43,223 Actual Mile Mustang Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet 4 Speed

This 1970 Mustang Mach 1 practically defines “investment grade.” Not only is it the world's most amazing Mach 1 survivor, with original paint, bodywork, glass, and trim, but it carries a thundering 428 Cobra Jet engine, a close ratio 4-speed, and power disc brakes, making it one of the best-performing Mustangs of the era. The original owner was also smart enough to keep all the original paperwork and manuals, making this award-winning Mustang truly investment grade throughout. The day is not far off when the Mach 1 joins the $100,000 club (actually, we sold a Candyapple Red 1969 Mach 1 for $125K in 2008), and this is your chance to get in before everyone else with the world's best specimen.

This car comes with its original window sticker, which outlines the following features:

Mustang Mach 1 Sportsroof
Medium Bright Blue Metallic paint
428 CID 4V Cobra Jet 8 cylinder engine
4-speed manual transmission
Traction-Lok differential
F70-14 Wide Oval white letter tires
Power steering
Power front disc brakes
AM radio
Complete tinted glass
Argent Styled Steel Wheels

The stack of trophies this car has behind it aren't just cruise-in handouts, but national senior first prize awards from the AACA, where authenticity is all that matters. The body is beautifully finished in the original Medium Bright Blue Metallic, perfectly preserved and 100% original. Yes, that's ORIGINAL paint. Panels are laser straight, alignment of the various components is as new, and the entire car seems to radiate in a way that only the very best cars do. Even folks who don't know old cars know that this one is a lot nicer than most. You'll also appreciate the almost single-minded determination of the original owner, who didn't specify anything that didn't help the car go faster, save for perhaps the black stripes down the center of the hood. There's no wing on the deck, no rear window slats, and that massive Shaker hood scoop is completely functional.

The chrome and stainless is also completely original, which really tells you how meticulously preserved this car really is. The original grille carries no Mustang insignia as lesser ponies did, but it does proudly display its AACA National First Prize badge, a treasure that is not so easy to acquire. All the original lenses have been polished, and the badges throughout are original. The ribbed rocker panel moldings are unique to the Mach 1 and can be a challenge to restore properly, so it's a good thing that these originals are remarkably pit-free and beautifully preserved. Even the glass is original and almost completely unmarked, suggesting that this car has never really been driven in the rain. This is one of those cars that stays under the radar at first glance, but the more you look, the more amazing detail there is to find.

With big advertising on the hood calling out '428' there is no secret about what lives under the hood. The 428 Cobra Jet was the top-of-the-line engine for Mustangs, save for the limited production Boss 429, but there are quite a few who will [successfully] argue that the 428 was better suited to duking it out on the streets. Grossly underrated at 335 horsepower, that number is often estimated to be off by as much as 80 horses, and the car runs exactly the way you'd hope Ford's nastiest big block would. The engine in this Mach 1 is original to the car and lights off with an easy rumble from the exhaust and there's clearly a big cam at work in the center of the block, as you can see the Shaker hood scoop doing its thing. As a national first prize winner, the engine bay has been detailed for concours competition and is exacting in almost every notable way. The bright Ford blue paint on the engine itself is as well applied as the body finish, and has been applied to every nook and cranny in a way that the factory could never quite manage. Beautiful cast aluminum valve covers let the Mach 1 owner know that he's purchased something very special, as if that predatory snorkel atop the air cleaner didn't spell it out clearly enough. Correct markings have been used throughout, and reproduction tags have been applied in all the proper locations. Even removable tags like the coolant warning label and the battery tag have been expertly duplicated and reinstalled. Of particular note, the original emissions control system is intact and functional, something that was usually removed the instant the car got home from the dealership. It shouldn't surprise anyone that this car is as highly decorated as it is.

Underneath, the chassis is equally well finished. There's a Toploader close-ratio 4-speed behind the engine spinning an indestructible 9-inch rear full of 3.50 gears on a limited slip Track-Lok axle. The floors are satin black and show zero indications of previous rust or damage, and all the hardware is OEM grade. Note that the exhaust system is an exact reproduction of the original, right down to the relatively quiet mufflers. A new gas tank hangs behind the correctly detailed rear end, and fresh brakes all around make it safe on the road, if that's the choice you make. Correct paint daubs have been scattered throughout, production line indicators that a particular job has been completed, showing up on the suspension and driveshaft, and even the wheels. And speaking of wheels, kudos to the original owner for selecting argent steel wheels, and it's great to see that later owners resisted the urge to plant a set of Magnum 500s on the car. Those unusual wheels are framed by a set of correct reproduction F70-14 Firestone Wide Ovals.

The medium blue bucket seat interior is another pleasant surprise, in as installed condition straight from the assembly line. The high-back Clarion Knit buckets are right at home in the sporty Mach 1 and are quite comfortable for long hauls. The original door panels are present, in top-notch condition, adorned with original handles and cranks. The perfect original dash pad and gauge cluster are amazing and are a testament to the 43K actual miles on the car. The 4-speed has been fitted with a period correct Hurst T-handle shifter, one of a long list of options Ford offered on the Mach 1. There's an AM radio in the dash, as original, and even the clock on the passenger's side of the dash works as it should. The trunk has a correct mat, and the original space-saver spare and complete jack assembly.

I mentioned at the beginning that the original owner was kind enough to preserve all the original documentation, including the original owner's manual, build sheet, window sticker, Owner Card, warranty booklet, and consumer information guide. There's also a complete Marti report and a trunk full of trophies that are further proof of this car's remarkable condition. You can track the car's progression using the trophies:

National First Place, 2002 Meet, The Historical Car Club
Second Place, 2002 National Fall Meet, AACA
First Place, 2002 National Fall Meet, AACA
Senior, 2003 National Fall Meet, AACA
Preservation Award, 2004-2005, AACA
First Place, Freedomfest
First Place, Perkiomen Township Fire Company Auto Show, 2005
Second Place, Lower Providence Township Bicentennial Car Show, 2005
Second Place, 1969-1973 Mustang, First State Mustang and Ford Club 19th Annual Fall Car Show, 2002
Third Place, Mustang, P.P. & F. Classics, 2005

Watch the market and you'll see that Mach 1 prices have been steadily inching upwards, and as the big names skyrocket, smart collectors are realizing that the real performance Mustang was the Mach 1. This one is perhaps the nicest available anywhere, with documentation and a string of awards behind it, and powered by the most desirable engine and transmission combination. If you've been looking for just the right Mustang in which to invest, you simply will not find one better than this. This one is the standard by which all other Mach 1s will be measured.