The hood scoop and paint color on this Mach 1 sure looked familiar to me. That could be because they are the same as those found on the Torino GT we just bought! Most people would rather have those two features on a Mustang, but I thought it might be fun to compare this car to our larger less-desirable machine and see which one you guys would pick. This car has been stored in a barn since 1985 so there are some rust problems to deal with. That may be a huge strike against it, but the very active bidding here on eBay proves that some people can overlook that issue. The fastback body and the fact that this once had a 4-speed do make this project alluring…
It may of had a 4-speed, but the H-code 351 that once sat under the hood was the base 2-barrel equipped engine. So, even after setting everything right, it would still only put out 250hp/355lb-ft in stock form. Our Torino is a bit heavier, but it still wins this category because it has the uprated M-code engine which was good for 290hp/385lb-ft. Not a huge jump, but every little bit helps! Now, if only ours had a 4-speed…
I love the white buckets found inside this Mach 1! They provide a nice contrast to that Indian Fire Red exterior. But, then again, I love the big black bench found in our Torino! You can put your arm across the seat back and drive with one finger if you wish. There is just something cool about a bench seat in a muscle car. We just need one of those three-spoke steering wheels as seen here in this Mustang. From what I can tell, it was an option on the Torino too!
This Mach 1 obviously wins in the style department. The lines are timeless, but they are also common so don’t be surprised if you see another one coming down the road next time you go for a cruise. The Torino is less common and few people have ever even seen one with the formal roof. The Torino is basically a larger version of this car. Picking between the two would be a challenge though. This Mustang is going to need a lot of work to even be drivable whereas our Torino just needs some freshening up to ready for some stoplight drag action. So, take a good look at both and let us know which one you would spring for and why!
keep the Torino…everybody has a Mustang.just go to All Ford Carlisle..this weekend i might add…over half the show field are Mustangs.the Torino is just different and cool…
That would be lots of fun Sir Mike! Unfortunately, it’s a long drive from Idaho to Pennsylvania…
$3500 tops , The wife’s 70 Mach1 with a 351C / auto and 9″ rearend was purchased in Colorado Springs and drove to Kansas City with no problems for $14K. It had some rust in trunk area and quarters along with rear frame rails but generally not bad and not missing any key components. We still had 35K in it after replacing all sheet metal / going through motor and rearend replacing FMX trans with overdrive, replacing all wiring / fuel / brakes / interior. As I see with more rust on this car than ours and a some missing key components to the car you will have a ton of cash in this car. Now it has 2 things going for it over ours. It’s a 69 more desirable year why I have no idea as it’s the same car except the 4 headlights / side scoops and outward taillights rather than inward taillights on the 70, and of course it’s a manual not a auto but it’s a 3 speed not a 4 speed. Anyway IMO it’s not worth the price the bidding is up to now. Good luck to whoever gets it and takes on the work and I hope they don’t think they will recoup all that money because we can’t even come close. OH and on a side note I hope for safety reasons whoever restores it buys a Tank Armor cover for that gas tank with that trap door leading to the interior it’s a fire bomb waiting to happen in a rear end collision.
JW, personally I like the 70 lots better than the 69, also would put my vote in for the Torino, simply because it is different
Sellers like this irk me. He decodes the engine and then states in the listing it’s set up for a manual transmission, but does not specify if 3-speed or 4-speed. The VIN door tag he posted resembles my vision when I was young and got really tanked a few times or now without my specs on. I think whoever buys this is going to be underwater quick.
This is my car!!!! I was searching Google image and found these pictures of my 69 before I bought it off a guy in Minnesota. She’s all new underneath now and has 445 stroker with a c6 trans. I haven’t changed a thing to the outside/patina. Really cool to see it was a barn find before me.
Haven’t changed the body at all