Well-Preserved Classic
The Ford gained significant momentum in the muscle car war when it introduced the Mustang Mach 1 in 1969, giving buyers a more performance-oriented entry into the pony-car segment. More than five decades later, finding a well-preserved example has become increasingly difficult, which makes this listing on Bring a Trailer particularly noteworthy.
This 1971 Mustang Mach 1 shows just around 5,200 miles on the odometer, well under half of what the average American drives in a year. Even more remarkable is its ownership history. The car remained with its original owner until his passing in 2020, after which it was acquired by the selling dealer four years later. Now, this iconic model – which once went head-to-head with rivals like the Chevrolet Camaro SS and Dodge Challenger R/T – appears ready for a new start.
What This Mustang Mach 1 Packs
The 1971 model represents the first major mid-cycle refresh of the Mustang Mach 1. This particular example sports a white over black finish paired with 15-inch Magnum 500 wheels. Its renowned fastback profile is reminiscent of “Eleanor” from 1974’s Gone in 60 Seconds (no, not the one with Nicolas Cage), although this unit does not appear to have the optional rear-window louvers. Inside, the cabin is appointed with high-back bucket seats featuring knit vinyl inserts and silver stripes, along with woodgrain accents, power steering, and an AM/FM stereo.
A small but charming touch is the personalized plaque mounted behind the Hurst shifter, which reads: “This Mach 1 Especially Built For Marsha & John 8-16-71.”
Under the hood sits a 5.8-liter (351 cu in) Cleveland V8, one of the more modest powertrain options offered that year, producing 285 horsepower. That’s about 85 hp shy of the 429 Cobra Jet models. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission and a 3.25 Traction-Lok differential.
Ready to Charge
The seller reports that the four-barrel carburetor has been rebuilt, which should help deliver smoother idling and more responsive throttle response. Additional maintenance includes a new battery, fuel pump, fuel hose, and fresh oil.
In a walk-around video, the seller also highlighted minor imperfections on the left-rear wheel well, hood, and roof, but none of which appear significant. He further clarified that the rear wing is mounted correctly, after early commenters questioned its placement based on a photo from the day the original owner bought the car.
The Bring a Trailer listing is scheduled to end tomorrow, December 10, with bidding at $70,500 at the time of writing.
from Autoblog News https://ift.tt/SteZOmD
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