1970 was a great year for muscle cars and performance. Perhaps it's because they knew there were looming fuel, emissions, and insurance problems on the horizon, or perhaps it's simply because everything finally came together just right. And nowhere was this "rightness" more evident than in the Ford Mustang. The Mach 1 was among Ford's most popular models, a great combination of sport and luxury that only came with a V8 and only in gorgeous "sportsroof" form (that's a fastback to most of us). Today, the Mach 1 stands tall with some of the other great Mustang models of the era, and prices are always on the upswing for excellent examples. That's why cars like this awesome 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 tribute remain popular—the same look, the same performance, and the same feel, all for pennies on the dollar. If you're not into pedigrees and don't need papers to tell you how to have fun in a vintage Mustang, then this is the car for you.

Experts will quickly check the VIN and note that this sportsroof originally came with a 302 2V engine. No harm in that, and it's nice to see that it has always been a V8 car. Somewhere along the line, it received a thorough makeover to become a very convincing Mach 1 clone, including a 351 cubic inch V8 and all the exterior styling cues. It'll take an expert and a look at the VIN to separate this one from its authentic siblings. The code D Grabber Yellow (also called Very Bright Yellow—ha!) is perhaps the archetypal color for the Mach 1 and nobody will accuse you of trying to be subtle. The paint is several years old, bit it shines up nicely and has a great look overall, from the stripes running down the center of the hood to the blacked-out tail panel. Underneath the paint, you'll find very good sheetmetal with decent gaps and good fit and finish throughout. This is not a show car, not a perfect car, but a high-quality driver that certainly looks the part. It wears the requisite Mach 1 dress-up parts like a chin spoiler, hood scoop, rear window slats, and a rear wing, as well as the ribbed rocker molding that is a Mach 1 trademark. Twin sport mirrors, some nice chrome bumpers, and a set of hood pins complete the performance look. There's simply no angle from which this car doesn't look great.

It was inside that the Mach 1's dual luxury/performance mission was most evident, with a bit more faux wood than the base models. The black comfort-weave seats are familiar to Mustang fans, and if you're familiar with the Mach 1, you'll note the yellow stripe on the seat back should be red but I don't think anyone will complain that the restorer chose a more custom approach. Standard gauges cover the basics, with a big tach mounted on the steering column, racer style. The rim-blow horn works properly and there's a center console with a T-handle shifter for the 3-speed automatic transmission underneath (yes, you could get your Mach 1 with an automatic). The original radio has been supplanted by a Sony digital AM/FM/cassette head unit and even inside, there is a correct Mach 1 badge on the glove box. The seats, carpets, door panels, and dash pad are all in very good condition, suggesting that they were replaced when the rest of the car was painted, and as far as we can tell, it all works except the clock. The trunk is finished with a reproduction mat so it looks right.

The original 302 is gone and replaced by a proper 351 cubic inch V8, which was the base engine in the Mach 1. This one is a Windsor, which means bulletproof reliability and mountains of torque. It's been spiced up a bit with a big Holley carburetor on an Edelbrock intake manifold, electronic ignition system, and a set of long-tube headers, so there's plenty of punch available at just about any speed. It starts easily and idles well, and out on the road exhibits no bad habits at all. It runs cool, the throttle response is crisp, and the recent dual exhaust system purrs away without ever getting obnoxious. A few chrome dress-up items, some new ignition parts, and a big radiator up front make the engine bay look appealing but functional. Get in, turn the key, have fun. It's that easy.

Some might think the 3-speed automatic transmission is a demerit, but I'm not one of them. It means this car is always ready for whatever you want to do, even if it's just cruising home at the end of a long day. It's far from sluggish, snapping off crisp upshifts if you're running fast and always ready with a quick downshift into 2nd for punchy acceleration on the roll. No, there's no handicap here. Out back, it feels like it has highway gears, maybe a set of 3.00s or 3.25s, but since the door tag is gone, we can't be sure. Power steering and front disc brakes make it easy to handle and there's a fat sway bar to keep it planted. The floors have two patches in the usual spots—the foot wells—but the repairs are serviceable and won't cause you any trouble. The rockers are solid, the torque boxes haven't been ripped apart by drag racing, and the car actually feels quite tight and solid going down the road. The stance is exactly right and it sits on a set of gorgeous Magnum 500 wheels and staggered 215/70/14 front and 245/60/14 rear BFGoodrich T/A radials.

It is our professional opinion that the whole matching-numbers thing has gotten a little out of control. There are a lot of great Mustangs out there without pedigrees that can still be a lot of fun, and this handsome Mach 1 is a fine example. Ready to enjoy, it's got the look, the performance, and, most of all, the price tag to make it a big hit, especially with the guy who puts it in his garage. Call today!