Race car driver Mickey Thompson took three Mach 1 Mustangs to the Bonneville Salt Flats (northwest Utah) in 1969 for a feature in “Hot Rod” magazine. He set 295 speed and endurance records while challenging these cars over 500 miles and 24 hours.
Ford continued the Mach 1 series in 1970 with mostly visual upgrades. Sport lamps in the front grille and recessed taillights on a black honeycomb rear panel were added. Side scoops were dropped, and deep-dish sport wheel covers appeared. Revised sport bucket seats and wood-grained accents now adorned the dashboard.
The fastback body and enhanced matte black hood treatment included an optional Shaker scoop with competition suspension, a chrome pop-off gas cap and chrome-tipped exhaust pipes. Goodyear Polyglas tires, dealer-optioned chin spoiler, a rear deck spoiler and rear window louvers finished the package.
This 1970 model sports a 351 Cleveland V-8 (5.8 liter) four-barrel carburetor and a three-speed automatic transmission, rated at 300 horsepower. It was completely restored in 1990 and has 58,000 original miles.
Vernice Hankins from Fountaintown, Ind., is the proud owner and has 17 grandchildren. She can often be found cruising to the Frosty Boy drive-in restaurant in New Palestine. She enjoys visiting with family and going to car shows and cruise-ins with her husband, who also happens to be a car enthusiast.
Be sure to wave to Vernice on the road ... if you can catch up to her in that Mach 1.
Until next time, happy cruising.