Documented Numbers Matching Mustang Mach 1 428 CJ 4 Spe

Ford fans, you may be thinking that we’d forgotten about the blue oval recently with all the Corvettes and Camaros that have been rolling through our doors lately, but that’s all about to change with this absolutely stunning 1969 Mustang Mach 1. Not only does it pack its original 428 and a 4-speed, but it has been painted one of the most desirable and unusual shades of Lime Gold, and has been restored to show condition throughout. If you’re a fan of Ford performance, you know the Mach 1s are exceptional bargains today, delivering big-block thrills for less than the price of a small-block Boss 302. If there’s one car today that I can confidently say is undervalued, it might be the 1969-70 Mach 1 Mustang.

Lime Gold? Hell yes—there’s no cooler ‘60s shade in the Ford color palette, and if you want your Mach 1 to stand out among all the red and black ones, trust me, this is the car you want. Fortunately, that is this car’s original hue, so there will be no deductions on the show field. The restoration work was done to show standards throughout, and the exceptionally straight body was easy to achieve thanks to 100% original sheet metal. No replacement quarters or stitched in rockers, this was a solid car before the work started (and we have the restoration photos to prove it). Stripped to a bare shell and rebuilt from there, no rust is hiding in the nooks and crannies of this sportsroof body. Then fresh paint was applied to the well-aligned body panels, and it was buffed to a showroom shine. A correct blacked-out hood treatment went on, along with a set of Mach 1 stripes along the sides. The end result is a no-questions-asked car that is ready to show at the highest levels.

Fortunately, this car is a lot more than just a pretty body. Under the blacked-out hood lives the original 428 Cobra Jet Ram Air engine that cranks out a very conservatively rated 335 horsepower. As you Ford guys know, it’s impossible to say a Ford is “matching numbers” because they didn’t put the VIN on the block like, say, Mopar did. But all the date codes are correct and everything lines up like it should, and there is no evidence that the car had been apart prior to the restoration. The 56,047 miles showing on the odometer is correct, and when the engine was rebuilt, the cylinder walls needed nothing more than a hone to return them to specification. Clearly someone took exceptional care of this Mach 1 from the day it came home from the dealership.

So yes, the engine has been fully rebuilt to stock specs and runs beautifully. It was properly coated in Ford Blue paint before being nestled between the shock towers, and all the accessories and ancillary components are correct. Up top, there’s a correct 4-barrel carburetor living under the ram air induction system and Shaker hood. The chrome valve covers proudly read “Powered by Ford” and reproduction decals have been applied wherever necessary. Hoses and clamps are exact replicas, and the Autolite sta-ful battery is a nice touch. You will note that there are no power steering or brakes, and for you performance guys out there, I don’t have to explain what that means—someone bought this car to go hunting. Today it is every bit as fast and potent as it was 42 years ago, and I’m sure more than a few folks have underestimated this Lime Gold Mustang and lived to regret it.

Underneath, it is every bit as well restored and highly detailed as the engine bay. The original 4-speed transmission still lives behind the engine (the same caveat about “matching numbers” applies here, too), and it drives a durable Ford 9-inch full of 3.50 gears with Traction-Lok limited slip, as original. Satin black floors are the perfect backdrop for the highly detailed suspension, and you’ll be happy to see the factory inspection marks duplicated throughout the chassis. A fresh and accurately duplicated dual exhaust system sounds powerful, and a new gas tank has been installed out back. Factory styled steel wheels carry modern BFGoodrich T/A radials.

Inside, the black comfort weave bucket seat interior is all new. Seat foams and covers, dash pad, door panels, carpets, even the headliner, it was all replaced during the restoration. The wood grain on the dashboard is vivid and bright and looks better than I recall it looking when it was new. The dash is loaded with rebuilt gauges, including a tach, and the original AM radio still lives ahead of the shifter. And how about this for a refreshing change: no Hurst cue ball, but the original wooden Mustang shift knob. And when I say everything in here is new, I mean it. Even the seat belts have been restored to new condition, along with the steering wheel, knobs and handles, and even the dome light. The trunk, well what would you expect from a car of this caliber? Everything is in order, from the correct mat to a full-sized spare wearing a matching BFGoodrich radial.

Documentation, as you might expect, is thorough. Most importantly, we have an original build sheet, which is incredibly rare in Mustangs. For reference, there’s a copy of the original window sticker, along with a Marti Report that decodes all the important numbers and figures on this car. And finally, there are dozens of photos in an album showing this car’s restoration from start to finish. Nothing can hide from the camera if you document your restoration this way, and if you’re looking to add value to your car, this is one of the best ways to do it.

This Mach 1 is investment grade throughout. With documentation, performance, a rare and unusual color combination, and its original power train, there are no demerits in the presentation. These cars are still lagging behind their GM and Mopar brothers for reasons that aren’t altogether clear to me, but I don’t think that will be the case for long. A wonderful car to drive, and this one will also bring home a lot of trophies, you could spend more and get less with another brand. Given all that, I suspect that this one won’t be around long, so call today!