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 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.
