Vehicle Description
Yesterday and today, there's still no bigger bang for the buck than
the Ford Mustang. Whether it's an early pony or this handsome 2004
Ford Mustang Mach 1, you get a ton of V8 performance and style for
not a lot of cash. With just 66,217 original miles and virtually
zero modifications on this special-edition Mach 1 package, this is
a well-maintained modern Mustang that's ready to enjoy every day or
just on those special occasions when the sun is shining.
Slotted firmly in between the performance-and-appearance pecking
order of the Mustang GT and the Mustang SVT Cobra, the Mach 1 was a
limited-edition version of the SN-95 platform Mustang, and it was
only offered for two years. 2004 was your last chance to get one of
these rare birds, and I dare you to find more performance,
exclusivity, pedigree, and flat-out fun than this for less than
$24K. The New Edge styling has aged rather well over time and this
Mustang looks aggressive without being dated and thanks to
excellent maintenance, it looks like it should be far more
expensive than it is. The Dark Shadow Gray paint (one of only 7
colors for the '04 Mach 1s) is the right choice for a Mustang, not
too flashy but appealing enough that people are going to ask what
color it is when you stop at red lights. Coupled with the big
shaker hood scoop and decal, ground effects, rear spoiler and lower
valance, and special badging, it's the perfect medium between the
subdued GT and aggressive Cobra. It's been washed and waxed
regularly, just like a collector car would be, and although there
are some signs of use and age, it still looks darn good when it's
bombing down the road. For an almost 20-year-old car (yikes, that
make me feel old), this is one good looking driver. The bumpers are
in good shape, the rockers haven't been blasted away by gravel, and
all the black trim is dark, not completely oxidized by the sun. You
also get further styling details, including blacked-out mirrors,
quarter panel scoops, and darkly tinted windows, not to mention fog
lamps and a set of taillights that are an obvious tribute to the
original. And the coup-de-gras are the super-cool '40th
Anniversary' Mustang badges on the front fenders and decklid.
The handsome black leather interior is far more comfortable and
functional than anything they could have dreamed of in the first
Mach 1 in 1969, it's in really solid condition still today. The
driver's seat shows the most marks, as you might expect, with the
bolsters taking the brunt of the damage, but the rest of the soft
stuff inside is pretty darn solid. No dryness or cracking in the
dash, no split seams in the seat inserts, and no blistering in the
door panels that comes from sitting in the hot sun. It's obviously
been used inside, but you can tell this has almost always been a
'single-manned' machine. The gray stripe in the seatbacks is a nod
to the first Mach 1 design (although we'd probably preferred to see
it dyed red like most of the originals), the steering wheel is
grippy, comfortable modern unit, and Mach 1 script in the center
console and floor mats remind everyone that this is no V6
grocery-getter. It feels very upscale inside, with loads of options
including cold A/C, power windows/locks/mirrors, cruise control,
tilt wheel, and a stock Mach 1-spec AM/FM/CD changer stereo that
sounds great. Most of all, the brushed-aluminum shift knob atop the
5-speed shifter sets the tone inside, practically taunting the
driver to get inside and pound through the gears. There's even a
decent-sized back seat and functional trunk that makes this a car
that works in the real world, not just on weekends.
Ford's 4.6 liter 'mod' DOHC V8 needs no introduction, and by the
time this car was built, it was belting out 305 horsepower with
that familiar Mustang V8 rumble. It's buttery smooth and
bulletproof reliable, and it's all stock under the hood, including
the giant Shaker-style scoop up top. In addition, the 2004 models
got bare aluminum Mach 1 valve covers to replace the blacked-out
units from the year before, that lone upgrade instantly makes this
engine bay more exciting. That's good news, because you know it
hasn't been raced or abused and if you need repairs, you can follow
the factory manual to get it done right. It's backed by a
quick-shifting 5-speed manual transmission that makes it
surprisingly thrifty on the highway (you can probably expect
low-20s if you're not mashing the throttle) and the Mach's capable
Macpherson independent front and four-bar link rear suspension
makes it a lot of fun when the road starts to twists. There's a
flat torque curve that is always standing by to launch the car into
the next corner and power 4-wheel disc brakes are powerful enough
to scrub just about any amount of speed without drama. Special
17-inch cast-aluminum wheels do a great impression of vintage
Torque Thrusts but are wearing modern-sized Falken performance
radials with plenty of tread left.
A lifetime warm-weather (CA and TX) car with a clean history and
great maintenance, this Mach 1 offers a ton of performance for not
a lot of cash. Call now!
