Why I love Mustangs, especially Mach 1's

[jholmes217]

I kinda thought of Mustangs as just another car until I bought my 1st one in 1986 while staioned at Fort Bragg, N.C. in the 82nd Airborne Division. My first one was a 67 coupe with a hot rodded 289 and a 4 speed. Well, that car led to a 66 coupe with an even hotter 302 and 4 speed. I then became a member of an unofficial Mustang club made of soldiers who liked Mustangs, and just met on FRI and SAT nights in Fayettville. Anyway, one guy had a red 69 Mach 1 with a 428 Cobra Jet under the hood. One night, my 67 was broke down so I rode with him in his Mach. We stopped at a red light, and I made the mistake of asking him "does this thing have any balls?" He slaps a $20 bill on top of the dash in front of me and says "when this light turn green, if you can grab it you can have it." The light turned green and in the fury of raw torque and horsepower, I was pinned to the seat as he went through the gears. Needless to say, he kept his $20 dollars and I fell in love with the 69 Mach 1 and the 428 Cobra Jet engine. After that, I always asked him if it had balls, especially if there was a Camaro close! I lost touch with him after he transfered away from Fort Bragg, and now I don't even remember his name. I will always remember that Mach 1 though, and that is why I now have one!

[Mach 1 Club]

Awesome story! Thanks for sharing!

[Steven Harris]

Thanks for the story Jeff.

Not to steal your thread but to add my similar experience to it -

My older brother went into the Marines and while he was gone I bought my 1970 GT Torino with the M code 351 4V. On our way home from the airport after his boot camp he basically asked the same question and I did the same thing. I kept my money and he learned what Ford power is all about!

Great story. Thanks for sharing it.

[keith1562]

Personally I've got a 72 Mach 1 that I love. I just wanted to send a big thumbs up for your service to our country. My father was in the 82nd during the Korean era. It takes something special to be a paratrooper. I loved and was motivated by the stories he told. Stories of truth, honor, and that a man's word is his bond. Unfortunately Dad passed away 2 years ago. But again takes for your service.
Keith

[Rare Pony]

Great story, thanks for sharing!

[jholmes217]

Personally I've got a 72 Mach 1 that I love. I just wanted to send a big thumbs up for your service to our country. My father was in the 82nd during the Korean era. It takes something special to be a paratrooper. I loved and was motivated by the stories he told. Stories of truth, honor, and that a man's word is his bond. Unfortunately Dad passed away 2 years ago. But again takes for your service.
Keith

Thanks. I did 26 years in the Army, and I gotta say I never had a unit as close as the paratrooper unit (82nd Airborne.) Just seems like paratroopers stand a little taller and walk a little prouder!

[MY73GRL]

Thats an awesome story! It made me have cold chills, because thats what I love most about cars...the crazy power.

:) Thank you btw for for serving our country.

[Mark73Mach1]

My 73 Mustang Mach 1 is my second mustang. I have had it for about 10 years. I truly enjoy driving it and hear the rumbling of the engine through the exhaust. The 2 things that I have noticed is that people will go out of their way to see it or talk to you about the Mach 1. All are hoping I will raise the hood so they can see the engine. The second item is over 80% have a mustang story of their own. I take great pride in the appearance in it and honor its heritage.

[jholmes217]

I had a funny find while working on my Mach 1 over Thanksgiving weekend. My car is a 1969 Q code Mach 1. The Q code means non-ram air, so it doesn't have the shaker hood sticking out of a hole in the hood. My car also doesn't have the Cobra Jet script on the hood scoop, just the rectangular 428 emblems. So, someone would have to get pretty close to tell this is a Cobra Jet car and not a 390 or 351 car.

Anyways, I was told by the guy I bought the car from that previous owners were serious street racers. Imagine my surprise when I found a set of rectangular 351 emblems in the ashtray! Evidently, one of the previous owners would take the 428 emblems off and put 351 emblems on and go trolling for suckers to street race him.

I'm not knocking 351 Windsor engines mind you. These days with stroker kits and aluminum heads, a 351 Windsor can be built to more cubic inches than a 428 and much more powerful. But back in the 60's and 70's, the 351 was not considered a performance engine. Most X brand drivers back then would jump at the chance to race a 351 powered car for money thinking they would have a sure win.

I never thought a Mach 1 could be considered a sleeper, but in this case, maybe I was wrong! I'll bet there would have been some pissed off people if they found out they were suckered into racing a 428 Cobra Jet instead of a small block!

[JTS71 Mach1]

Yeah thats one of those times you don't lift the hood to show off the Engine!!! JTS 71 Mach1