1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1

Description

This 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is not only a great-looking pony, but packs impressive power under the hood thanks to a stout 351 Cleveland V8. And while the era of the muscle car was drawing to a close in 1973, it seems that someone forgot to tell the guys at Ford, because this thing looks like it'll attack anything that moves on the street.

The bodywork is draped in code 4B Bright Green Gold Metallic paint that has been finished to better than factory standards and almost vibrates off the steel underneath it's so brilliant. The color is pure 1970s cool and you have to love it just because it's unusual. Accented by a blacked-out hood treatment that frames the ram air ducting on the hood (which was oddly only functional on the 2-barrel versions), it's an extremely aggressive look that's gaining a lot of favor among Mustang collectors today. Correct Mach 1 stripes have been applied, along with a mesh-encased tail panel, and the urethane front bumper is nicely finished. The rear wing is always a cool touch, especially on the dramatic "flatback" body style that's probably a love-it-or-hate-it thing. Personally, I love it and have always wanted one of these to call my own.

Inside, the black buckets have been restored to stock condition, and new door panels, carpets, and a fresh headliner create a fresh driving environment that looks surprisingly contemporary. It was originally code AG Avocado Green, but there really is such thing as too much of an unusual thing, so we're kind of glad they changed it. There's a modern steering wheel, floor-mounted shifter sans console, and a complete array of gauges under the center stack that help keep a keen eye on the warmed-over 351 under the hood. The original radio is long gone, replaced by an AM/FM/cassette head unit and new speakers that are a big sound upgrade, and the fold-down rear seat almost makes this car practical. Open the stubby trunk lid and you'll find a storage area that's surprisingly useful once you get your stuff inside, and is neatly finished with a correct mat that might just be original to the car.

Power comes from an H-code 351, which was the biggest engine available in 1973. Upgraded with goodies like an Edelbrock intake manifold and a matching 4-barrel carburetor, plus a set of ceramic-coated long-tube headers, it's considerably more potent than you'd expect. The 351 Cleveland was famous for its massive intake ports, which allowed effortless high-speed operation and were quite literally big enough to swallow golf balls. When properly tuned, they're incredible engines with unmatched durability, and this one has obviously benefitted from the work of specialists. There are cool finned aluminum valve covers, and a correct ram air style air cleaner, and a thick radiator up front, so it needs nothing to enjoy right away. A C6 3-speed automatic feeds a 9-inch rear, so the powertrain is virtually bulletproof. A new dual exhaust system uses Flowmaster mufflers that sound phenomenal behind the high-revving 351, and there is a lot of new hardware throughout. Cool Magnum 500 wheels wear staggered 235/60/15 front and 275/60/15 rear Goodyear Eagle radials.

This is another one of those cars whose pricing is all out of whack with the quality of the work, making it a fast, unusual Mustang that's ready for more upgrades and lots of fun. Call today!