CarTech® CT589 - 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1: Muscle Cars In Detail No. 9

Examine the 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 with this detailed look at the car's launch, history, and unique parts options, including powerplants from the big-block Cobra Jet to the small-block Windsor.

By the time the 1969 model year rolled around, it was well established that muscle cars were fast and plentiful. Every manufacturer had at least one corner of the showroom where the go fast guys could congregate and discuss the merits and time slips of the latest performance offerings. Competition being what it was, the manufacturers were looking for ways to entice potential buyers to choose their product over ever-increasing offerings from the competition. Some manufacturers tried to accomplish this with affordable prices, some tried fancy marketing schemes, and some created a look and a style that screamed performance even when standing still.

The 1969 Mach I was Ford's attempt to create a package and a style to match the performance of its recently released and very potent 428-ci Cobra Jet engine package. Displacing the still-available but more conservative GT trim, the Mach I included unique graphics and mechanical innovations, such as a shaker hood scoop, dual racing mirrors, deluxe interior, competition suspension, dual chrome exhaust tips, and a blacked-out hood. The result was a wildly popular model that sold more than 70,000 units, compared to slightly more than 5,000 GT models for the year.

Table of contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1:

• Outside the Box
• Fastback History 101
• Journalists Sound Off

Chapter 2:

• Beneath the Hood
• FE Family Ties
• Lightweight From Windsor
• Snakes Alive
• Gear Changes
• From CJ to SCJ

Chapter 3:

• Behind the Wheel
• New Dimensions
• Interior Basics
• Mach 1 Specifics
• Color Coding

Chapter 4:

• Under the Skin
• Frameless Forerunners
• Pony Bones
• Getting Off the Runway

Chapter 5:

• The Latest Word
• Straight Outta the Horse's Mouth
• Hammer Down
• Closing the Book, or Not

Appendix

• Model Numbers
• Specifications
• Small-Block V-8s
• Big-Block V-8s
• Manual Transmission Gear Ratios
• Rear Axle Ratios
• Tire Choices
• Options
• Paint Stripes
• Road Test Results
• Warranty Plate Decoding

Mike Mueller
A 1983 journalism graduate from the University of Illinois, Mike Mueller kicked off his automotive publishing career in 1987 in Florida at Dobbs Publications, home to Mustang Monthly, Muscle Car Review and Super Ford magazines, among others. After a brief stint at Automobile Quarterly in Pennsylvania in 1991, he embarked on a freelance adventure that continues to keep him off the couch today. Along with bylines and photo credits in countless magazines, he's also authored more than 40 automotive history books and contributed words/pics to at least half that many more. Mueller presently resides in Arlington, Texas.