Here's How The 1969 Ford Mach 1 Mustang Compares With Its Rivals

Although the Mach 1 Mustang has made a comeback for 2021, its first edition created in 1969 still stands out as the ultimate performance car from the lineup. Ford stopped the production of the Mach 1 in 1978, to the disappointment of customers. It was a highly popular car for the decade that it was produced.

In fact, Ford's 1969 Mach 1 Mustang was so successful that Ford decided to discontinue the GT model in their performance range. The GT models were not reintroduced to the market until 1982, so the 1969 Mach 1 was really special for its time. If it could outsell one of Ford's own cars, then how do you think it compared to the other manufacturers in the competition?

Let's take a look at how the 1969 Mach 1 Mustang compared to its rivals.

It Features A Bigger Engine But Is It As Fast And Powerful?

Just one year after the 1969 Mach 1 Mustang was born, the 1970s hit, which was a decade full of great performance cars. Therefore, the Mach 1 Mustang had a lot of competition. From the likes of the Porsche 911 to the BMW 3.0 CSL, the Mach 1 Mustang had a lot to stand up against.

The standard equipment of the Mach 1 Mustang already made the car stand out among the rest. It was kitted out with a 5.8-liter 2V engine, while the rivals featured almost half-sized engines. The Porsche 911 featured a 2.7-liter engine and the BMW featured a 3-liter V8, as stated by its name. Both the Porsche and the BMW were discontinued like the Mach 1 Mustang around a decade after they were made. Nonetheless, they still made their name for being great performance cars.

In terms of the speed and power that these engines could kick out, the Mach 1 Mustang surprisingly did not beat its rivals. It may have featured a bigger engine, which could top the horsepower rating at 250 hp. But, its speed did not match its sheer power. In fact, the Porsche 911 beat them all with a top speed of 150 mph. The BMW fell shortly behind at 138 mph, while the Mach 1 Mustang could output just 118 mph. Nonetheless, the horsepower of the Mach 1 Mustang was a winner.

Its Overall Look

1969 Mach 1 Mustang Front View — Via: Wikimedia

The top performance cars from the 1970s era certainly looked the part as well as played the part. Some of the most popular performance cars from this decade were incredibly good-looking. For instance, the AMC AMX and BMW 3.0 CLS were insanely handsome thanks to their boxy bodies and rather large wheels. The Mach 1 Mustang was born a little earlier than these models and managed to achieve the same look.

The 1969 Mach 1 Mustang was very appealing on the eye, as well as being appealing to drive. It featured a matte black hood treatment and glossy red sides. Not only was the paintwork up there with the best from the time (it certainly gave the car a distinct look) but it featured many other components to up its appearance in the performance car market. Ford kitted out the Mach 1 Mustang with competition suspension, chrome pop-open gas cap, chrome exhaust tips, a deluxe interior, rear deck spoiler, and rear window louvers.

Likewise, the rivals also kitted out their cars with awesome components. For instance, the AMC AMX featured a sweet suspension and double-wishbone unit up the front. Elsewhere, BMW kitted out their 3.0 CSL with a dramatic array of designer touches. This included a front spoiler and short roof spoiler, front wings equipped with their own fins running along the top, and an eye-catching, and impressively-sized three-piece rear wing.

The Porsche 911 2.7 wasn't quite so thrilling. It featured a much rounder shape, which made it look less mean and suitable for the performance car market.

How Did Its Price Compare?

Of them all, the 1969 Mach 1 Mustang is the most expensive. The others do not even come close. The Mach 1 Mustang from Ford starts at around $135,000, which will fluctuate depending on condition and mileage. Nonetheless, you will likely pay in excess of $100,000, whereas the other three rivals compete for much less. The most affordable of them all is the AMC AMX, which sells for around $25,000. The Porsche 911 2.7 and BMW 3.0 CLS cost around $40,000 to $60,000, depending on their year, condition, and mileage.

In our opinion, the Mach 1 Mustang is a truly classic performance car. It certainly looks the part and plays the part. Yet, its rivals come pretty close. So it would be an easier decision on which is best if you leave it down to their price.