Introduced in 1969, the Mach 1 was one of no fewer than six performance-oriented Ford Mustangs that year. And despite sitting alongside Boss and Shelby models in dealerships, it became a massive hit, moving more than 70,000 units. The Mach 1's success prompted Ford to discontinue the Mustang GT, a version that did not return until 1982.
Fitted with an upgraded suspension and a unique stripe package, the Mach 1 was a V8-only affair. It came standard with the 351-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) Windsor, but Ford also offered the Cleveland and the 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) FE as options. Customers also had access to the company's most potent mill, the 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Cobra Jet.
The Mach 1 package remained available on the redesigned 1971 Mustang, but Ford changed the engine lineup. An entry-level 302-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) Windsor became available, while the FE mill was discontinued. The Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet powerplants topped the range with 370 and 375 horsepower, respectively. Torque was just as impressive at 450 pound-feet (610 Nm).
Mustang sales dropped to 149,678 units that year, but the Mach 1 remained a popular choice, accounting for almost 25% of total sales. But due to the increasing insurance rates for high-performance cars, only 1,865 Mach 1s were ordered with the big 429-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8. These cars are now rare, highly sought-after, and expensive gems.
The green example you see here is one of those cars, but it's a bit more special than the average 1971 Cobra Jet. How come? Well, it's one of only a few 429-fitted Mach 1s that were sold in Japan. Moreover, this muscle car packs more factory options than most of its siblings that were ordered in the United States.
Sold new in Okinawa, Japan, this Cobra Jet is loaded with a whopping 25 options. The list includes air conditioning, an AM 8-track, power windows, a center console with additional gauges, and a fold-down rear seat. The latter turns the car into a two-seater with lots of luggage room, which is really nice to have on a classic Mustang.
The owner also specified silver inserts on the white seats. The color combo is nothing to sneeze at, either. Finished in Medium Green, this Mach 1 is a worthy competitor for any High Impact-painted Mopar.
This Cobra Jet also includes a few goodies you won't see on US-spec 1971 Mustangs. For starters, the speedometer is in kilometers instead of miles. The antenna is mounted on the left rear fenders instead of the right one, while the mirrors had their pointy ends shaved off for safety reasons. The rear-fender reflector lights are yellow instead of red. Oh, and this Mustang also features reflectors on the front fenders, but they were mounted aftermarket and sourced from a third-generation Nissan Skyline GT.
The muscle car left the factory with a J-code 429 V8, which makes it one of 1,512 Mach 1s fitted with the Ram Air version of the mill. The Cobra Jet engine narrows it to 958 units, while the C6 automatic transmission reduces that figure even more to 707 examples. Finally, only 648 of these cars also got the Mach 1 package.
It's safe to say that the green-over-white color combo and the extensive options list turn it into a one-of-one gem, but that's difficult to prove in the absence of a Marty report. But what we do know for a fact is that it's one of only 14 1971 Mach 1 Cobra Jets known to have been sold in Japan.
But even though it was shipped to the Far East, this Mustang actually spent most of its life in the United States. The pony found its way back home in late 1985, some 15 years after it left the assembly line. It changed various owners since then, but it morphed into a perfectly restored, award-winning classic. Check it out in the video below, and make sure you crank up the volume for Cobra Jet V8 goodness.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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