The Ford Mustang Mach 1 will soon be back stalking the streets – complete with a 305-horsepower V-8 engine and the signature ram-air “shaker” hood scoop that put the 1969 model in motion, even at a stoplight. “Of all our Living Legends, Mustang might have the richest heritage. While everyone has a favorite, Mach 1 is one of the most memorable and most collectable Mustangs,” says Jim O’Connor, group vice president, Ford North America Marketing, Sales and Service.
The original Mach 1 was one of the most collectable Mustangs ever. It was named “the quickest four-person production car” by Car Life magazine in a March 1969 road test. Production will be limited to 6,500 numbered editions, making the 2003 model a collectible as well.
The 2003 Mach 1 features:
An all-aluminum, 4.6-liter DOHC modular (MOD) V-8 engine with four valves per cylinder producing 305 horsepower and 320 foot-pounds of torque
17-inch, 5-spoke Heritage wheels with the galloping pony logo inspired by the 1969-1973 Mustang’s Mach 1 wheel design
1960s-style “comfortweave” trimmed black leather seats
Black extended front air dam and rear decklid spoiler
Body side scoops
Modern color scheme and badging that captures vintage cues
The Mustang Mach 1 special edition is built on the same line of the Dearborn Assembly Plant that produces coupe and convertible versions of the Mustang V-6, GT and SVT Mustang Cobra. Each Mach 1 will come with a unique “R” engine code found in the vehicle identification number (VIN) to ensure exclusivity and collectibility.
The Mach 1 is the newest derivative to join Ford’s Living Legends lineup of cars, which includes Mustang, Thunderbird, the new Ford GT and the Forty-Nine concept
Modern Mustang: Muscle Car Reborn
The modern Mustang is a leader – just like the original 1964 ½ model. For more than 15 years, the Mustang has led its class in sales volume while the Mustang convertible is the best-selling convertible in the United States.
Ford uses some of the same techniques it did in the 1960s and 1970s to keep Mustang fresh. Through a wide range of personalization options, the company offers “a steed for every need” and fuels customers’ enthusiasm for driving. Mustang coupes and convertibles are offered as a V-6, a Mustang GT with a MOD 4.6-liter two-valve V-8 and the top-of-the-line SVT Mustang Cobra with a supercharged MOD 4.6-liter dual-overhead-cam (DOHC) four-valve V-8.
Special limited-edition models, including the Bullitt GT in 2001 and the new Mach 1, are designed to offer collectors and enthusiasts a modern Mustang with an infusion of muscle-car memories. They keep the flame of pony car passion lit today and promise a bright future.
“A powerful nameplate like Mustang doesn’t come around too often in our business,” says O’Connor. “Our lineup of Mustangs and special edition models are designed to turn today’s customers into tomorrow’s enthusiasts. Mach 1 is a glance in the mirror of Mustang’s storied past, but it’s steering straight into the future of Mustang.”
Text and photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company 
