I have always really liked the final iteration of the classic Mustang. Yes, it is bigger and heavier than the car that came before it, but the styling, especially that of the SportsRoof version, is simply amazing. It has an almost vertical rear window (offering minimal rear visibility) and a super-long hood. It is much more of a GT car than a muscle or pony car, but since I love GT cars, that is a good thing. In addition, these final classic Mustangs have a nice and comfortable passenger compartment and have to be the best for long-distance driving out of all classic Mustangs. Finally, the fact that Sean Connery in his role as James Bond in “Diamonds are Forever” terrorized the streets of Las Vegas in a Mach 1 only adds to the allure of these cars. I actually grew up riding in one of these because my mom had a new one in the exact same color scheme.
Now on AutoHunter is one of these great cars, a 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1.
This Mustang Mach 1 is described by the California seller as powered by a Q-code 351 Cleveland V8 that is mated to a four-speed manual transmission. It is painted in red over a black and red vinyl interior, just like the “Diamonds are Forever” car, and is now offered by the seller with a clear title.
The exterior of this Mach 1 is said to be in good shape with some spots on the roof due to rain. That is a bit of a weird comment and I personally wonder if some Griot’s Garage Water Spot Remover would fix that. It is definitely worth a try. Anyway, this Mach 1 has the super-cool ram-induction hood with twist-style hood locks, color-matched mirror caps, and rear window louvers.
The interior looks to have been mildly customized with an aftermarket steering wheel and gauges. I would keep the gauges, but personally, I like the look of the stock steering wheel and would change it back if I bought this car. Don’t let these details deter you, though – a top-quality OEM-style steering wheel is a few hundred dollars.
Under the hood is a correct Ford 351 Cleveland V8 with an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold and a Quick Fuel Technology 750-cfm carburetor. Those combined with a four-speed manual gearbox and a 3.89 rear end add up to a pretty fast car.
These 1971-1973 Mustangs languished on the used car market for decades before people finally understood that they are cool muscle cars that offer increased comfort and also mark the very end of classic Mustang production. If you want an American muscle car to put some serious miles on, I think it is hard to do better than this 1971 Mach 1.
The auction for this 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 ends on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 11:45 a.m. (MST).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery