Driveway Find: 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1

1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Front Corner

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For those of us that actually enjoying driving our cars, the best barn finds are ones which have had the mechanicals refreshed so they can be driven and enjoyed. Reader Paul B just let us know that he has decided to sell his 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1. It sat for many years in a friend’s driveway, but Paul just rebuilt the engine and transmission recently. Find it here on eBay with bidding at $255 and no reserve!

1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Rear Corner

Paul bought this car when he was in High School in 1999. It had sat in a friend’s parent’s driveway since 1986. Paul trailered it home and stored it indoors until just recently when he decided to get it running again. He started by having the 351 Cleveland  professionally rebuilt and the transmission overhauled. He now has it running for the first time in over 25 years.

1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Engine

When new, the Mach 1 was a little better than a GT, but not quite as high performance as the Boss. The Mach 1 was a special muscle car with its fastback body and high performance engine options. This car is equipped with the automatic transmission so it loses a few fun points, but it is able to regain a few with with the M-code engine. The 4V version of the 351 put out around 300 horsepower because of its higher compression.

1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Interior

The interior of this car has a few flaws, but looks good for its age. We would repair the problem areas as we had time and money to correct them right. The seller clams that the 63k miles on the odometer could be realistic, but we are not sure if they could verify it.

1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Side

The exterior has some problem areas too. Some of the panels have been resprayed at some time in the past and the piece around the passenger’s side headlight is in primer. As long as there is no rust, we would leave the exterior alone and just focus on getting everything running perfectly. We would also go through the brakes and stick some new tires on there. This could make a mean driver and if the bidders don’t go crazy, there is hope that this will go for a good price too.

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. cardog

    Looses a “few” points because of the auto box? For me it loses 90% of the “points”. Other than stepping on the gas, what fun is it? It sure doesn’t steer well, you can’t shift it, what do you do with it, just drive straight? Look at it? (it does look pretty).

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  2. Pete

    Should ‘tighten’ those ‘loose’ points ! Unless you were to ‘lose’ them entirely…

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  3. J. Pickett

    I don’t know about 90%, My 69 Mack I with the 428 Cobra Jet was an auto, and it was fun. With the smaller lighter Cleveland It should handle much better, and you can always fit the rear anti-roll bar like the Boss 302 and get real handling out of it. After all the Cleveland is about the same weight as the 302. Some people have no imagination or ingenuity. Right tires, Very few suspension mods and viola, great driver.

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  4. john

    I had one of these back in the late 70’s and it drove like a truck. Steering sucked and the suspension was virtually not there, but it did look good !

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  5. Corey

    My girlfriend had a ’69 with a 351 Cleveland someone had crammed into it. Even with spending a ton of money on suspension and steering. It still rode and handled like brick. However, it was an automatic and was capable of laying rubber at any speed in any gear. Just mash your foot on the gas and it moved like hell.

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  6. fw hunt

    Please lose the tupperware wing.

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  7. Dan

    The tupperware wing was stock on that model.

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  8. fw hunt

    I know Dan….I just have a thing for those things. They mess up the lines and do nothing…

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  9. J. Pickett

    The wing was optional in 69 and 70, usually dealer installed, like the front spoiler and those hideous slats. It’s a matter of taste. The rear spoiler was adjustable, usually nowdays you will see them set at an angle to match the fastback roofline. This of course defeats the purpose causing lift rather than downforce. As far as stuffing the Cleveland in there Cory, since the engine bay was designed to accept big blocks this was no issue the Cleveland being a small block. The above picture shows plenty of room. The ride was hard as they came with competition suspension rated for the powertrain. Mostly on the 428’s like mine it kept the springs from allowing wheel hop and destroying valuable parts. If you want a soft ride look for a Grande, or a base 6 cylinder.

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  10. Corey

    Hers originally came with the base 6 but the previous owner actually yanked that and dropped the Cleveland in. It was a project he was going to finish with his son and they never got around to it. It was an actual barn find that had sat for 20 years. I think she paid $500 for it in 2003 because the guy just wanted it gone. I liked driving it…I just thought it would have handled better after the work she specifically put into that part of the car.

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  11. J. Pickett

    It takes a lot of work to make 50 year old tech, even compare with the average car today. Part of the idea is history, and re-living.

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  12. walt

    ! bought a 69 base with 6cyl from the original owners in northern California, straight body with no rust, put in 8″ rear end, frt power disc brakes, 4spd, high back seats, made my own rear fold down seat, painted it Black [4 bad 2 the bone], put on all that mach 1 stuff. My daily driver & a real head turner, handles great 50/50, I can work on it with lots off room under hood, doesn’t burn oil or the tires. Someday I might put in a hopped up 302/351, If I want 2 burn them off I’ll jump into my 35 & smoke them! Had a 69 Z28 in the early 70’s & regret selling it. This Stang will b my very last 2 end, I just love it !!!

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