Lot 361: 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet Fastback

While many favor the first generation Mustang, the original Falcon-based Pony car, it was the second generation, larger, more comfortable and with room to accept Ford’s big block engines, which made the Mustang’s reputation and cemented the success of its image. Even today, when Ford designers reach back for historic cues to reflect in the 21st century Mustang, it is the second generation look which they mirror.

The SCCA Trans Am series, Ford’s happy hunting ground for its first two seasons, remained restricted to five-liter engines but Ford had its Total Performance sights set on more than just the Trans Am and road racing and that meant increasing the size of the Mustang’s powerplants. The most egregious big block in the Mustang was the Boss 429, built by Ford to qualify the 429 “Semi Hemi” engine for use in NASCAR. A limited production toolroom job built by Kar Kraft, it pushed to the absolute limits the physical size of engine that could be squeezed under the hood of a Mustang.

More important were the 428 Cobra Jets. The concept for these came from no less an authority than Carroll Shelby, who realized that the 428, a longer stroke, smaller bore version of the famous FE series 427 Ford, was a match made in heaven – or maybe in Dearborn – for the larger engine compartment of the second generation Mustang. He extracted a few from Ford’s supply chain, dropped them into Mustangs and created the Shelby GT500 which revolutionized both the Shelby Mustang image and Ford’s concept of what “pony car” meant.

Another Ford insider, Rhode Island dealer Bob Tasca, had an even better idea, mating the 428 block with a set of free-flowing 427 low rise heads. This combination benefited from the long stroke 428’s torque and the 427 heads’ high rpm power. After some massaging by Ford to ensure its long term reliability in the hands of ordinary retail buyers it became the 428 Cobra Jet. Dropped into Mustangs, typically with the Mach 1 appearance package, the Cobra Jet quickly earned a reputation as a stand-up powerplant worthy of respect from any competing pony and muscle cars.

This 1969 Mustang Mach 1 fastback is finished in maroon with the Mach 1’s distinctive matte black hood, rear wing, and black Clarion knit interior with red seat accents. It is every Mustang fan’s dream, with Top Loader four-speed manual transmission, Drag Pak, 3.91 Traction Loc rear axle, power steering, power brakes, Magnum wheels, Firestone Wide Oval tires and gold side stripes.

It was totally restored several years ago but has never been shown nor even driven any distance. Rather, once its meticulous restoration to better than new condition was completed it was displayed at the American Muscle Cars Museum in San Bernardino, California where it enjoyed climate-controlled conditions and regular upkeep and maintenance. It comes with a Marti Report authenticating its original configuration.

A pristine, sharp, meticulous restoration with famous and respected Cobra Jet power, this is a rare chance for an opportunistic collector to acquire an important big block Mustang that is ready to be driven, toured, shown and enjoyed. A Shelby GT500 in all but name, it will be a powerful presence in nostalgia drag racing, earning the respect of collectors and racers alike for its style, presence, design and performance.