Move Over, Mach-E: Ford Confirms Mustang Mach 1 Revival
by Steph Willems
It’s the second time the Mach 1 moniker has returned from the grave. On Friday, Ford confirmed rumors of a retro resurrection, revealing that the newest Mustang Mach 1 will bow for 2021 as a limited-edition model geared for the track.
We’re not talking a Dodge Demon or Hellcat here. Instead, the Mach 1 leaves the Shelby GT500 alone as the brand’s performance pinnacle, preferring instead to secure its place as the best 5.0-liter Mustang one can buy.
There’s much that still isn’t known about the 2021 Mach 1, as Ford plans to release more info come June. Clearly, this car was a cherry Ford expected to place atop its display at the now scrapped Detroit auto show.
“Mach 1 has a special place in Mustang history, and it’s time for this special edition to claim the top spot in our 5.0-liter V8 performance lineup and reward our most hardcore Mustang enthusiasts who demand that next level of power, precision and collectability,” said Dave Pericak, director of Ford Icons, in a release.
“Like the original, the all-new Mustang Mach 1 will be true to its heritage, delivering great looks and as the most track-capable 5.0-liter Mustang ever.”
Will Ford wrangle a modicum of extra output from the naturally aspirated Coyote engine to further distance it from lesser Stangs? It looks likely. The Mach 1’s role, as stated, is to offer performance and handling dynamics topping that of all other GTs. We first got wind of the resurrected model via Ford’s 2021 VIN decoder, which seems to show the elimination of the GT350 and the Bullitt.
Only one 5.2-liter V8 is mentioned on the document — that of the 760-horsepower GT500. The Case of the Missing GT350 is a mystery for another day, however. That same document shows two 5.0-liter V8s.
If, for some reason, Ford needed to temporarily pull the GT350, partially filling the absence with a reintroduced, limited-run Mach 1 could keep enthusiasts placated for a while. The automaker last dusted off the Mach 1 name for the 2003 and 2004 years, bestowing it on the last two years of the fourth-generation Mustang as a way to fill the broad performance gap between the GT and SVT Cobra.
Semi-camouflaged teaser images of the Mach 1 hustling down the track show what could be circular lamps inserted in the outer edges of the grille (or just an original ’69 Mach 1-mimicking grille feature), a revamped lower fascia, big red Brembo brake calipers, and 19-inch wheels wearing Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 305/30 rubber. This happens to be the same tire you’d find on a 2020 GT350 (that model opts for 35-series rubber on a rear tire the same width).
Plenty of rubber hitting the road on this Mach 1, for sure. Out back, a spoiler rises from the rear deck and the quad exhaust tips appear larger in circumference than that of a stock GT. Beyond that, Ford’s staying mum. Stay tuned for updates.
[Images: Ford]