Ford Mustang Mach 1 represents the end of an era

The car industry is in the midst of a once-in-a-century revolution but this blast from the past continues to defy the odds, attracting a loyal following.

This is Australia’s favourite sports car

The Mustang is a huge hit with Aussie petrolheads. Ford’s big coupe beat the combined sales of the Mazda MX-5, Toyota 86, Nissan 370Z, Subaru BRZ and Subaru WRX in 2021, easily outselling all competition. The Mustang defies the usual trend for sports cars to become slow sellers after a couple of years, helped by special-edition models such as the Bullitt, R-Spec and Mach 1 that help maintain interest.

Ford’s Mustang has defied the odds and remained the country’s most popular sports car. Picture: Supplied.

The Mach 1 moves fast

Built in tribute to a 1970s muscle car of the same name – as well as jets capable of breaking the sound barrier – the Mustang Mach 1 is a sharper, faster version of the standard car. A more powerful V8 engine, beefed-up transmission, reworked suspension and extra cooling make it more capable on road and track than the standard car. Priced from $83,365 plus on-road costs (about $90,000 drive-away), the Mustang Mach 1 sold out quickly – even though the ACCC found Ford misled consumers with incorrect brochures that claimed the car had features not available in Australia.

The Mustang Mach 1 is a sharper version of the standard car. Picture: Supplied.

You can’t beat it for feel-good factor

There’s little mystery to the Mustang. A pop culture fixture for more than 50 years, Ford’s coupe is buoyed by a history that includes American legends such as Carroll Shelby and Steve McQueen to V8 Supercar and Nascar racing at home and abroad. The Mustang’s buff retro style and thunderous V8 soundtrack lend a raw appeal few cars can match. We received compliments from fellow drivers every time we stopped for fuel – which is far too often – and were even stopped by a Tesla owner who wanted to talk about the Mach 1’s appeal.

The Mach 1 delivers muscle-car thrills. Picture: Supplied.

It’s great to drive

The Mach 1 delivers the driving experience people should expect from a muscle car. More precise than the standard model, it offers superior composure to the regular Mustang GT. Sticky tyres and big brakes are part of the deal, along with clever software that allows drivers to change gears without lifting off the throttle, plus automatic rev matching and a stability control system tuned for fun on track. We also love the throbbing engine note and effortless punch of its 345kW/550Nm V8 – particularly when paired with Ford’s rewarding six-speed manual transmission. A 10-speed auto is available but it can be indecisive and occasionally jerky, so we wouldn’t recommend it.

The cabin has retro touches, combined with modern tech. Picture: Supplied.

Next year won’t be so easy

The Mustang faces fresh competition from a new Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ duo in 2022, along with a twin-turbocharged Nissan Z, all-new Subaru WRX and new VW Golf R. We have to wait a little longer for a truly new ’Stang, but there are mild updates to keep things fresh. New features include track-specific apps such as a “line-locker” burnout mode, new colours and a “California Special” cosmetic pack with side stripes, suede trim and retro five-spoke alloys. It might just be enough to keep the Mustang on top of the charts for another year.

Originally published as Ford Mustang Mach 1 represents the end of an era