Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present a rare and mostly all
original surviving example of this original southern California
1971 Ford Mustang SportsRoof (Fastback) with it's original and
highly desirable high performance 'M' code 351/285HP V8 'Cleveland'
4 barrel engine matched to it's original 'Hurst unit' 4 speed
manual shifter and boasting rare factory options including power
windows, power front disc brakes, power steering with and which was
born and still boasts its original 'Grabber Blue' factory color
paint with all original 'Black All Vinyl Standard' Interior, 3.25:1
Axle Locking Differential, original AM 'Philco' Radio, and optional
Magnum 500 chrome wheels! This very striking example with its
original 'Grabber Blue' factory color paint shows only minimal wear
for its age in the form of some very minor chips etc (see photos
below) and the original 'Black All Vinyl' standard interior is in
very good condition with no real flaws whatsoever and the car has
no history of any accidents or rust and has been a dry climate and
obviously always garaged southern California owned car since new.
The original matching and highly desirable high performance 351 4V
V8 'Cleveland' "M" code engine boasts some 285HP and is next in
line only to 'Cleveland's own top-of-the-line legendary high
performance 'Boss 351' "Q" code 330HP V8 engine. This particular
car also boasts the optional 4 speed manual transmission which when
matched to it's high performance "M" code engine makes this one of
Dearborn's last in the line of America's true affordable driver's
muscle cars! The 351 Cleveland lasted longer than some, giving the
1970-73 Mustang a robust gallop while becoming a semi-legend among
Ford buffs. It also became a formidable force in Pro Stock drag
racing. The Mustang first offered a 351-cubic-inch small-block V-8
in 1969. Known as the 351 Windsor for Ford's Windsor, Ontario,
engine plant it was more than a longer-stroke version of the 302,
using a different block and firing order. Offered in two- and
four-barrel carburetor versions, the Windsor was a solid performer.
However, it was a placeholder in the Mustang while Ford meanwhile
finished prepping a more performance-oriented engine family, known
by the internal code 335. This would become the '351 Cleveland',
named for where it was produced: Ford Engine Plant Number 2 in
Cleveland.Aside from shared bore and stroke dimensions as well as
displacement, the 351C was completely different from the 351W. Its
block was lower and wider, and the engine was a bit heavier
overall. The 351C replaced the 351W in the Mustang (and Mercury
Cougar) for 1970, although some 70 models received the Windsor
two-barrel, according to Kevin Marti, who uses licensed Ford build
data to create the Marti Reports. The big story for the Cleveland
was breathing. The cylinder heads were essentially plucked from the
Boss 302, with minor changes. Ports and valves were larger than on
the Windsor, and the valves were canted, that is, tilted in two
planes, similar to the Chevy 396/427/454 big-block V-8. The 351C
two-barrel used 2.04-inch intake and 1.65-inch exhaust valves; the
four-barrel version had 2.19/1.71-inch valves (except the 73, which
used the smaller valves). For comparison, high-performance Chevy
small block V-8s, including the 1970-72 Camaro Z/28s LT-1, used
2.02/1.60-inch valves.Ford kept the changes coming year to year,
offering five different versions of the 351C in the 1970-73
Mustang. The 1970 Mustang offered two versions of the 351C, the
H-code with two-barrel carburetor, and the M-code four-barrel,
which also had higher compression cylinder heads (10.7:1 vs.
9.5:1), using closed or quench-type combustion chambers vs.
open-type for the two-barrel. The two-barrel received the same
250-horsepower rating as the 1969 351W two-barrel, which also was
tagged H-code. Using a mild hydraulic cam and a relatively small
600-cubic-feet-per-minute (cfm) carburetor, the M-code was rated at
300 hp. In the Mach 1, it was a $48 upgrade over the H-code that
came standard. The 351C H-code and M-code engines carried over to
the larger, redesigned 1971 Mustang, although the M-codes
horsepower was now listed as 285, with slightly lower compression.
Two more versions joined the line.The one-year-only Boss 351 was
the ultimate factory-built Cleveland, tagged R-code and also
identified as 351 H.O. The new Boss capitalized on the Cleveland's
inherent high-rpm breathing capability with 11.7:1 compression and
performance goodies that included four-bolt main bearing caps,
forged pistons, shot-peened connecting rods, high-lift
mechanical-lifter cam, adjustable rocker arms, and aluminum intake
manifold with 750-cfm spread-bore four-barrel carburetor, ram air
induction, and dual-point ignition. Rated at 330 hp, the Boss 351
could run the quarter-mile in the low-14-second range at about 100
mph, on par with the Mustangs optional big-block 429 Cobra Jet.
Ford made only 1,806 Boss 351s.In spring 1971, Ford replaced the
M-code with the hotter Q-code, calling it the 351 Cobra Jet.
Switching to open-chamber cylinder heads lowered compression to 9:1
and also reduced emissions. The Q used a higher-lift hydraulic cam,
along with the Boss 351s four-bolt main bearing caps, 750-cfm
carburetor and, on cars with the four-speed manual, a dual-point
distributor. Advertised horsepower was 280. Just 144 Mustangs got
the late-arriving Q-code for 1971, according to Mustang by the
Numbers by Marti. Aside from the Boss 351 engine, which was
exclusive to that model, all other variants of the 351C four-barrel
were available in any Mustang, with Ram Air as an option.This
particular 'M' code 351/285HP 4BBL V8 Cleveland example must be
seen and driven to be fully appreciated - a very striking car in
this beautiful 'Grabber Blue' original factory color which turns
heads wherever she goes! The engine is extraordinarily strong and
responsive with excellent oil pressure and no oil leaks and which
sounds absolutely magnificent, the 'Hurst' 4 speed manual
transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the engine
temperature always remains cool. This must be one of the finest
surviving example's available anywhere of this increasingly
collectible and desirable 1971 Ford Mustang Sportsroof with the 'M
code' high performance 'Cleveland' 351 4 BBL V8 engine matched to a
4 speed manual transmission and will surely prove to be a wonderful
investment for any American classic muscle car collector or Mustang
enthusiast! A rare turn-key ready daily appreciating and daily
head-turning condition example of an all time classic America
muscle car icon!
