Grabber Orange 1970 Mach 1 Super Cobra

Head over heels

When Steve was barely an adult in 1975, he had a 1965 Mustang that he loved. Then his neighbor bought a 1970 Mach 1 Super Cobra Jet in Grabber Orange with decals and stickers and love hit Steve hard all over again. At some point, Steve got wind that his neighbor was thinking of selling the car and right then, he knew he had to have it. Saving every dollar, nickel, and dime, he eventually got it. 

A little backstory

The Mustang was a special pre-Twister promo car that served as a pace car at the Michigan International Speedway as part of the American Raceway Incorporated Pace Car program in 1970. As per TwisterSpecial.com, “In Detroit, Ford’s Special Promotions Division was approached by the President of American Raceway, Inc. (ARI), a close personal friend of “Bunkie” Knudsen, Ford’s president. He requested pace cars for use at five of his existing or planned race tracks. Ten 1970 Mustangs were built. Five Mach 1s and five convertibles. All 10 cars were sent to a special Ford garage in Dearborn where the drivetrains were completely balanced and blueprinted for high-speed requirements for pacing NASCAR races. All were equipped with 428 SCJ engines and C6 automatic transmissions. Distinctive side stripes and rear quarter decals having the appropriate track logo were designed. Plans called for color coordination of the tracks and pace cars. Later disaster struck and ARI went bankrupt with only two of the five planned tracks actually built.”

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These were special

Ford's Special Promotions department built the ARI cars as well as the Twister Specials so they are related. However, none of the ARI cars were converted into Twister Specials. The Twister cars are in the 118,000 VIN grouping while the 10 ARI pace cars are in the 120,000 grouping. The 1970 Twisters that were made defrayed the cost of the ARI project, alloying the ARI cars to exist. 

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Like a needle in a haystack

Due to running costs, Steve was only able to keep the Mustang for two years when he was forced to sell. Years later, in the 1980's Gary Petraniac, the president of the Detroit Area Mustang Club bought the car and contacted Steve to see if it had been used at MIS as a pace car. Jump to the 2000s and Steve had had enough of other folks driving around his girl and was determined to get his Mustang back. He took to the internet and began searching for his long lost love. On one fateful Friday night, he found the car residing in Indiana. 

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Back and better than ever

The car had been in storage for almost 20 years and still needed full restoration but Steve didn't care at all, he had his car back. Steve sent the car to Steve Steeb Service in Ann Arbor in 2016 where the car was restored back to its full glory. The 428 Cobra Jet engine was sent off to Holbrook Racing Engines in Detroit where Dave Lyall, famed CJ racer, had a hand in building it. After the work was done, the CJ produced 630 horsepower and 610 lb-ft of torque on the dyno. 

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Finally back home

With the engine installed and the rest of the mechanical work completed, the Mustang was then sent off to California where the paint and interior work was completed at Fast Fords and Mustangs in Santa Ana. Now the Mustang is back home and looking just as good as it did when Steve first owned it 40 years ago. The performance, on the other hand, is all monstrously new and exciting. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1970 Mach 1 Super Cobra right here in The Mustang Source.

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