Twister Alert! Ultra-rare ’70 Mach 1 Headed for Auction in Kansas City
Missouri-bound 428-powered Twister Special is one of just 48 ever built.
Usually, a twister warning in America’s heartland sends people scrambling to their storm shelters. But another twister is about to touch ground at Mecum’s Kansas City, Missouri auction this December 5-7. Only here, it’s an ultra-rare 1970 Mustang Mach 1 Twister Special packing a 428ci Cobra Jet V8 under the hood. And if you haven’t heard of the Twister Special before, you’re not alone. This Mustang was a virtual unknown outside of a very small region back in its day, and they’ve only gotten rarer since.
Back in the ’60s and ’70s, Ford (and its rivals) would offer special models for regional markets. The California Specials of the ’60s are arguably the highest-profile examples of this. But there were also the Colorado-centric High Country Specials of the ’60s, and the 1968 Challenger Specials for New Orleans Ford dealerships. And of course, the Twister Specials, which were offered at Kansas City-area Ford stores in 1970.
The Perfect Mach 1?
All 96 Twister Specials were finished in Grabber Orange with a black interior and featured an automatic transmission, a functional Shaker hood scoop, unique decals, Drag Pack 3.91 gears, power steering, Magnum 500 wheels, and power front disc brakes. Of those 96, 48 of them featured the red-hot 428 Cobra Jet V8. These cars gained grille-mounted fog lights, aluminum lower rocker panels, a black rear panel, Competition Suspension and the Mach 1 deluxe bucket-seat interior.
This was no mere appearance package, either. On top of the Shaker, Drag Pack, and Competition Suspension, the Cobra Jet gained an oil cooler, heavy-duty connecting-rod bolts and unique balancing. In short, the Twister Special is about as perfect a ’70 Mach 1 as Ford ever built.
And this car looks to be about as good as it gets. It seems to be in as-new condition throughout, with its inviting black interior and assembly-line style markings all over the engine bay and underside. There’s a copy of the window sticker and a Marti Report thrown in for good measure too. There’s no estimate on what this car will fetch, but chances are it’ll be big bucks.
The dawn of the 1970s was a good time in Kansas City. The Royals were playing in their second season. The Chiefs had just won Super Bowl IV. And 48 of the baddest Cobra Jet-powered Mach 1s on the planet were storming the city’s many, many highways. We’re thrilled to see such a gorgeous example of a Twister Special hitting the block in its hometown. Most importantly, we can’t wait to see what this one goes for.
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