Originally born as a pony car based on the Ford Falcon, the Mustang became increasingly bigger and heavier toward the early 1970s. But Ford also added more powerful engines, so the 'Stang morphed into a fully-blown muscle car.
The transformation was complete in mid-1968 when the mighty Cobra Jet joined the 390-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) FE V8. Displacing 428 cubic inches (7.0 liters), the mill arrived with 335 horsepower and 440 pound-feet (597 Nm) on tap.
1969 saw Ford add more high-performance options, starting with two homologation specials sporting "Boss" badges. Developed for SSCA Trans-Am homologation, the Boss 302 broke cover with a small-block V8 good for 290 horsepower. It was joined by the Boss 429, which was designed to homologate the 429-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Boss V8 (rated at 375 horsepower) for NASCAR racing.
Finally, Ford launched the Mach 1. A performance-oriented package, the Mach 1 wasn't restricted to a single engine like the Boss variants. The options list included Windsor and Cleveland lumps, as well as the range-topping Cobra Jet. The bundle moved a whopping 72,458 units in 1969, prompting Ford to discontinue the Mustang GT.
The Mach 1 remained highly popular in 1970, too, selling more than 40,000 examples. That number is high enough to call this trim common today, but some iterations are actually pretty hard to find. The Cobra Jet-powered version is the holy grail of the 1970 Mach 1 line, with just 2,501 cars produced. The Orange Grabber example you see here is one of them.
Spotted at an estate sale, this Mustang is one of those classics that went through a frame-off restoration to recapture its former glory. And it has it all: flashy paint with a flawless finish, a highly original interior, and a squeaky clean engine bay. I'm not sure if the Cobra Jet mill is numbers matching, but it's as accurate as they get.
And here's the cool thing about this muscle car: it's a one-of-one gem thanks to its color and options combo. One of 1,371 cars fitted with the 428 Cobra Jet and the four-speed manual gearbox, this FoMoCo is one of only 126 ordered in this "arrest me" orange hue.
That number goes down to 60 if we also factor in the optional tachometer and down to 12 thanks to the 3.00 Traction-Lok rear axle. It's one of ten vehicles that also has power steering and one of only two with tinted glass. What makes it unique? Well, it's the only one without the Evaporative Emissions System, according to the Marti report.
Whoever purchased this Mustang is one lucky fellow. He also has a fat wallet since these cars tend to fetch more than $100,000 in this condition. Hit the play button below to see it sitting pretty.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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