In 1969, the winner of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Manufacturer’s Rally Championship was a Ford Mustang Mach 1. The grueling endurance event involved 8,000 miles of rally racing, and Ford made sure to get plenty of marketing use out of the win. One of the magazine advertisements at the time featured the headline, “Mach 1 is pronounced Mach Won.”
The Pick of the Day is a 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Billings, Montana. (Click the link to view the listing)
“Owned and cared for by the same owner since 1975, this car has been meticulously maintained throughout its life,” the listing begins. “No history of collision damage or body repairs. Stored indoors and never driven in snow; it is completely rust-free.”
I’m a data geek, so I headed straight for a photo of the trim tag. It decodes as follows:
- Manufacture Date: May 1973
- Body Code 63R: Two-door SportsRoof Mach 1
- Color Code 6F: Gold Glow
- Trim Code GF: Medium Ginger Mach 1 Knitted Vinyl
- Transmission Code U: C6 Automatic
- Axle Code 2: 2.75:1 Standard Differential
- District Sales Office Code 17: Washington
According to the seller, the car was reportedly manufactured with a 351ci Cleveland two-barrel engine, but the seller says that the rebuilt engine now has Cobra Jet heads along with an Edelbrock four-barrel intake and carburetor. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a C6 three-speed automatic transmission. “Starts and runs great,” the listing says. “The car just finished a 350-mile road trip with no issues.” Bucket seats and woodgrain trim make for an inviting cockpit, that ride must have been enjoyable.
The seller has provided comprehensive listing for the car, even going so far as to include 10 photos that show the details of the rocker panels and undercarriage. The listing also contains a short start-up video that gives an audio example of how the car sounds at idle. Spoiler alert: it sounds awesome.
“Overall, this Mustang is a great driver and would make an excellent addition to an enthusiast’s collection,” the listing concludes. “A true survivor that will serve its new owner well.”
It is unlikely any Mustang collector will subject his or her Mach 1 to an 8,000-mile rally race, but it’s pretty cool to think that the car would be capable if the opportunity arose.
The asking price is $24,500 or best offer. Trophy not included.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, you can find it (and plenty of other pony cars) at Pick of the Day.
