If I said Mach 1 what thoughts and images would immediately come to mind for you? Sonic test flights of old experimental planes, Rockets, or a Ford Mustang? Your answer would tell me a lot about your age and maybe even your automobile knowledge. One thing is for sure, for me one image that is burned into my mind would be a Candy Apple Red 1969 Mach 1 Mustang with 428 Cobrajet Engine package, and it also has all the correct flat black scoops, chin spoiler, deck lid wing, rear window louvers, flat black paint trim and stripes, and that Classic Shaker Hood Scoop rumbling under the opening in the hood. All of this would be because that one of my all-time favorite dream cars!
Even though it was released to the world in 1969 is joined a hefty model lineup of Fords, the Mustang GT, BOSS 302 and 429, Shelby GT350 and GT500, however, it immediately made an impact.....why? Cause it set itself apart from the other offerings by being different, it kind of set a new standard for sportiness. These new sport appearance options made it stand out as aggressive even when parked next to the mighty Shelbys. The new Mach 1 was so popular in fact that it booted the GT version of the Mustang and it did not return again until 1982.
50 years later and Ford has once again revealed that they will build a Mach 1 Mustang, the last one being 17 years ago and was offered in some striking new colors, 4.6 liter V8 engine and the shaker hood scoop. So with Ford always holding on to the heritage and history of past models, colors and name badges, why would they NOT offer the shaker hood scoop again?
Now that it has been seen in photos and in action on the track, let talk about why the all new 2021 Mach 1 Mustang is shaking things up but in a bad way. Numerous articles have already been written in the last week about how its the most spectacular track version of the Mustang and the Ford engineers pulled go fast and track goodies from both the Shelby GT-350 and 2020 GT-500. They boosted about how if purchased with the optional handling package its downforce is over 150% more than a 2020 Mustang GT with Performance Pack 1, how it was a more track ready car than the Bullitt Mustang, it still has the 6-speed manual gearbox, it has upgraded handling mods to make it go faster on track, and even has a Mach 1 appearance package with cool stripe colors.....so why are folks not happy and talking more about the one item it does not come with?? Its simple.....they did not offer a Shaker Hood option!! It is getting more negative press than good, social media posts are blowing up and the purist are saying it is unforgivable.
Ford's answer to the foul cry for No hood scoop, is that it messed up the aerodynamics of the car and they opted to not use it. Let's wait and see if the car was rushed to production or if the cars MSRP will land it in hot water with buyers or will they opt to buy the Mach 1 over paying such a premium for the 2020 Shelby GT-500 with its dealer markups!
Maybe some of us like me will just wait and buy a used one with a few miles on the clock and save up to have it painted Candy Apple Red and add on an aftermarket Shaker Hood Scoop...oh yes, you know those are already being manufactured by someone. Someone who is about to make a ton of profit selling those to guys like me who want to the see the rumble of the engine sticking through the hood every time I mash the gas peddle.
So what are your thoughts......did Ford drop the ball on this return of the Iconic Mach 1 Mustang or is it just a sign of the times? What about the classic saying......Everything Old is New Again? Maybe I'm the one getting old!!
See Ya Down the Road........Joseph P. Scott
