The Ford Mustang Mach 1 was one of no fewer than six performance-focused Ford Mustangs that were unveiled in 1969. And even though it was shown in showrooms next to Boss and Shelby models, it was a huge success, selling more than 70,000 units. Ford discontinued the Mustang GT in response to the success of the Mach 1, and it wasn’t until 1982 that it was brought again.
The Mach 1 was a V8-only car with enhanced suspension and a distinctive stripe scheme. Ford offered the Cleveland and the 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) FE as choices in addition to the 351-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) Windsor, which was included as standard. The 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Cobra Jet, the company’s most potent mill, was also available to customers.
The Mach 1 package remained available on the redesigned 1971 Mustang, but Ford changed the engine lineup. An entry-level 302-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) Windsor became available, while the FE mill was discontinued. The Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet powerplants topped the range with 370 and 375 horsepower, respectively. Torque was just as impressive at 450 pound-feet (610 Nm).
Sales of the Mustang fell to 149,678 units that year, although the Mach 1 continued to be a popular choice, making up nearly 25% of all sales. However, only 1,865 Mach 1s with the large 429-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8 were purchased due to rising insurance costs for high-performance vehicles. These vehicles are now valuable gems that are rare and in high demand.
One of those vehicles is the green model you see here, but it’s a little bit more unique than the typical 1971 Cobra Jet. Why is that? It’s one of the few Mach 1s that were sold in Japan that was equipped with a 429. Furthermore, this muscle car has more factory choices than the majority of its American-ordered brethren.
Sold new in Okinawa, Japan, this Cobra Jet is loaded with a whopping 25 options. The list includes air conditioning, an AM 8-track, power windows, a center console with additional gauges, and a fold-down rear seat. The latter turns the car into a two-seater with lots of luggage room, which is really nice to have on a classic Mustang.
The owner also specified silver inserts on the white seats. The color combo is nothing to sneeze at, either. Finished in Medium Green, this Mach 1 is a worthy competitor for any High Impact-painted Mopar.
This Cobra Jet also includes a few goodies you won’t see on US-spec 1971 Mustangs. For starters, the speedometer is in kilometers instead of miles. The antenna is mounted on the left rear fenders instead of the right one, while the mirrors had their pointy ends shaved off for safety reasons. The rear-fender reflector lights are yellow instead of red. Oh, and this Mustang also features reflectors on the front fenders, but they were mounted aftermarket and sourced from a third-generation Nissan Skyline GT.
The muscle vehicle was one of 1,512 Mach 1s equipped with the Ram Air version of the engine when it left the factory, and it had a J-code 429 V8. It is reduced to 958 units by the Cobra Jet engine, and is further diminished to 707 by the C6 automatic transmission. Only 648 of these cars received the Mach 1 equipment as well.
It’s safe to assume that the unique color combination of green over white and the lengthy options list make it a one-of-a-kind gem, but it’s challenging to demonstrate in the lack of a Marty report. The fact that it is one of the 14 1971 Mach 1 Cobra Jets known to have been sold in Japan, however, is something we can state with certainty.
But even though it was shipped to the Far East, this Mustang actually spent most of its life in the United States. The pony found its way back home in late 1985, some 15 years after it left the assembly line. It changed various owners since then, but it morphed into a perfectly restored, award-winning classic. Check it out in the video below, and make sure you crank up the volume for Cobra Jet V8 goodness.