Every once in a while, a car pops up with an unusual specification that is simply worth running as a Pick of the Day. In the past we’ve run cars with a special-order color or perhaps an option not often found on similar vehicles, for example. In the case of today’s Pick of the Day, this 1970 Ford Mustang Mach I has an uncommon distinction you may appreciate. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Lakeland, Florida. (Click the link to view the listing)
Ford was busy getting its act together starting in the spring of 1968 with the 428 Cobra Jet. That continued into the 1969 model year with several new models that included the Fairlane-based Cobra and the Mustang Mach I. Both were image cars that Ford needed to up its game in the marketplace. While the Mustang already was the King of the Pony Cars, there was no Mustang with a strong performance imagine until the Mach I appeared.
Following Ford protocol, the standard version of the 1969 Mach I wasn’t quite a performance car even though it projected that image thanks to a standard 351 Windsor two-barrel. Other standard features included dual exhausts, stripes, non-functional hood scoop, hood pins, chrome styled steel wheels, Competition suspension, high-back buckets, and racing mirrors made this what just may be the most popular Mustang of the ages. Engine options included a 351 four-barrel, 390, and 428 Cobra Jet.
For 1970, Ford facelifted the Mustang by removing two of the outboard headlights and replacing them with non-functional air intakes. Between the two headlights were sporty parking lights complementing the standard ones underneath the bumper. Out back, the taillights were now inset in the rear panel. The non-functional side scoops from 1969 were removed and smoothed out. For the Mach I, the side stripes were replaced by prominent, textured rocker panels. However, this still was 1970, so Ford gave the Mach I stripes on the trunk lid and hood.
Underneath the hood, the 351 two-barrel continued to be standard, but the four-barrel was a new 351 Cleveland, a different engine series offering 300 horsepower. The only step up for 1970 was the 428 Cobra Jet, the swan song for the 428. Just over 40,000 Mach Is were built in 1970, a big fall from 1969’s 72,000, but the market overall was falling so Mach I sales remained relatively strong.
This 1970 Ford Mustang Mach I features something not often seen on other 1970 Mach Is: white stripes. The 1970 Mustang brochure lists black or dark green as being available with white stripes, but clearly that’s not the case as evidenced by this vehicle. Per Marti Auto Works, only 1,372 Mach Is were built with white stripes.
This particular vehicle is powered by the standard 351 two-barrel backed by a three-speed automatic transmission. Seller claims, “Factory air conditioning, center console, power steering, [and] power brakes,” though no documentation is provided. However, all of these were popular options so they’re not unusual to find on a car such as this.
It’s tough to be unusual among the Mustang crowd. For $64,500, you can be conformist and unusual at the same time.
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
This is a perfect physical example of the Mach One’s of the Period. However, from a performance standpoint the original Drive Train has been removed and a an XR7 Windsor 351 2 Barrel Carb Engine has beeb substituted. So it cannot compete with other Mach One’s.
That explains it’s current price !
This car’s has nothing to do with Cougars. Both Windsor and Cleveland 2bbls. were used in these cars.