1971 Mustang - 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Rise to the Top
The 1971 production year marked some significant changes for the Ford Mustang. For many collectors and enthusiasts, this marked the end of an era for the Mustang. The age of total performance cars slowly began to draw to a close as smog and fuel efficiency restrictions were enacted.
This was also the time known for the “big” Mustangs. They grew to “massive” proportions, adding 2.1 inches to the length, 2.8 inches to the width and 1 inch to the wheelbase. They also increased by about 100 pounds. Built on the Fairmont/Torino platform, these Mustangs were introduced as luxury Mustangs. Their bulk, however, did not allow them to handle as well as their smaller ancestors.
The Boss 302 and Boss 429 models also fell to the wayside and the 351 rose to the top even though it was taken from 300 bhp down to 285 bhp. However, the Mach 1 and the Boss 351 hailed as the Mustang’s performance cars.
