Ford Mustang Mach 1 - Introduction of The Mach 1

Introduction of The Mach 1

First generation
Production 1969–1973
Body style 2-door coupe
Engine

1969–1970

  • 351 cu in (5.8 L) Windsor- tall deck V8
  • 351 cu in (5.8 L) Cleveland V8
  • 390 cu in (6.4 L) V8
  • 428 cu in (7.0 L) CJ/SCJ V8
1971–1973
  • 302 cu in (4.9 L) Windsor V8
  • 351 cu in (5.8 L) Windsor- tall deck V8
  • 351 cu in (5.8 L) Cleveland V8
  • 429 cu in (7.0 L) CJ/SCJ V8
Transmission 3-speed automatic
4-speed manual
3-speed manual

The Ford Mustang was successfully introduced in April 1964 as a sporty "Pony car" to attract younger buyers into Ford products. After only a few short years of development, Ford saw the need to create performance Mustangs to compete with GM and their release of the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird.

As popular as the Mustang was, it wasn't much of a street racer. However following the increased dimensions of the Mustang in 1967 and then again in 1969, larger and more powerful engines could be shoe-horned into the Mustangs engine bay. The Big Block 390 cu in (6.4 L) FE engine introduced in 1967, was a step in the right direction, but the 390 FE wasn't much of a match against the Chevrolet 396 cu in (6.5 L) V-8 in the Camaro or even the 400 cu in (6.6 L) V-8 in the Firebird. If you wanted a fast Mustang, you'd have to go to a much more expensive Shelby Mustang, which was equipped with the 428 cu in (7.0 L) FE engine.

Late in the 1968 model year, Ford introduced the 428 cu in (7.0 L) Cobra Jet FE engine in a small group of Mustang GTs and into the 1968 Shelby GT500KR. This was a strong performer and pointed to the direction that the 1969 Mustang would take. However, "GT" wasn't a name that would initiate images of street screeching performance. Ford decided upon the Mach 1, with the supersonic connotations.

Read more about this topic:  Ford Mustang Mach 1

Famous quotes containing the words introduction and/or mach:

    “Such is oftenest the young man’s introduction to the forest, and the most original part of himself. He goes thither at first as a hunter and fisher, until at last, if he has the seeds of a better life in him, he distinguishes his proper objects, as a poet or naturalist it may be, and leaves the gun and fish-pole behind. The mass of men are still and always young in this respect.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    “Physics is experience, arranged in economical order.”
    —Ernst Mach (1838–1916)