The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 is locked and loaded for Australia.
The Blue Oval’s fastest-sounding Pony Car will touch down locally in the second quarter of 2021, but buyers will need to be quick. Just 700 are coming, following in the tyre tracks of the retro-styled Bullitt.
Like the Bullitt, the Mach 1 will sit above the four-cylinder High Performance and V8-powered GT Mustangs in the line-up.
MORE: Ford Mustang Mach 1 going global – reports
Local pricing has yet to be revealed, while Ford also hasn’t confirmed whether it’ll be manual-only like the Bullitt or if the 10-speed automatic will be optional as it is in the US.
The Mach 1 is powered by Ford’s naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre Coyote V8, producing 358kW of power and 570Nm of torque.
In contrast, the GT produces 339kW of power and 556Nm of torque.
Like the original Mach 1, it bridges the gap between the Mustang GT and Shelby models – in this case, the GT500 not sold here. Locally, it’ll be the hottest Mustang that hasn’t been fettled by Herrod Performance, which created the R-Spec and recently-revealed the SM17.
It’s borrowed bits and pieces from other high-performance Mustangs. For example, it borrows its rear axle cooler and lower diffuser from the fire-breathing supercharged Shelby GT500.
The result is a naturally-aspirated Mustang that should be faster than a speeding Bullitt around your local track.
Its intake manifold and engine oil cooler come from the Shelby GT350, as does its Tremec six-speed manual transmission with automatic rev matching.
The Mach 1’s design pays homage to its predecessors with a deep front splitter and mesh grille complete with retro-inspired lamp inserts, black highlights on the bonnet and flanks, and a larger rear diffuser.
Ford confirmed the Mach 1’s local introduction on the 73rd anniversary of Chuck Yeager’s historic flight in the Bell X-1. On this day in 1947, he became the first pilot to break the sound barrier – Mach 1.
1970 
22 years later, Ford introduced its first Mustang Mach 1. It came with a choice of five V8 engines, the largest being the 7.0-litre 428 4V Cobra Jet.
The nameplate continued into the 1971-73 generation as the flagship Mustang model, available only as a fastback.
It was also offered on the dramatically downsized 1974-78 Mustang II before being retired, re-emerging briefly in 2003 as a special edition to succeed the Bullitt. None of these past Mach 1 models were offered in Australia.
