Who Wins This Race? 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 versus Ford Mustang GT S550

The Ford Mustang has been the flagship muscle car in the USA since 1964 till today, and while there are other cars in its class such as the Dodge Challenger and the Chevrolet Camaro, the Mustang has been at the top of its class.

Two models with some serious followings in the name of Mustang include the 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 and its somewhat modern successor, the 6th Generation Mustang GT S550.

This article is a review of the two cars; and features a head-to-head comparison of these cars.

Drivetrain

The engine can rightly be termed the heart of any vehicle, as it is its very core, and when it comes to Mustangs, they are long known for having enormously big hearts. We will review and discuss the special offerings and features that each has to offer in the sections below.

Ford Mustang Mach 1

The Mach 1 was available to American consumers and perhaps small Ontario cities with a wide range of engine options; however, we’re looking at the most popular of the lot, the 351 cu Windsor V8 engine.

This engine, which was made from cast iron, churned out a figure of 250hp with 355 lb. ft of torque at 2,600 RPM.

These small block V8s came fitted with either a 2-barrel or 4-barrel carburetor setup, the latter bumping up the power and torque figures to 290hp and 385 lb. ft at 3,200 rpm.

Gearbox options were the 3-speed automatic, 3-speed manual, and 4-speed manual, with the automatic variant perfect for cruising and the manual options more for those who wanted a more exciting ride.

The manual transmissions were perfect for breaking into the high 14-second ¼ mile times, which was rapid for that time.

Ford Mustang GT S550

The 6th generation Mustang GT S550 is the latest model available to the public, and unlike the Mach 1, this version of the Mustang is technologically advanced enough to stand up against the European and Japanese models in the compact executive class.

The Mustang GT is known for its Gen 3 5.0 Coyote V8 engine that was designed to compete with GM’s LS3.

The Modular design meant that this engine could produce similar power figures as its competitors but with a much smaller displacement.

The Gen 3 engine features a slightly larger engine bore and produces 460hp and 420 lb. ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. The 2018 model also differs from the 2017 model as sprayed-in engine liners were added to the aluminium engine block.

This engine also includes a 7,500 rpm redline and a compression ratio of 12.1. With the S550, you have your choice of a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic, and while purists will go for the manual, the 10-speed auto is ideal for those who enjoy straight-line speed.

Body Style and Interior

With both of these Mustangs offering great bodylines and nice interiors, it’s only fitting for us to take a gander at what both of these cars have to offer.

Ford Mustang Mach 1

Starting with the exterior, the Mach 1 was known to boast its coupe fastback body style with its long hood and short tail-end with its sloping rear.

The 63C chassis got a range of performance and cosmetic enhancement modifications, including the famous ‘shaker’ hood that had a huge scoop for drawing in more air.

Competition suspension was another addition that not only impacted the general stance of the car but also made it more handleable at corners.

Goodyear Polyglas tires were fitted to new cars, along with plenty of chrome dressings, such as spoilers and exhaust tips.

Unfortunately, the late ’60s weren’t known for high-end interiors, and the Mach 1 featured a standard wood grain and teak interior with bucket seats. Sound proved to be vital and this was added to every model after the Mach 1.

Ford Mustang GT S550

The exterior of the Ford Mustang GT S550 is beautifully done and based on the Ford Evos concept with a fastback coupe body style.

In fact, the only model of this car that doesn’t have the iconic fastback design is the Mustang Convertible. Aggressive styling can be seen everywhere on the exterior with sharp body lines and a low stance all because of the MagnaRide suspension.

Inside, the Mustang is replete with luxury items such as an advanced infotainment system that allows the driver to monitor different parts of the car, and even keep track of performance figures.

A lot is offered for a sports car, in which the ambient lighting, premier sound system, enhanced voice control, and much more are part of the S550 Mustang GT.

The seats are extremely comfortable, but the rear doesn’t have enough legroom for 1 adult.

Figures

With performance figures, we’ll be looking at acceleration times, ¼ mile times, top speed, and braking distances.

Ford Mustang Mach 1

This version of the car featured the F70 Goodyear Polyglas tires, a 2-barrel carburetor setup with 250 hp and 355 lb. ft of torque, and a 4-speed manual transmission.

The car hit a top speed of 122 mph and achieved a 0-62 mph time of 7.5 seconds, which is decent, but shows how unrefined the engine was at the time. A standing quarter mile of 14.78 seconds at 92.5 mph was achieved.

With the brake test, the Mach 1 managed 256 ft from 80-0 mph.

Ford Mustang GT S550

This version of the car came fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport tires and a 10-speed automatic transmission. 0-60 mph was done in 3.8 seconds, with the standing quarter mile mile done in 12.1 seconds.

The top speed was limited to 156 mph, with 70-0 done in 156 ft.

Notably, the Mustang GT S550 is a much better car, but it missed the soul of Mach 1; because this old school car came with an unstopably noisy engine, a beautiful body, and an interior that was classy.