In late 1966, Ford designers prepared a Mustang concept to preview some of the design updates coming for the 1969 model. The Mustang Mach I was a two-seat fastback with a very aggressive looking chopped roof profile. The car toured auto show across the country for the 1967-1968 show season.
The Mach 1 Concept Car never saw production, but certain styling cues were utilized in production. The hood with recessed turn signal indicators was used in 1968. The sport mirrors and grille emblem were used in the production 1969 and 1970 Mustangs. Each of the rear pillars featured a flip-open racing-style gas cap while larger than normal air-scoops dominated the flanks. The sloped rear end included a hatchback, a feature that wouldn’t appear on a production model until the 1974 Mustang II.
Ford first used the name “Mach 1” in its 1959 display of a concept “Levacar” called the Ford Rotunda. This concept vehicle used a cushion of air as propulsion on a circular dais. It was a performance option for the 1969-1973 Mustangs, and returned in 2003 before being discontinued after the 2004 model year.
