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Topic starter
01/07/2025 12:54 pm
With a looming asteroid of government regulations that would bring muscle cars to extinction, this 1971 second generation Mach 1 351 Ram Air faded out by 1973 as did the rest of the gas guzzling dinosaurs leading to a long stretch of nuclear winter for performance cars. The Q-code Cleveland 351 CJ w/ 4 bbl Autolite carburetor was only rated at 285 HP but produced 370 lb/ft of torque so I suspect the real horsepower to be substantially higher. The Mach 1 came with the 'SportsRoof' body style with front and rear spoilers. 'Competition Suspension' of HD shocks and springs, special trim and flat NACA scoop hood were standard. Only 88 units were sold with the Q-code setup. This a really well done model by AUTOart.
01/07/2025 4:27 pm
Of course, as the owner of a 1:1 1971 Mach 1 Mustang, this was a "MUST have" AUTOart purchase for me. Unfortunately, I disagree with Rich's assessment that it's well done. I suppose "well done" is relative, but AUTOart uncharacteristically failed to execute this model correctly. Usually, they do excellent representations, but this model is filled with errors.
The front bumper is chrome and not color-coded. The Mach 1 featured the only front bumper that was flush to the fenders. It has rear side window cranks for the backseat, and no '71 Mustang had window cranks as the windows were permanently fixed. The only exception of the '71 Mach 1 that allowed the rear side windows to retract were those that had the power windows option. The oil filter is also in the wrong position. The yellow color, which was the hue of my 1:1, is much too dark and almost a different color from the factory-issued paint.
There are a couple of other issues too, but at this moment I don't remember them. However, despite all my criticisms, it didn't stop me from acquiring the model. If those issues bothered me too much, I could easily just modify it to be more accurate. But I ain't gonna do that.
Topic starter
01/07/2025 4:55 pm
@marty-johnson I can only comment on the model's build quality and not its adherence to the 1:1. I don't believe I've ever seen one, let alone owned one and with only 88 ever built in this configuration, I assume very few have.
01/07/2025 5:08 pm
@marty-johnson My late best friend (the Mustang nut ) noted some of those same errors but like you (and me ) he believed the model was still too good to pass up. Furthermore, it beats the Sunstar & Ertl versions hands down!
- In 1980, we stuffed a 429-CJ (from a '69 T-Bird ) into his mint '73 MACH I. Conversion motor-mounts weren't yet available; our "engineered mounts" held up through the summer. If the photos were handy, I'd post them....
- Nice pics Rich! Mine's black, but I'm still mad at myself from passing on the yellow one when AA's website had them "clearanced" @ $99.00! 😬 😬 😩
01/07/2025 6:29 pm
This AA replica looks great and these excellent pictures show it off exceptionally well in white here. Many years ago I used to have the old SunStar 1971 Mustang in red and it was always a dramatic automobile with it's nearly horizontal rear window and roofline.
01/07/2025 7:47 pm
Your pictures are outstanding as usual Rich.
01/07/2025 8:50 pm
@chris - There was a manager that I worked with at FoMoCo that had a black w/silver stripes and accents '71 Mach 1 like your model. I always loved the color combo. Although I loved my car as it was my first "hot rod," it isn't my favorite Mustang. Today, I think the '67/68 fastback was the best-looking version.
01/07/2025 9:34 pm
Today, I think the '67/68 fastback was the best-looking version.
...hard to disagree with that statement; it hits right on target... like a Bullitt. 😏 😎
02/07/2025 9:55 am
This era of Mustang was not my favorite but the Mach I version is really nice. The trim/decals combined with white really made this car/model pop.
02/07/2025 11:23 am
"The trim/decals combined with white really made this car/model pop."
I had another friend (that looked like a movie star ) who repainted his 1973 convertible, that had a white interior, in this white/black livery - it looked extremely sharp. We had NO problems picking up girls! 😀 😎 😀
Rich Sufficool and Marty Johnson reacted