Vehicle Description
RESTORED 1970 FORD MUSTANG 'MACH 1 TWISTER SPECIAL TRIBUTE' WITH A
REBUILT 351 V8 & FMX TRANS WITH DISC BRAKES & PS
& PB West Coast Classics are proud to present an
exceptional example of this original 1970 Ford Mustang SportsRoof
(Fastback) restored as a tribute to a 'Mach 1 Twister Special'
(although in Red instead of the correct 'Grabber Orange') with the
highly desirable rebuilt, balanced & bored 351 4 barrel 'M'
Code 'Cleveland' V8 engine mated to an automatic transmission and
boasting the following customized options on an older but no
expense spared restoration: *Rare Mach 1 Twister Special Tribute
decals*351 Cleveland V8. Rebuilt per previous owner.*FMX Automatic
Transmission.*Aluminum radiator*Dual exhaust*Power Steering*Power
Front Disc Brakes*9" Original Ford rear*Rare factory Rally wheel
option*Mastercraft tires*Decor Group*Tinted Glass*Console*Trac Lok
Differential*Rim Blow Deluxe Steering Wheel 1970 also saw the
previous 351W (Windsor) V8 engine options replaced with a new 351C
(5.8L) Cleveland V8 in either 2V (2-venturi carburetor) or 4V
(4-venturi carburetor) versions. The 351C (4V) M Code engine
featured 11.0:1 compression and produced 300 bhp at 5400 rpm. This
new performance engine incorporated elements learned from the Ford
385 series engine and the Boss 302, particularly the poly-angle
combustion chambers with canted valves and the thin-wall casting
technology. The standard 351 Windsor engine was really a slightly
enlarged 289/302 and as its name implies came from Ford's Windsor
engine family. The thin wall cast small block with 5 bolt straight
valve covers accepted regular spark plugs and used a timing chain
in the block. The 351 Cleveland, on the other hand, belonged to
Ford's 355 engine family and was a big small block with 8 bolt 2
plane valve covers, used the smaller 14mm spark plugs and had a
separate front cover bolted to the block housing the timing chain
and routing water but most importantly it sported different and
larger heads and a unique intake manifold which makes these fire
breathers the legends that they are with lots of horsepower and as
they were only manufactured for five years consequently they are
not only very expensive to buy but also hard to find. The Boss 351
Mustang was a Cleveland and one of the fastest production cars ever
made for the street right from the factory. The legendary Twister
Special story begins when American Raceways International requested
1970 Mustang convertibles for use as pace cars and limited
editions. Ford's Special Promotions Division was tasked with
creating unique side stripes and graphics for the project. But when
ARI went bankrupt, Ford offered the package to the Kansas City
dealer sales district as a special regional promotion for Mach 1s
and Torino Cobras. Named after the frequent Midwest tornados, the
Mach 1 Twister Specials were numbered consecutively. All were
delivered in 'Grabber Orange' paint with a black interior,
functional Shaker hood scoop, power steering and power front disc
brakes. Externally, the Twister Specials were identified by their
black midlevel side stripes and tornado rear quarter-panel decals.
As Mach 1's, the Twister Specials were top-of-the-line Mustang
SportsRoofs with grille-mounted fog lights, aluminum lower rocker
panels, black honeycomb rear panel, Competition Suspension, 3.50
Traction-Lok differential and the Mach 1 deluxe bucket-seat
interior with molded door panels, console, woodgrain trim, and
three-spoke Rim Blow steering wheel. Named after the frequent
Midwest tornados as a regional promotion for the Kansas City dealer
sales district, these Twister Specials were numbered consecutively
and ordered identically, except for the drivetrain. The 'Twister
Specials' were all 'Grabber Orange' Mach 1's with special decals.
All were delivered in a 'Grabber Orange' and black exterior, with a
functional Shaker hood scoop, Drag Pack 3.91 gears and power front
disc brakes. Externally they were identified by their mid-level
side steps and 'Tornado' rear quarter-panel decals. Ford also made
a few 'Sidewinders', which were built in Dearborn, shipped to
Omaha, and sold in Iowa and Nebraska. They were available in
'Grabber Green', 'Grabber Blue', 'Calypso Coral', and Yellow. The
stripes came in the trunk to be installed by dealers. Rarer than
the California's Mustang GT/CS or Colorado's 'High Country
Special', the 'Grabber Orange' Twister Specials presented a rare
chance to acquire a highly desirable and sought-after Mustang from
the pinnacle of the muscle car era. Ford made 96 'Mustang 'Twister
Special' cars for Ford's Kansas City District Sales Office in late
1969. Of the 96 Twister Special Mustangs built 48 were powered by a
Super Cobra Jet big-block engine. The Jet Drag Pack option
transformed the 428/335hp Cobra into a Super Cobra Jet engine with
an oil cooler, heavy-duty connecting rods and unique balancing.
This particular 351C V8 tribute example is painted incorrectly in
Red instead of 'Grabber Orange' (for some reason!) but has the
head-turning graphics and a healthy sounding 351 Cleveland engine.
This particular example is a very striking tribute example, but in
Red instead of Orange, to the Mach 1 Twister Special, which turns
heads wherever she goes! The engine is extremely strong and
responsive with excellent oil pressure and no noticeable oil leaks
and which sounds absolutely magnificent, the automatic transmission
shifts smoothly through the gears and the engine temperature always
remains cool. The 'Red' color paint and the black interior is very
striking and a real head turner. This is car boasts a desirable
'Shaker Hood' and there is no signs or history of any rust or of
any accidents.
