine options remained the same as in 1972. With the new 1973-model EPA requirements the 351-4V was not advertised as a Cobra Jet engine even though the 1973 Mustang shop book and other internal Ford documentation did list the engine as the 351-4V CJ.
Due to trouble getting the Ram Air option approved for emissions reasons, Ford offered an ‘exterior decor’ option in 1973 that consisted of the two-tone hood treatment, but without the actual functional components of the Ram Air system. Actual engine options available with Ram Air in 1973 were limited to the 351 2V, even though the 351 4V ‘Cobra Jet’ (without Ram Air) remained optional on every model.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Mustang_Mach_1
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Great story, the Mach 1 was a real icon. I had a ’68 Mustang GT fastback that I wish I had kept.
Good to hear stories from car guys and their families. His sons obviously recognized how the car hobby was big part of their Dad’s life and the sacrifice he made to give them an education.
Good on them !
Thanks I already got the car painted.
I special ordered a ’73 Mach 1 new in the spring of ’73. Mine was one of the very last ones built with a mfg date in July. It’s long gone now, but I look at the ’71-3 cars all the time in classifieds. On the ram air, correct that it was limited to the 2v engine, but the 4v was the only option for the 4 speed manual, which I wanted. Great car, but took some getting used to driving with limited rear view out that back window. Mine was medium copper metalic with a brown interior (forget code and correct name off the top of my head).