Every once in a while, a car comes along that stands out among similar (if not all) vehicles. It has everything going for it: color, engine, and options. Sometimes it may have something unusual that gives it distinction even if it didn’t have the “right” option mix. This 1971 Ford Mustang Mach I checks all those boxes and maybe more. It is slated to hit the block with No Reserve at the Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction October 15-18.
Let’s start with the big picture: This Mustang is a Mach I SportsRoof, Ford’s sporty Mustang fastback. Though in standard form it was hardly a screamer (a 302 two-barrel was included), the Mach I started to get interesting with the 351 four-barrel. If that was not enough horsepower and you had enough wampum to step up, there was only one way to go: 429 Cobra Jet. Introduced in 1970, it arrived for the Mustang with the car’s 1971 redesign. The 429 was the replacement for the 428 Cobra Jet and was rated at 370 horsepower, but everyone knew that was underrated.
Like in 1969-70, Ford offered the Cobra Jet in two versions: one without ram air, the other with. In the case of the 1971 Mustang, a new air induction system was implemented—gone was the novel Shaker hood scoop, to be replaced by aeronautics-inspired NASA scoops. If you’re going by the engine code in the VIN, the Cobra Jet without ram air was a C-code; the same engine with ram air was a J-code.
Though identical otherwise, Ford specified different standard gearing for the two Cobra Jets, with 3.25 for the C-code and 3.50 for the J-code. If neither was adequate in squeezing out every last ounce of horsepower, the Drag Pack was available, featuring upgraded engine hardware, an external oil cooler, and 3.91 Traction-Lok or 4.11 Detroit Locker rears.
A J-code Mach I is a beefy performance car—a great way to end the high-compression era with a bang-shift. But this Mach I has something going for it that makes it stand out from all the others out there. First, look at the color combination. Grabber Yellow is nothing remarkable in the world of Mustangs, but it’s not often paired with a red interior. Only one person saw fit to specify this combination for a Mach I. It sears the eyes in ways you’ve likely never seen.
Additionally, check out that vinyl top. Ford initially offered, then cancelled, a canopy vinyl top for SportsRoofs, but full vinyl tops were a dealer-installed thing, which is why seeing this may make you dig deep into the recesses of your mind trying to identify why this car looks different than others you’ve seen.
Aside from the true 1-of-1 exterior/interior distinction, this 1971 Mustang Mach I was originally ordered with body side tape stripes, Traction-Lok with 3.25 gears, power steering, power front disc brakes, a Sport Deck rear seat, Selectaire air conditioning, an AM radio, a console, tinted glass, Magnum 500 wheels wrapped in F60x15 Wide Ovals, and the J-code 429 backed by the C-6 Select Shift automatic, all of which make for a nice Mach I beyond the funky paint job and vinyl top.
A lot of cars claim to be 1-of-1, but you have to drill them down by option upon option to the point that every car seems to be 1-of-1. In contrast, this 1971 Ford Mustang Mach I drills down to the one-and-only immediately, giving it much more gravitas among Mustangs and other muscle cars. It’s ready to appear in your garage, but only when you’re the high bidder at the one-and-only Barrett-Jackson 2025 Scottsdale Fall Auction, which takes place October 15-18.