This ’69 Ford Mustang is a Lesson in Tasteful Modification

 BOLD RIDE      

 

Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.

 Posted by Zach Doell     

                          

                                          

                                 

 

In 1969, Ford rolled out its famed “Mach 1” performance package for the redesigned Ford Mustang. It was a move that essentially killed-off the original “GT” trim, but brought road racy appeal with its super aggressive styling cues and plethora of available engines. In fact, over 70,000 were sold in its first year… and this was allegedly one of them. 

Except, it isn’t exactly what you’d call a “stock” Mach 1 any longer. Beginning in 2008, this ’69 Mach 1 Mustang underwent a serious pro-touring restoration, subtly updating and honing the rakish looks that made these Mach 1s such street fighters. In total, it cost a claimed $175,000 from start to finish.
Now, it’s up for sale on eBay and asking significantly less. And oh yeah… there’s a 786 horsepower V8 under the hood.

 

Then again, if you’re going to pull-off the pro-touring look, you might as well be able to back it up with big power under-the-hood power.

The Mach 1’s blacked-out (and scooped) hood lifts up to reveal a punchy 363ci Ford Racing V8, recessed a few inches further into the engine bay for better weight balance and gear shifter positioning. And it’s far from stock. The V8 now comes equipped with a massive 80mm Borg Warner turbocharger and an equally large intercooler. The resultant 786 ponies flow through a T-56 six-speed manual gearbox (à la Dodge Viper fame) and head to a Torsen limited-slip differential.

Putting that power to the ground is a custom front suspension nicked from the SN-95 generation of Ford Mustangs (’94 to ’04) and a specially tuned Total Control leaf spring rear end.
On the outside, the owner notes the car was built with some inspiration from George Follmer’s famous Ford Mustang Trans Am race car, with a few custom liberties taken, of course. The body mods include a custom grille, bigger trunk spoiler, front splitter, and eye-catching Shelby wheels, among other changes.

Inside, the Mustang keeps its racing attitude at a minimum. The interior looks generally of the period, apart from the Momo steering wheel, modern instruments in their original gauge cluster, roll cage, and racing harnesses.

While intended to function both as a street and track car, there’s been extensive customization to create a better driving position, including modified floor pans and a new steering column, not to mention the recessed drivetrain. All in all, rifling through those gears ought to be quite the pleasure.

Like it? The Mach 1 turned pro-touring restomod asks $99,000.