Anyone thinking ’70s Mustang performance dropped off with the body style change to this larger, heavier 1971-73 style should absolutely keep reading. Nearly everything on this 1971 Ford Mustang hardtop came directly from the factory including the Dual Ram Air Induction, 429 Cobra Jet engine, paint, and the Hardtop body style. This rare beast, one of 16 Hardtops with the Ram Air 429, can end up in your stable if you out-bid 10 or more rivals here on eBay, where the market value has eclipsed $49,000.
This Drag Pack 429 four-barrel topped the Mustang chart for 1971 with 375 HP. With the 11.3:1 compression ratio, it’s Premium fuel only for this Ford. Brochures called the Ram Air-equipped 429 “CJ-R,” the evolution of prior years’ SCJ or “Super Cobra Jet” setup.
The close-ratio four-speed and 4.11 gears in the original Detroit Locker no-spin axle stand ready to challenge those fat tires for traction when the skinny pedal goes boom. That Hurst T-handle shifter is original too! Thanks to Lov2xlr8 for some details.
Known for some time as the “biggest Mustang,” this generation surrendered that title when today’s 6th generation Mustang debuted in 2015. Ford designed the ’71 to swallow the 429 cid version of Ford’s versatile 385 series motor, meaning the later 460 is a shoe-in. You usually see the NASA hood on a Mach 1 Sportsroof (fastback) Mustang, but this is all original, folks. The lighter Hardtop might get the edge on an identically-equipped Mach 1, and the Hardtop will definitely shield contents and passengers from the Sportsroof’s tendency to bake anything inside on a hot day. Would you have guessed Ford built this car just like you see it today?
Cars like this were ‘rare’ because they were awful. 50K for this monstrosity is a joke and the reserve isn’t even met!?!? Good lord man, take the money that fool is offering you and run!!!!
You may not like it, but others, mainly the people bidding on this car, do. The most foolish things the seller could do right now, would be to end the auction. So far, there have been 32 bids among 10 bidders, that says there is lots of interest in the car.
A large group of enthusiasts pursue cars with the highest horsepower engines, another group perues low mileage “survivors”, when the meet, expect prices to rise rapidly. That’s what you have here.
Steve R
Wow Jim, I would love to see the cars that you think are great if this is “awful”. You must not be very “in-tune” with the collector car market, lol.
I’ve been ‘in-tune’ with this kinda stuff since the 80’s. I can assure you from personal experience that that misery machine is awful in every way, shape and form. People do some strange things with their money…..
lol…okay. Obviously, you’re in the minority and, it’s a very small minority.
I had a 71 MACH 1 set up this way. If I had the money it would be in my driveway. Love this body style.
I believe the hood should be called
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NACA_duct#Automobile_applications
not NASA.
Why drive THIS gen stang so little?
Is that a pinto steering wheel?
Not sure if the air pump hardware is all there/connected to the manifolds.
I wonder if any boss 351’s with this body style “slipped thru” – if you “knew someone” – or even by mistake! Or built for an exec who wanted to be able to see out the back!
Surprising the boss 351 is supposed to be faster than ’71 big cube stangs
Or, as equipped, could this specimen be faster or as fast?
I believe this gen stang can be lighter in weight than a ’69-70 if the latter has a bigger motor & the former has a smaller one – or depending how equipped with or w/o other avail options.
Wow, this is rare. I’d love to own this. I think it looks better without the turn signals in the grille. I guess that’s an aftermarket grille. Pics are terrible for a $50k car. The Boss 351 is supposed to be a little quicker but some say because of the rear gear ratio. The Mach 1 is around 3.91 and the 429 were around 3.25. I wonder if they equalized them for marketing purposes
I like this. It has a subtle and classy vibe, being a coupe with silver/gray paint, yet has the potent drivetrain. Will go for big bucks, and justifiably so.
Wow, Jim, don’t sugarcoat it for us, tell us how you really feel. LMAO, to each their own! JCA- the grill pictured I the “plain Jane” stock grille for ‘71 and ‘72, although the “honeycomb” portion has a brighter finish than what I recall as correct. Lighting, maybe? The “turn signals in the grille” version were actually “sport lamps” for 71 and 72, that (nicer, IMO) grille I referred to as the Sport Grille, and found on the Mach 1, and nicer packages. This Is the second nicest ‘71 Hardtop/Coupe I’ve even in a long time (second to the one in my garage I’ve owned once 1984). 😁Great feature on this great site!
I’m generally not a fan of ’71-’73 Mustangs, but I think this is amazing. Rare, good colors, great equipment, and an interesting story—a car that, even after 40+ years of car fanaticism, I never knew existed.
If I had a muscle car collection, and the means to buy this, I would be really tempted to place a bid. Too bad “Monstrosity” won’t fit on a personalized license plate!
Now I’ve seen everything!
This is one bad ride-
I love the rare Ford stuff
This would be fun on a Saturday night
Dan
Just noticed that this car doesn’t have a trim panel on the taillight panel. Very, very strange. The only ‘71 to ‘73 Mustang that didn’t come with a trim panel on the taillight panel is, to my knowledge – the ‘71 Boss 351. Very unusual if it left FoMoCo that way.
Although the car is unique, just not something I would pay up. Since coupes are easier to find than fastback, recreating one would be cheaper. Then this way you can drive it like you stole it!
Wonder why Ford got rid of the shaker on the stang – in ’71, yet it was still avail on the Torino in ’71.
I don’t buy the fact it is a 9000 miles car. No proof on ebay listing and very few pictures listed.
The alignment of the numbers on the odometer looks odd.
It’s badass in a subtle, refined way. Dwayne Johnson in formal wear. I agree with those who wouldn’t mind having this one in their garage. I also agree with the question about the steering wheel. It doesn’t fit the vibe of the car. Is there a Marti Report for this one?
The Marti report is clearly shown in the ebay listing.
I only have one question had you rather have this car or a similarly priced Toyota or Hyundai or Kia I would drive this car everyday this mustang is bad to the Bone
David…. drive the Toyota, or Hyundai or Kia for 10 years…what do you have? A 10 year old pile of soon to be scrape metal…..drive this Mustang for 10 years, and what do you have? A still classic muscle car, that has increased in value, dollar wise, and people knocking on your door trying to buy it. No brainer.
9988 miles / quarter miles…lots of passes. Just joking on that. As a mustang enthusiast for 50 years this is one rare find. This was built for one thing and that’s where the money is. I wish I could afford it.
Ten pounds of engine in a five pound can.
Rare solid lifter 429 scj to begin with, with that steep(!!) compression ratio, much like the 351 HO in the Boss 351, only the best leaded premium gas made these run….correctly with out sounding like a bowl of rice crispies. I read a test on a ’71 429 cj Mustang in a hi performance Cars magazine from ’71 years ago and fourteen flat was it for the quarter mile,,, after fiddling around with it.
I like it in the hardtop form here, many hate these big Mustangs but to each his or her own really. Under the hood makes this big pony quite special, both in power and in rarity.
How would this motor run on today’s crap gas – even expensive sunoco 94 octane? Not sure if 10% ethanol would help reduce ping.
& is that 94 octane avail in all states? I seem to remember 92 octane may have been the highest avail – in some states.
Guess you gotta retard the timing. Perhaps full time vac advance might help in lowering idle temp.
Or run some even more expensive racing gas. Or pehaps water injection might help.
Sure is dirty for less than 10k miles, pretty cool if all is true.
I like it a lot ,way better visibility than a mach 1,heavy or not, this car would hold its own,its not meant to be a slalom racer!but a cruiser/brawler!
i have one has a after factory org boss 351 from a 71 its a 4spd 8 inch posi and i love it had it since 79 i would have to have at the very least 40.000 it completly restored and not for sale guys its really dump to go below the belt it you dont like something dont be dick , dick is dumb
I would love to take this stang out for a run to see what she could do. I am always a little confused as to how a Boss 351 could be faster than a SCJ 429 it just does not compute. The 429 is making a lot more torque and hp than the 351 so I believe it all comes down to balance the the Boss must just hook up better with it’s stock wheels and tires. I want to see a drag test and put a set of 7″ slicks on both cars, I’ll bet my right…,arm the 429 will blow away the 351, just pure physics son.
I dont know, Desert Rat. The 351 Cleveland HO with four barrel heads has an uncanny top end. Throw in the solid lifter cam, good intake, and 11.5 to 1 compression and its all go go go for that 351. Lighter than the 429 too, and actually those 4brl heads could out flow anything. I agree, the solid lifter version of the 429 also was a peakish engine and a real monster, maybe all that extra torque and weight over the front end made the difference. Traction or lack of it, but it’s a close race not a blow out, driver skill being equal. In a bigger car the 429 would prevail.
I love how this is considered a large and heavy car, the new 2021 mustangs are larger and heavier than this…
& ironically, the modern Mustang & Camaro have a smaller trunk & useless back seat, unlike ones(& even subcompacts!) thru the late 70’s that could carry 4 people.
The write up is incorrect.
There were 16 coupes with the Drag Pack. That could mean C code or J code CJs. All we know about CJ ram air production per the Marti is that 13 coupes has the J code 4 speed combo.