1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Saved From a Barn After 40 Years Flaunts Rare Color

It was a big year for the Mustang, which was available with no fewer than six performance packages at the time. In addition to the existing GT, Shelby GT350, and Shelby GT500 models, Ford added a couple of Boss versions and the Mach 1.

The Boss Mustang found its way into dealerships for homologation purposes. The Boss 302 made the Mustang eligible for SCCA Trans Am racing and gave Ford a competitor for the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. The Boss 429, on the other hand, was released to homologate the 375-horsepower, 429-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Boss V8 for NASCAR use.

Finally, Ford debuted the Mach 1. Essentially a performance package slotted above the GT, the Mach 1 was restricted to the fastback body style. But unlike its Shelby and Boss siblings, it was available with a range of V8 engines.

No fewer than four powerplants were included on the model's options list, starting with the 351-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) Windsor. The unit was offered as a two-barrel H-code with 250 horsepower and a four-barrel M-code with 290 horsepower. Ford also provided a four-barrel 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) FE with 320 horsepower.

While not available with the Boss 429, the Mach 1 did share a 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) big-block V8 with the Shelby GT500 in range-topping form. I'm talking about the Q-code Cobra Jet, which had 335 horses on tap. When also ordered with the Drag Pak, the 428 became a Super Cobra Jet with race-spec goodies.

Also fitted with a sportier suspension, unique spoilers, and a specific stripe package, the Mach 1 became unexpectedly popular. Of the almost 300,000 Mustangs sold in 1969, about 72,500 left the assembly line with the Mach 1 bundle. By contrast, the GT found only 5,396 owners and was discontinued as a result.

Come 2023, the 1969 Mach 1 is not regarded as a rare Mustang. The Cobra Jet version, however, is among the most desirable despite a production run that included more than 13,000 examples. But while the Mach 1 may be common overall, some versions are scarce due to their drivetrain/paint/options combos.

The car you see here, for instance, is a rare gem without having a Cobra Jet or Super Cobra Jet mill under the hood. What makes it scarce? Well, it's finished in a color that wasn't popular back then. I'm talking about Silver Jade, a light and metallic shade of green that was ordered on only 434 Mustangs in 1969.

How many of them were also specified with the Mach 1 package? That's a piece of information I do not have, but I could speculate that a little more than 100 left the factory in Silver Jade. And it's probably one of fewer than 80 examples if we also include the 351-cubic-inch V8 into the mix.

Rarity aside, this 1969 Mach 1 is also an unrestored and very lucky survivor. According to our host, the muscle car was retired in a barn in 1978 after less than ten years of use. And it spent about four decades in storage. And I say "lucky" because, apparently, the Mustang was dragged out of a barn right before the roof collapsed.

The vehicle has since been cleaned and parked in a safer spot, but there's no word on whether it's being restored. But I sure hope so because 1969 Mach 1s are pretty as hell, and they look outstanding in Silver Jade. See for yourself in the video below.