Mustang alley

By ALASTAIR SLOANE motoring editor

The Mach 1 Mustang, nicknamed The Shaker in real life and Eleanor in the car-chase film Gone In 60 Seconds, has been reinvented as a special-edition model for maker Ford's centenary celebrations next year. Only 6500 will be built under Ford's Living Legends brand, a production limit expected to make the 2003 Mach 1 as collectable as the 1969 original.

Other Living Legends include the Mustang, Thunderbird, the new Ford GT and the Forty-Nine concept.

But because of the small production run, the modern Mach 1 won't be available in right-hand-drive, unlike the Mustang Cobra coupe and convertible.

Ford Australia and and its performance partner Tickford converted the two $100,000 Cobra models for Australia and New Zealand last year. Ford New Zealand has sold 24 - seven coupes, 17 convertibles.

But Tickford has become part of Ford Performance Vehicles - Ford Australia's new go-fast arm - and will concentrate more on developing BA Falcon and Focus-based products than switching over limited-edition lefties.

The Mach 1, like the Mustang Bullitt GT last year - named after the 1968 film starring Steve McQueen - has been designed to offer collectors and enthusiasts a modern Mustang with an infusion of muscle-car memories.

"They keep the flame of pony-car passion lit today and promise a bright future," says Jim O'Connor, vice-president of marketing at Ford head office in Detroit.

"A powerful nameplate like Mustang doesn't come around too often in our business.

"Our lineup of Mustangs and special-edition models is designed to turn today's customers into tomorrow's enthusiasts.

"Mach 1 is a glance in the mirror of Mustang's storied past, but it is steering straight into the future of Mustang."

The special-edition model will be built at the Dearborn, Michigan, assembly plant alongside coupe and convertible versions of the Mustang V6, GT and SVT Cobra.

It will be powered by a 4.6-litre alloy V8 engine producing 227kW (305bhp) and 430Nm of torque and driving the rear wheels via a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission with electronic overdrive.

Each car's vehicle identification number will carry a special code matching the engine to the chassis to ensure exclusivity.

The Mach 1 will be shod with 17-inch, 5-spoke Heritage wheels with the galloping pony logo inspired by the 1969-1973 Mach 1 wheel design.

The original car earned the nickname "The Shaker" because the induction scoop, mounted directly on to the engine's carburettor through an opening in the bonnet, moved with every blip of the throttle.

The new Mach 1 was born out of the passion of Mustang enthusiasts across America.

A special Ford unit, Team Mustang, fresh from the success of the Bullitt GT, began work on a one-off Mach 1 convertible 15 months ago. It toured the USA with the car, earning rave reviews from Mustang clubs.

Then it built a prototype Mach 1 coupe, with a lower ride height and stiffer body. It turned out to be such a popular merger of new and vintage Mustangs that the team quickly decided to put it into production.

"People dropped their jaws when they saw the Mach 1 for the first time, especially when we blipped the throttle to demonstrate the shaker," says Scott Hoag, Mach 1 programme manager.

"These grassroots events started chats all over the internet of fans telling us to build this car."

The project got the go-ahead before Christmas last year as a limited-edition model designed to bridge the gap between the past, present and future of Mustang.

The 2003 Mach 1 inherits many of its design cues from its 1969 namesake, which had a distinct drag-racing image.

These include a black front air-dam extension, black rear spoiler, rocker panels, and body side scoops.

The colour scheme is all business, too, with black pin-striping just above the rocker panels and a dominant Mach 1 logo.

The hood also has a large black drag-racing stripe down the centre, which surrounds the shaker scoop.

The interior also echoes another era. The modern, supportive seats are covered in comfortweave black leather reminiscent of the material used on the original Mach 1.

"Of all our Living Legends," says O'Connor, "Mustang might have the richest heritage. While everyone has a favourite, Mach 1 is one of the most memorable and most collectable Mustangs."

* The original Mach 1 was introduced in 1968 as a concept car and, after styling changes, was one of three new Mustang models to go into production in 1969. The most powerful Mach 1 carried the "drag pack" option: a 7-litre Super Cobra Jet V8 with a four-barrel Holley carburettor. It produced 300kW (400bhp) at 5400rpm.