Wednesday 29th June 2022

Ford Mustang Mach 1 | Spotted

Think you know American muscle cars? Think again...

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It doesn’t seem that long ago when we were ripping into American cars for being terrified of corners and having generally rubbish build quality. But when the current Mustang was launched in Europe for the first time in 2015, we were all surprised at just how competent it was on a twisty road. Sure, it wasn’t an all-out driving machine, but all the ingredients were there for a proper American performance car.

We got a glimpse of just how good it could be with the rather brilliant Bullitt Mustang a few years back, where Ford Performance put the effort in to upgrade the chassis so that it might play better with its beefed-up V8. But it’s the Mach 1, arguably the closest we get to an old-school performance Mustang in the UK, offering the best driving experience we’ve yet seen from Ford’s pony car.

At first blush, it doesn’t look all that different to the Bullitt. The 5.0-litre naturally aspirated Coyote V8 offers up 460hp, which is a match for the green machine and is only 10hp more than the Mustang GT. It’s also matches the Bullitt on acceleration, taking 4.8 seconds to hit 62mph from a standstill, which is plenty fast enough but it unlikely to set your pants on fire like other US-spec performance ‘stangs. Especially those with cobras on the front.

But that’s really not what the Mach 1 is about. Instead, it’s a Mustang that’s built for track use. For instance, the front and rear subframes are all new on the model, which goes hand in hand with recalibrated MagneRide adaptive dampers. Mind you, it’s still extraordinarily heavy at 1,851kg, but Ford has stiffened up the anti-roll bars and springs to help keep all that weight in check. And, lest we forget, the new rear-wheel-drive M4 Competition weighs about the same…

Besides, you’ll be helped out by a set of Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4 tyres and, at higher speed, there’s actually a fair bit of aero work going on to give you that extra bit of grip. The rear diffuser is taken straight from the Shelby GT500 and, coupled with a new front splitter and undertray, is said to add some 22 per cent more downforce over the base Mustang GT. Of course, extra cooling was needed for the gearbox, limited-slip diff and new Brembo brakes – so the only thing stopping you from putting laps in all day is the fuel tank. Or, you know, binning it.

That’s quite the shopping list of parts, and the best thing is it all comes together in a rather brilliant package. Mach 1s aren’t offered with many optional extras, but this example comes with the most important of all: the six-speed manual gearbox (rather than the ten-speed auto), complete with pool ball gear knob. Those 19-inch Y-shaped rims were also a cost option, as opposed to the Bullitt-style five-spokes that came as standard; plus the Mach 1 styling pack works wonders with this car’s Battleship Grey finish.

It's listed for £57,991 with just 2,000 miles on the clock. Yes, that’s still around £8,000 more than a standard Mustang GT but, believe us when we say it's worth it for the enhanced driving experience. Make no mistake, there aren’t many performance cars weighing nearly two tonnes that are as fun to drive as the Mach 1. Nor are many as loud.

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SPECIFICATION | FORD MUSTANG MACH 1

Engine: 5,038cc, naturally aspirated V8
Transmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 460@7,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 390@4,600rpm
MPG: 22.8
CO2: 284g/km
Year registered: 2021
Recorded miles: 2,000
Price new: £57,630
Yours for: £57,991

See the original advert here

[Mysstree]

Is it really worth 8 grand more than a GT if your sole use is on the public roads.
Round my way in Kent the suspension and tyres are going to be destroyed by the state of the roads let alone how your back would hold up.

[biggbn]

This generation of Mustang is the first one I have a true liking for. That's a brilliant looking bit of kit

[Mark_Blanchard]

Looks a good bit of kit.

I had a Mach 1, the 1969 model, it handled like it was off rails.

[Cambs_Stuart]

That looks fantastic, a chap that lives near me has a mustang of this era and it sounds brilliant.
But I'm not sure if I'd want to track a car that's 2 tonnes, once you add a driver and passenger.

[xu5]

Someone round the corner from me has one, I didn't realise the Mach 1 is the "sporty one". I hear it rumble into life but have yet to see it on the move.

[cerb4.5lee]

Yes please!

I was hoping that this would have the Recaros in it though.

[Olivera]

I like these, but really sucked that they stripped most of the good parts from the Mach 1 EU model, leaving it mostly a 'sticker/livery' special edition.

[wpa1975]

Really like that, much more subtle than a GT500

[ChrisCh86]

Olivera said:

I like these, but really sucked that they stripped most of the good parts from the Mach 1 EU model, leaving it mostly a 'sticker/livery' special edition.

Indeed.

Don't be fooled by the marketing - the EU version really is very similar to the base GT. The good track options were never offered in the EU or UK.

[piquet]

Mark_Blanchard said:

Looks a good bit of kit.

I had a Mach 1, the 1969 model, it handled like it was off rails.

69 mach 1 has always been in my dream garage, prefer them over the 67, but restored and improved, they just look soooooo good

almost bought one 20 years ago when they were unknown, regret it but got an e-type instead which took me down a whole different road, still browse and dream....

[Dr Interceptor]

If this was velocity blue, I'd have it.

[spoodler]

Well, for me, that was a disappointment... Hadn't realised that Ford had resurrected the "Mach I" and was expecting an old '70s breadvan...

[russell_ram]

I'll keep my 2020 Bullitt thanks - nothing there that merits an £11K price hike over what I paid for mine new 18 months ago.

[unpc]

Had a 2015 GT and it was a great car but if I was after another Mustang I'd get a GT350 over this which I regard as peak S550. I regret not buying one when I had the chance.

[Lil_Red_GTV]

Weren't Mustang GT's £36k, brand new, just a few years ago? How is this used example (albeit a slightly fancier Mach 1 version) almost double that?

I couldn't bring myself to pay that much, knowing others had recently bought much the same experience for so much less.

[NigelCayless]

My GT was £42k brand new in 2020. Inflation for you I suppose. They are big old cars, I probably wouldn't take mine (or this one) on a track.

[sean ie3]

Performance GT (Mach1) of the week! An entertaining drive I'm sure and the right pace for a moderately built business exec too hoon around on a trackday.

[Dr Interceptor]

Lil_Red_GTV said:

Weren't Mustang GT's £36k, brand new, just a few years ago? How is this used example (albeit a slightly fancier Mach 1 version) almost double that?

I couldn't bring myself to pay that much, knowing others had recently bought much the same experience for so much less.

A new VW Polo R-Line with a poxy little 1-litre engine can be specc'd to over £30,000!

[FlukePlay]

biggbn said:

This generation of Mustang is the first one I have a true liking for. That's a brilliant looking bit of kit

I agree, it looks so right. I see plenty of them here in Prague, surprising really because coupes and sports are very few and far between. This is the land of hatchbacks, SUV and estate cars.

[Lil_Red_GTV]

Car price inflation feels like a sick joke these days. The Mustang is supposed to be the simple, affordable performance car for the common man!

I bought the Monaro that I used to own (which is in many ways comparable to the Mustang as a RHD muscle car) in 2010 at 5 years old for £10k. That would be 12.5k today allowing for inflation. 5 year old Mustangs today? £28k+

I accept that there are a number of flaws in that comparison (the Monaro was much less mainstream, arguably less desirable, and modern Mustangs have a bit more technology in them than the Monaro did), but still...