Ford Mustang 1971-1973: the big beast

The remarkable facelift of the Ford Mustang Mach 1, produced between 1971 and 1973, is a car of extremes. It is the most massive and heaviest Mustang ever made, loved by many for its overtly muscular styling, while others despise everything it represents. This Mustang is by no means a bad car, but its main problem is that it came at the wrong time. It continues the trend of increasing mass and size started by its predecessors, which the manufacturer justified by the availability of larger and more powerful engines. However, uncontrolled swelling went too far, and the slender, compact Mustang of the 1960s mutated into a fat beast. It is said that the main instigator of this continuous increase in excess weight was the then president of Ford Motor Company, Semon “Bunky” Knudsen piese auto online.

Ford Mustang 1971-1973: the big beast

As a former General Motors executive, he didn't fully understand the original Mustang concept and envisioned it as a wild machine with a mega engine, staggering power, and imposing road presence. But times were changing, insurance rates for super-powerful cars were skyrocketing, increasingly stringent emissions regulations were coming into effect, and to top it all off, the shadow of the global energy crisis loomed over it. In this complex and unpredictable atmosphere, social attitudes toward muscle cars began to change.

Compared to its predecessor, the new 1971 Ford Mustang broke all boundaries with its length of 4.8 m, width of 1.9 m and curb weight of 1.5 tons - a truly huge car that proved to be a serious challenge both to drive and to park. It practically lacked all the characteristic features that made the original car so great. The most unbridled version of the model was equipped with a 7-liter V8 engine, developed a power of 375 hp, and reached a top speed of 200 km/h.

In 1972, the most powerful engines were removed from the lineup, and horsepower was reduced across the board due to the transition to new SAE net horsepower calculations and changes to the gas distribution mechanism. This year saw the lowest sales of the Mach 1 of the 1971–73 generation. The car shown in the photos, which is part of the collection of Nikolay Blagoev from Stara Zagora, was also produced then. His Mustang had a convertible body, which was perhaps the most beautiful of the three main versions, and was distinguished by the cleanest and most mature design. For its time, the limited sales within 1972 were considered a disadvantage. Today, however, Mustang versions from the same period are highly valued collector's items.

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As a former General Motors executive, he didn't fully understand the original Mustang concept and envisioned it as a wild machine with a mega engine, staggering power, and imposing road presence

Compared to its predecessor, the new 1971 Ford Mustang broke all boundaries with its length of 4