Vehicle Description
RESTORED 1970 FORD MUSTANG 'MACH 1 TWISTER SPECIAL TRIBUTE' WITH A
REBUILT 351 V8 amp; FMX TRANS WITH DISC BRAKES amp; PS amp; 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 amp; 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 Brakes*Disc brakes*9"
Original Ford rear*Rare factory Rally wheel option*Mastercraft
tires 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.
