ACMEguy
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2021
- Threads
- 17
- Messages
- 129
- Reaction score
- 230
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
- First Name
- Steve
- Vehicle(s)
- 2021 Mach 1 FJG HP 'M3162'
- Thread starter
- #1
Hi Everyone, I am new to the forum and I joined because of the decision I made to purchase the Mach 1. I have never owned an S550 car. In fact, I have never owned any Mustang newer than 1970 and I have had 3 of them. I sold my last one in the Fall of 2020 after I made the decision to move on to the S550 platform. I enjoyed owning the Classics but I yearned for a driver's car and as unique as the Classics are they are not, by broad definition, drivers cars in today's world.
I have to admit, I had the Shelby itch for a lot of years that I had owned my cars but could never justify the money for the classic version. At the same time, I wasn't enthralled with the S197 version (not passing judgment other than my own preference). But when the S550 Mustang hit the market I felt a stronger connection to the platform because, in my opinion, they had come the closest to the classic Fastback style of my 1967.
So I went exploring for a GT350... enter the ADM, and in Canada, I could not see the value in a $100K+ car that was in a sense a 'post 1968' version of the original (1965 - 1967) cars when Shelby would modify factory Mustangs at their facility in California. Production line cars with the Shelby name meant to engender the uniqueness of the originals but they were production line cars nonetheless. Then the stories, founded or unfounded, of the mechanical issues started to put me off of the idea.
Speaking of Shelby American, we have an authorized Shelby American shop here in Calgary, so my next idea was to 'build my own Shelby' like they did in the 60's. But after speaking with the shop and exploring the costs, I again came to the realization that I would be, in many ways, getting a modded PP car with the added bonus of having a CSM number and being in the Registry. At least that was something that Shelby's from Ford wouldn't have... but the costs were prohibitive and most of them (unless you went for the Super Snake version) were cosmetic. Super Snakes with the boost were WAY WAY over $ 100K by the time you factor in the donor car. And although the car would be unique, it would be somewhat of attention magnet that would make it, as a daily driver, harder to cope with... (driving for the love of driving without the stress of owning!)
Enter the Mach 1. Yes, in some sense it is a short run car with cosmetic changes and is, as it has been described in other threads cosmetically and mechanically, a 'parts bin car'. But in my opinion (which like A-Holes where everyone has their own) I got excited about the car because it took most of the best pieces of the Shelby development over the last 5 years and upgraded or replaced aspects of the GT PP lineup that people seemed to be less fond of like the transmission (big for me) and other mechanical, suspension and aero components. Styling checked the boxes and the motor, although not as unique as the Voodoo, it's proven record for reliability and 'modability' (if that is even a word!) were a plus for me. All for less than the other options in the marketplace.
Sorry the long post! But that's why I love the Mach 1 and am excited for mine to arrive! Could Ford have done more with it? Sure. But for me it seems to be just right...
I have to admit, I had the Shelby itch for a lot of years that I had owned my cars but could never justify the money for the classic version. At the same time, I wasn't enthralled with the S197 version (not passing judgment other than my own preference). But when the S550 Mustang hit the market I felt a stronger connection to the platform because, in my opinion, they had come the closest to the classic Fastback style of my 1967.
So I went exploring for a GT350... enter the ADM, and in Canada, I could not see the value in a $100K+ car that was in a sense a 'post 1968' version of the original (1965 - 1967) cars when Shelby would modify factory Mustangs at their facility in California. Production line cars with the Shelby name meant to engender the uniqueness of the originals but they were production line cars nonetheless. Then the stories, founded or unfounded, of the mechanical issues started to put me off of the idea.
Speaking of Shelby American, we have an authorized Shelby American shop here in Calgary, so my next idea was to 'build my own Shelby' like they did in the 60's. But after speaking with the shop and exploring the costs, I again came to the realization that I would be, in many ways, getting a modded PP car with the added bonus of having a CSM number and being in the Registry. At least that was something that Shelby's from Ford wouldn't have... but the costs were prohibitive and most of them (unless you went for the Super Snake version) were cosmetic. Super Snakes with the boost were WAY WAY over $ 100K by the time you factor in the donor car. And although the car would be unique, it would be somewhat of attention magnet that would make it, as a daily driver, harder to cope with... (driving for the love of driving without the stress of owning!)
Enter the Mach 1. Yes, in some sense it is a short run car with cosmetic changes and is, as it has been described in other threads cosmetically and mechanically, a 'parts bin car'. But in my opinion (which like A-Holes where everyone has their own) I got excited about the car because it took most of the best pieces of the Shelby development over the last 5 years and upgraded or replaced aspects of the GT PP lineup that people seemed to be less fond of like the transmission (big for me) and other mechanical, suspension and aero components. Styling checked the boxes and the motor, although not as unique as the Voodoo, it's proven record for reliability and 'modability' (if that is even a word!) were a plus for me. All for less than the other options in the marketplace.
Sorry the long post! But that's why I love the Mach 1 and am excited for mine to arrive! Could Ford have done more with it? Sure. But for me it seems to be just right...
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