Tispco

One problem here. There was a 1969 GT model. Ford had both the GT and the Mach 1. Ford sold 72,458 Mach 1's and only 6,694 GT's in 1969. The Mach 1 sold so well, Ford phased out the GT for 1970.

IMO, I think they will leave the GT in place and if they make a Mach 1, it will be a special edition. There has been a lot of history created for the GT name since 1969.

StangPower05

UMM.. NO!

Five Oh Brian

GT was not available from 1970 through 1981. A 12 model year absence, friends, and Mustang did not go away. Over a HALF MILLION Mach 1's were sold from 1969 through 1978, averaging more than 50,000 per year! That's about as many GT's as Ford sells per year now, and the US population is about triple what is was 30 years ago. Mach 1 is a very storied, respected trim level in the Mustang line up.

It would not offend me one bit if the GT name took a break for a few years and Mach 1 took over for a bit. I've owned two GT's and two Mach 1's (as well as two LX's), so I love both models equally, as do most Mustang enthusiasts. To suggest that "GT" is synonomous with Mustang is silly. Many car companies slap the GT moniker on lesser models, but only Mustang can boast a Mach 1.

In my ideal Mustang line up, I'd have a few distinctly different models...

1. Base V6 model with 300+ hp DOHC engine. Subdued styling. Priced in the $20-$25K range.
2. Base LX V8 model (a la Fox Body 5.0L) with 350+ hp DOHC engine. Subdued styling. Priced in the $25-$35K range.
3. Mach 1 V8 model with 400+ hp DOHC engine. Extroverted styling (scoops, stripes, spoiler, bright colors). Priced in the $35K-$40K range.
4. SVT and/or Shelby model with 500+ hp DOHC engine. Nostalgic, yet extroverted styling for the over the top crowd. Priced in the $50-$55K range.
5. EcoBoost™ 4 cylinder model with 275+ hp DOHC direct injected engine. Super light weight components, better brakes and suspension (SVO, anyone?). Modern/sleek styling with minimal retro cues. Keep this one under 3,000 lbs and priced on par with the LX V8 or Mach 1 model.

Ford gave us quite a variety of Mustangs in 1969 (base, Grandé, GT, Mach 1, Boss 302, Boss 429, Cobra Jet, Super Cobra Jet, etc.). Heck, how many F-150's are there this year? XL, STX, XLT, FX4, Lariat, Harley-Davidson™, King Ranch™, Platinum, etc. Shouldn't be too tough to offer 5 distinct trim levels for Mustang.

laserred38

Eh, I could see it happening. Chevy dropped the Z/28 and went straight to SS from the av6
model. Boomer says no though, so we'll see I guess.

DynamicmustangGT

**** right!!! Don't mess with the GT

stangfoeva

I assume this will happen as well

nitecrawler27

No matter if they keep it at "gt" or change it to "mach1", it'll be too far ahead for camaro owners to read it anyway

1 COBRA

REALLY?

To think a new Mach 1 with a higher price tag than the GT in the "$35K-$40K range" would match or out sell the current 50,000 GT sales is not only silly it is idiotic. Does the EPA, aftermarket competition, or the current state of the economy ring a bell? DING DING DING! In case you missed it 1969 was back then, 2009 is now. It is not exactly the same ball game.

Having a Mach 1 as a SE would be a great addition to the Mustang lineup as a one or two year production. It is doubtful more than 10,000 could be sold annually. You will probably disagree in which case researching the sales for each of the SE sales for each model for the last 10 years might help, the results might be surprising but numbers don't lie. To imply the Mach 1 would match the current GT production is absurd and Ford likely agrees.

Of course, a Mach 1 introduction would generate enthusiasm and give dealers a new opportunity to screw their customers and might even succeed on a temporary basis although six months down the line it would be a different story.

RedCandy5.0

It really does not matter what they call it as long as it performs as advertised. The interesting thing will be seeing how it sells. Is it the new look that hurt the sales in '10 or the competition paired with the tired ol drive trains? If sales are poor again in '11 with the new drive trains Ford could have really screwed up with the refresh. Of course the true HP mongers will be lining up but how about the average person who knows or cares less about performance but goes on looks?
Would be great just to keep the GT name so the Camaro boys can say i got spankedt by a stock GT.

07S197

So there will be a Mach 1 again?

RedCandy5.0

I heard rumors the GT will be renamed to Mustang UB (Ugly Butt) edition.

Boomer

I didn't say that.
I just said the short answer no, the GT won't be replaced by some moniker.

GT is just a badge, and can be used with any car.
Gran Turismo, Grand Touring
Many other cars over the years have used it as well.

Keeping the Mach1s and Boss's in the background will allow them to keep value by only using them on different occasions (SEs) or (limited production) models.

07S197

Ahhhhhhh

CO_VaporGT_09

I kinda like Palomino GT....

Or even Quarter Horse Mach 1. QHM1, rolls off the tongue.

We need to start a petition!


Ford had so much success with the 'five hundred' model name change, they should really learn and use that lesson. F150 becomes C1500, or is that one taken?

RandyW

At some point, Ford will probably have to come up with a new suffix. I have no inside knowledge but it seems likely to me that they will one day offer a GT-like Mustang with the EcoBoost V6. If they call it GT, Mach 1, Cobra, or Boss the traditionalists will declare a jihad. "The GT, Mach 1, etc has always been a V8! How dare they! Prepare the boiling oil! I'll never buy another Ford as long as I live!" You can't use the old SVO name either. Number 1, it was a four cylinder. The SVO loyalists would throw a fit. Number 2, Special Vehicle Operations is no longer in existence, so it wouldn't make much sense.

So what would be a good suffix for such a car? I don't think that Mustang EcoBoost sounds all that hot. Mustang Turbo doesn't really do it, either. Since turbochargers get very hot, how about Mustang Caliente?

grrr428

Why not call the EB V6 version Mustang SHO? It pays tribute to the SVO also.
There could be a whole family of Factory Performance Cars, but not quite SVT/Cobra exclusive.

Clino

The difference is the F150 is the best selling vehicle in the world. The Mustang, although popular doesn't sell enough to justify all those different models. You're also talking about distinct Mustang models with different engines and drivetrains rather than trim levels as with the F150.

What you mention in the F150 is more like the pony package than a separate model...although I do agree it would be nice to have at least one more choice besides the base and GT.

Clino

I could live with the Mustang Twinforce, or the Mustang SVT rather than SVO. Or even make it a straight up Cobra. Or there is always GT350?

Coupe Guy

Don't be shocked in the future if Ford offers a turbo V6 as a GT. Remember C.A.F.E. standards are about to change again and many V6 engines are lighter, more efficient and make good hp numbers. The 2010 SHO mentioned above has more hp than the current GT. Just food for thought.

Wolfsburg

I don't think it's such an outlandish question and not quite sure why people are taking such great offense to renaming the GT. I think it would be rather pointless to do so, but as Five Oh Brian noted, there was a decent block of time where the GT didn't exist and from '70-'73 the Mach 1 essentially was the GT. I do think it'd be silly to charge more for a Mach 1 if it did replace the GT however. If they did do this, the Mach 1 should cost the same as the GT currently does.