Mustang Mach 1 Revival was Worth the Nearly 20-year Wait

Wait for the new Mach 1 is finally over. The payoff? Lots of downforce, 480 horsepower and Shelby hardware.

Good thing Ford’s Mustang Mach 1 crew doesn’t run the public transit system because if you miss one generation of the high-performance model, you have to wait a long time for the next one to come around. Once Ford stopped producing the 2.0 version in 1978, pony car fans had to wait 25 years for it to come back in New Edge form. By 2004, it was gone from the Mustang lineup once again. Now, after a 17-year hiatus, it’s been reborn as a 2021 model, which Ford calls “the pinnacle of Mustang 5.0-Liter V8 style and performance.”

Brian from the popular YouTube channel Bros FOURR Speed recently got his hands on a Premium model with the Elite Package, the most notable part of which is a 12-speaker B&O sound system with a trunk-mounted subwoofer. As equipped, Brian’s tester retails for $58,800.

The Fighter Jet Gray paint brings aerial acrobatics to mind, but the aggressive front splitter, side skirts and slim trunk spoiler are there to push the Mach 1 toward the road and track. According to Brian, “The aerodynamics on this vehicle actually produce 22 percent more downforce than the standard GT with the Performance Package.” There are plenty of heritage-inspired touches, including the faux lamp cutouts in the black grille, black hood stripe and retro Mach 1 badges on the front fenders and trunk panel.

There’s plenty of Shelby hardware, as well. The rear toe-link, axle cooling system and diffuser are straight off of the GT500. The oil cooling system is from the GT350, but the now-defunct Shelby’s most significant contribution is its Tremec 3160 six-speed manual transmission, which Ford paired with the Mustang GT’s twin-disc clutch and short-throw shifter. The cue ball shift knob is from yet another Mustang, the 2019-2020 Bullitt.

So are the 5.0-liter V8’s output figures of 480 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. The Mach 1 transmits them to the road through a 3.73 rear end and a set of 19-inch x 9.5-inch front and 19-inch x 10-inch rear wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. Flat out, the Mach 1 is capable of hitting 60 mph in four seconds and completing the quarter mile in 12.2 seconds at 115 mph, according to Brian.

Unfortunately, since Brian’s test vehicle is a brand new dealer car, he doesn’t get to completely open it up. The good news is that he doesn’t have to in order to discover some of the Mach 1’s impressive traits. Despite its aggressive looks and its ultimate track potential, the Mach 1 is still comfortable enough and easy to see out of for daily driving. But it’s immediately ready for harder, faster driving. After putting the Mach 1 into Track mode, turning the wheel back and forth, and feeling the Mach 1’s instant responses, Brian remarks, “It just feels crazy planted.”

Rowing through the gears, Brian can’t help but notice how dialed in other parts of the Mach 1 are. “The clutch is also really lightweight. There’s a good amount of feedback in it so you obviously know what you’re doing.” It’s not long until Brian takes it through a sharp turn, a feat which Brian describes as “effortless.” Resisting the urge to rev the modified Coyote to red line and light up the rear end? That must’ve taken a Herculean amount of effort.

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.