FORD MUSTANG TURNS UP HEAT WITH MACH 1, PONY MODELS

[ 5/26/2002 ]

LIVING LEGEND

Dearborn, Mich. — The automotive world changed in April 1964 when Ford unveiled the Mustang during the New York World’s Fair: a legend was born. From its first moments in public, Mustang was a hit. Projections of 100,000 annual sales were quickly dismissed as nearly 22,000 orders were taken on the very first day. In all, more than 400,000 people bought into the legend of Mustang excitement in 1964, driving Ford to bring a second assembly plant on line to meet frenzied demand.

“Of all our Living Legends, Mustang might have the richest heritage. For nearly 40 years now, it has consistently represented affordable performance and style,” says J Mays, Ford Motor Company vice president of Design. “Mustang is part of so many lives, has starred in so many movies and television shows, it is an American legend.”

Just as the original model did in 1964, the modern Mustang represents America’s love affair with the automobile. And it now stands alone, as its cross-town rivals, who in 1968 rushed to create a competitor to the original pony car, have now quietly departed the segment. For more than 15 years, Mustang has led its class in sales. Mustang is the best-selling convertible in the United States.

Today, Ford incorporates some of the same techniques it did in the 1960s to keep Mustang fresh by offering buyers a wide range of personalization options to meet their needs and pique their enthusiasm for driving. Mustang is currently offered as a V-6, as a GT with a MOD 4.6-liter, two-valve V-8 and as a tire-burning SVT Cobra with a supercharged, 390-horsepower, DOHC four-valve V-8. All models are available in coupe and convertible body styles.

Special limited-edition models such as the new-for-2003 Mustang Mach 1 and Mustang Pony are designed to offer enthusiasts a modern Mustang with an infusion of muscle-car memories. In the same way the original Mach 1, Shelby GT350 and Boss 351 models did, these modern special editions keep the flame of pony car passion alive and show the promise of a bright future.

2003 MUSTANG MACH 1 The original Mach 1 featured the familiar fastback body with simulated side scoops high on the quarter panel, an aggressively raked air dam on the front, a spoiler on the rear, “comfort-weave” leather seats and the now famous, “shaker hood scoop” mounted directly onto the carburetor and fitting through an opening in the hood. In March 1969, the Mustang Mach 1 was named “the quickest four-person production car” ever tested by Car Life magazine, earning it a chapter in the history of automotive enthusiasm and securing its legacy for the future.

The 2003 model-year version of the Mach 1 is expected to deliver more than 300 horsepower when it goes on sales at the end of the year. The pre-eminent pony car remembers its roots with functional performance upgrades and Mach 1 styling cues, including the shaker hood scoop, “comfort-weave” leather trimmed seats and today’s interpretation of classic “Magnum 500” chrome wheels.

Perhaps the most interesting design cue is the shaker scoop. The “ram air” scoop, fitted through an opening in the hood, channels fresh air directly to the intake runners increasing the breathing and optimizing intake turbulence for more power and torque from the MOD 4.6-liter, 4-valve, DOHC V-8.

The 2003 Mach 1 will be available with a choice of a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission with electronic overdrive. The 4R70W automatic transmission is upgraded with a heavy-duty gear-set, auxiliary fluid cooler and brazed 11.25-inch torque converter to withstand the added power of the Mach 1’s MOD 4.6-liter V-8.

Mach 1’s suspension matches its power with crisp road manners. The vehicle is lowered half an inch compared to the GT and uses a firm suspension for a balanced ride and enhanced handling characteristics. The performance-handling package includes:

• New front and rear coil springs with adapted load and rate

• Re-valved Tokico© struts in front and shocks in rear

• Unique stabilizer bars front and rear

• Added frame rail connectors to stiffen the body

Thirteen-inch Brembo® front rotors and performance calipers help provide excellent stopping capability. The calipers have a black-anodized finish and are visible through 17-inch Magnum 500 wheel spokes when the car is parked, or when it is cruising the streets. Mach 1 comes standard with ABS and traction control.

The 2003 Mustang Mach 1 features C-pillars with a unique trim appliqué that gives the roofline a subtle throwback appearance and distinguishes the car further from a GT. To enhance the low-to-the-ground appearance, Mach 1 also features more prominent rocker-panel moldings and another classic Mach 1 trait, an air dam extension, painted low-gloss black. A low-gloss black stripe runs the length of the side just above the rocker moldings.

Inside, the center stack and shifter bezel are painted in a gray accent finish and highlighted by an aluminum shift boot ring and aluminum shifter ball. The accelerator, brake, clutch and dead pedals are polished aluminum. The gray-backed instrument cluster features unique retro-look dials. Mach 1 comes standard with the Mach 460 six-disc in-dash CD changer audio system.

The 2003 Mustang Mach 1 will be available in Oxford White, Black, Torch Red, Zinc Yellow, Azure Blue and Dark Shadow Gray clearcoat finish.

Ford, which builds approximately 160,000 Mustangs each year, will offer only 6,500 Mustang Mach 1 special editions. Each Mach 1 will come with a unique serialization found in the vehicle identification number to ensure exclusivity and collectibility.

MUSTANG PONY From its earliest days, Mustang has represented affordable performance and style. The product strategy has always been to offer a wide range of models, from base models to GTs to special-editions, and make certain there is a Mustang that will meet nearly every budget. So even though the base Mustang might not offer the ultimate performance and speed of the top model, it is still a Mustang true and through, a Living Legend.

The 2003 Mustang Pony is a special-edition appearance package offered on the V-6 model. The Pony package combines 16-inch, polished-aluminum wheels; unique striping with “Mustang Stampede” graphics; a special rear bumper with blackened “Mustang” lettering; a GT hood with air scoop; and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The MSRP of both the Pony package and the Mach 1 will be made available at the time the vehicles go on sale.