Mike Mueller - 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1: Muscle Cars In Detail No. 9

Table of Contents

S o many to thank, so few column inches. Guess Id better start with Bob Wilson, my boss at CarTech, who at the least deserves a laurel and hearty handshake for nursing me through this project. At the most, hell be listed in my will, but hopefully not too soon. Presently awaiting word, too, as to wholl get my Vegamatic or 8-track collection is significant other (and ace copy editor) Erin Welker and best brother (and able-bodied right-hand man) Dave Mueller, who rank right up with Erins bestie (and supermodel), Ann Wolz, among the best free labor money cant buy.

An old boss, Donald Farr, also deserves mucho kudos, both for giving me my first automotive publishing job at Dobbs Publications (Mustang Monthly magazine, among others) in 1987 and for answering the phone repeatedly in 2016 whenever I called with Mach 1 queries and questions. Another former Dobbs comrade, Steve Statham, also discovered that you cant change numbers fast enough to avoid a Mueller inquiry. Nor does switching jobs help. Just ask John Clor, he of AutoWeek, Ford SVT, Edmunds and, now, Ford Performance. Sure, John, you can run, but you just cant hide from my endless pleas. See what you get for knowing more about Mustangs than the average bear?

Helping me write this book were two super car guys from the collector car auction world, Mecums John Kraman and Drew Alcazar at Russo and Steele, who can both speak pony with the best of em, too. Endless appreciation goes, as well, to Mecums media relations magician Christine Giovingo for doing that voodoo that she does so well.

Additional technical/photographic support came from various well-known Mustangers, all worthy of far more than the following brief mentions. My apologies for only extending a mere thanks to restoration god Bob Perkins (perkinsrestoration.com); Ford archivist, author, and documentation guru Kevin Marti (martiauto.com); Scott Hollenbeck and Chris Teeling at the 428 Cobra Jet Registry (428cobrajet.org); Lance Morgan at the Mustang Grabber Registry (1970mgr.org); David Kee at David Kee Toploader Transmissions, Inc. (davidkeetoploaders.com); and 428 Cobra Jet devotee Jim Woods.

Readers who arent familiar with Marti Report documentation need to visit Marti Auto Works website posthaste. And while youre at it, also consider adding Kevin Martis Mustang by the Numbers (1967-1973) and The Mustang and Cougar Tagbook to your library. Also dont overlook Hollenbeck and Teelings 428 Cobra Jet Registry: 1968-1/2 to 1970, a priceless info source available on their website.

I owe my career to noted Mustang maven Donald Farr, who gave me my first automotive publishing job in 1987. The 1969 Mach 1, used here as a barber chair by Farrs wife, Pam, was their daily driver during the early 1980s. Having a little taken off the side is their son Matt, who has since grown a bit. He turned 37 as these pages went to press. Pam, on the other hand, hasnt aged a day. (Photo Courtesy Donald Farr)

More grateful mention needs to go to Hagerty Price Guides (hagerty.com) Brian Rabold for sharing his annual publications Mach 1 assessed value information, and Matt Hocker at the Antique Automobile Club of America Library & Research Center (Hershey, Pennsylvania) for supplying a little supportive artwork. Further photographic contributions came from veteran drag racing shooter Bob McClurg, Warren Crone at Ford Images, and Mark Han at The Enthusiast Network.

And I cant possible forget Doug Turner, Andrew Simmons, Sunny Rodriguez, Jim and Carol Long, and Tom and Michelle Grothouse, who graciously allowed me to photograph their pride and joys, on very short notice, for this work in 2016. Last, Ill surely always remember long-time friend Tom Shaw, who succumbed to complications following an auto accident in November that year. Youll see Toms fabulous photos on these pages, along with a comment or two demonstrating his unique perspective, as well as his boundless enthusiasm for the machines he loved like few other gearheads out there. Heres to you, buddy.

Located inside the drivers door on the latch end, a Mach 1 warranty plate (or patent plate or door tag) included a warranty number at top left and a series of vehicle specification codes across the bottom. The warranty number, or VIN (vehicle identification number), consisted of five codes (three numerals plus two letters) followed by a six-digit serial number. Warranty number codes went like this: