Ford’s 2015 sixth-generation Mustang was the first to be officially offered in the UK as a factory-built, right-hand-drive car and in 2021 the iconic Mach 1 was added to the range. Mach 1, the term used to indicate supersonic flight, first graced a production Mustang in 1969 when jet aviation references were very much part of the American lexicon.
The original fastback-only Mach 1, which featured a ‘low-gloss’ black finish on a bonnet secured by competition-type pins, was an instant hit, helped by the publicity created when it captured 295 speed and endurance records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The 2021 Mach 1 echoes that high-performance heritage by featuring a sonorous DOHC 454bhp V8.
As well as evocative graphics, the 2021 Mach 1 could be ordered with a 10-speed automatic gearbox or a Tremec 6-speed manual with rev-matching software, just one of a host of features aimed at making it more driver-focused and prepared for track use.
They also included separate engine and transmission oil coolers, massive six-piston Brembo brakes and clever MagneRide® adjustable dampers calibrated to work in harmony with stiffer springs and anti-roll bars.
The manual example modelled was one of the first UK-specification Mach 1s and joined Ford’s PR fleet in September 2021. It was road tested by various magazines including EVO, CAR, What Car and Auto Express as well as starring in the music video for singer James Arthur’s song, ‘Ride’.