The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 has a lot to live up to in order to prove a success.
Not only does it revive a particularly iconic name, but it also effectively replaces three discontinued variants of the Mustang: the Shelby GT350, the Mustang Bullit, and the Mustang Performance Pack 2 (PP2). A difficult task indeed.
Matt Farah from The Smoking Tire recently had the opportunity to put the car through its paces along some gorgeous canyon roads.
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Powering the Mustang Mach 1 is the same naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 as the Bullit, pumping out 480 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. This engine is coupled to the same Tremec six-speed manual transmission as the GT350, as opposed to the Getrag six-speed of the standard Mustang GT. The car also gets the same size wheels and tires as the track-focused GT350R, resulting in a lot of grip but also triggering quite a lot of tramlining, Farah notes.
The car featured in this review also had the $3,500 Handling Package. This kit adds a larger front splitter to increase downforce, distinctive front wheel lip moldings, and a low-gloss Magnetic swing spoiler with a Gurney flab and rear tire spats from the Shelby GT500. It also adds the aforementioned 19×10.5-inch front and 19×11-inch rear Tarnished Dark-painted aluminum wheels. Other upgrades enjoyed by the Mach 1 include a unique calibration of the MagneRide suspension, stiffer sway bars and front springs, and a rear subframe with stiffer bushings and a rear toe-link from the GT500.