Slideshow: 1971 Mach 1 Cobra in Grabber Blue is Everything

Lesser Mustang?

As a general rule, most Mustang fans consider 1964 1/2-1970 the most formidable years. Because after that, America's favorite pony car got a little, well, big. And it looked bigger. And thanks to the impending oil crisis, big horsepower quickly disappeared in favor of anemic engine offerings.

Then, a few years later, along came the dreaded Mustang II, and the muscle car era was officially dead. Well, at least until the Fox Body came along and rescued the Mustang from the doldrums of the '70s. So we tend to think of cars like this 1971 Mach 1 Cobra Jet, a recent Hot Rod feature, as "lesser" Mustangs. But is that really fair?

Bigger, but Not Bigger

Despite common thought, the 1971-1973 Mustangs aren't really any larger than their predecessors, for starters. As Hot Rod points out, you're looking at a one-inch longer wheelbase, 1.5-inches in additional length, nearly a half-inch lower roofline, and a mere 2.4-inches in extra width. So yea, they're bigger. But not that much bigger.

>>Join the conversation about this Mach 1 Cobra right here in The Mustang Source.

Pop the Hood

But we're getting off track a little here. Instead of debating little things like size, we'd rather just appreciate this gorgeous '71 for what it is. For starters, let's talk about what's under the hood - a 429 Cobra Jet with the Ram Air package. And that alone makes it pretty rare. One of only 815 built with this particular engine combination, in fact.

>>Join the conversation about this Mach 1 Cobra right here in The Mustang Source.

Deluxe Threads

Inside, you'll find a stunning deluxe white interior filled with desirable options. Power steering, air conditioning, an AM and 8-track stereo, console, tach, and sport deck rear seat, to name a few. You won't find many '71s better equipped than this one, that's for sure.

>>Join the conversation about this Mach 1 Cobra right here in The Mustang Source.

Mustang Man

The owner, Scott Skalitzky of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is no stranger to Mustangs. He's owned everything from a '69 Boss 429 to a '73 Mach 1 and everything in between. And the story of how he managed to score this rare big-block car is almost as good as the car itself.

>>Join the conversation about this Mach 1 Cobra right here in The Mustang Source.

Pure Trickery

Skalitzky found the car while perusing Hemmings Motor News. But it was located in Waterloo, Iowa. Somehow (we have no idea how he pulled this off), Skalitzky managed to convince his wife to go to Waterloo for their second wedding anniversary. It was only after they arrived that he revealed his true motivation for the trip!

>>Join the conversation about this Mach 1 Cobra right here in The Mustang Source.

Life Change

Believe it or not, the duo is still married. And Skalitzky got his Mustang. But shortly after taking it apart in preparation for restoration, his son was born. For the next 26 years, the Mustang sat before he decided to finish the project.

>>Join the conversation about this Mach 1 Cobra right here in The Mustang Source.

Doing Work

Skalitzky did most of the work himself and obviously did a fantastic job. He did farm out interior work to Jim's Upholstery, and Custom RV Services did the body and paintwork. The 429 Cobra Jet and C6 transmission were both rebuilt to factory specs.

>>Join the conversation about this Mach 1 Cobra right here in The Mustang Source.

Attention Grabber

Even better? He actually takes his Mustang out and enjoys it. When the weather's good, of course! “I try to drive the car at least once a month,” Skalitzky told Hot Rod. “But only in the summer when the weather is just right. The car is just plain fun to drive—the car wants to go fast. Its color and age draws a lot of attention and seeing people smile and give thumbs up as it passes by are gratifying."

>>Join the conversation about this Mach 1 Cobra right here in The Mustang Source.

Never Gonna Give You Up

If nothing else, we can all learn at least two lessons from the tale of this stunning '71. For starters, never turn your nose up at a post-'70 Mustang. And secondly, never lose sight of why you bought your project car in the first place! "It’s okay to take some time off,” said Skalitzky. “But never give up on a project car. Mine took three decades to get it finished.”

>>Join the conversation about this Mach 1 Cobra right here in The Mustang Source.

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