Ford Mustang 1969 Versus 1970 Understandably, Mustang lovers have a hard time choosing between the Ford Mustangs of 1969 versus 1970 models. The late sixties were a time for Ford to be bold and brassy. The race to the moon was over. Now it was time for car manufacturers to compete and produce the most powerful muscle car. The ‘69 Mustang was a one-year-only body style and many consider it to be the best-looking of all classic Mustangs. This beautiful example is in Candy Apple Red with a White Power Soft Top and sports seats. The Ford Mustangs were still top, but Ford decided to introduce a larger car with a more aggressive look (dimensions shown below). New, increasingly more powerful models arrived on the scene. Included were the Mach 1, Boss 302 and Boss 429. These Mustangs went well with the Shelby GT350 and the Shelby GT500, which had sold so well in previous years. The wheelbase and leg room remained the same, but boot capacity increased from 9.3 cubic feet to 9.8 cubic feet. The increased size allowed for even bigger engines to be used. The Ford Mustang 1969 Mach 1 Is Born: Mach 1, 1970. All about speed and performance. Only available as a Sports Roof (fastback) model. The Ford Mustang 1969 Mach 1 came with the 351 V8 engine. It had a large shaker bonnet, black bonnet stripping, side decals, twin chrome exhaust tips, hood pins (NASCAR style), front chin spoiler, rear spoiler, competition suspension and revised wheels. As Ford already had experience in the marketing of upgrades over the years, the Mach 1 allowed Ford customers to pick from six different engine types, sixteen different exterior Mustang colours, three interior colours and five transmission options. This left Ford fans in the driving seat free to choose exactly what they wanted before their Mach 1 rolled out of the sales floor showroom. The Mach 1 was such a success that they sold 72,458 cars in 1969 alone. Unique to that year, Ford also released six special edition Mustangs in the same year. These included the Boss 302 and Boss 429. Due to the huge success of the Mach 1, the GT versions were discontinued later in the year and the Mach 1 went on from 1970 onwards. Production Figures for the 1969 Ford Mustang Ford Mustang Model Number sold in the US 1969 Hardtop Coupe Standard 118,613 Hardtop Coupe Deluxe 5,210 Hardtop Coupe Bench Seat 4,131 Hardtop Coupe Deluxe 5,210 Hardtop coupe Bench Seat Deluxe 504 Hardtop Coupe Grande 22,182 Convertible Standard 11,307 Convertible Deluxe 3,439 Fastback Standard 56,022 Fastback Deluxe 5,958 Fastback Mach 1 72,458 Boss 302 1,628 Boss 429 869 Total 299,824 The fact that Ford sold more Mach 1 models than all the fastbacks of that year put together was an astounding achievement. Conscious of their image, they kept the Mustang at the forefront of the “muscle car race for supremacy”. Ford Mustang 1970 – Turn of the Decade: 1970 brought with it new competitors, new prospects, and of course new models – with a few notable changes. Year Length Width Height Weight 1968 GT 183.6″ 70.9″ 51.6″ 2798 lbs 1969 GT 187.4″ 71.3″ 50.6″ 2833 lbs 1970 Mach 1 187.4” 73.2” 51.0” 3238 lbs 1970 Boss 302 189.5” 74.1” 50.1” 3228 lbs Dimensions for the 1968, 1969 and 1970 Ford Mustang (including the Boss 1969). There were a few obvious differences between the models. So here’s a spotter’s guide: Some physical differences between the 1969 Ford Mustang and 1970 Ford Mustang There was no 1970 Mustang GT, meaning GT equipment elements (eg: pin-type hood lock latches and integral turn signal indicators) do not feature in 1970 models. The 1970 has two headlights instead of four (pretty significant difference). Both are inside the grille. 1970 models featured hood lock buttons The 1970 model has smooth rear quarters, instead of the fastback’s scoops and air exhausts. 1970 model has taillights recessed into the rear panel, which for the 1969 model was concave. High-back bucket seats became standard in 1970 1970 Boss model has unique reflective stripes along the lower body and up onto the hood over the front benders. Every 1970 Boss 429 came with a black front scoop. 1970 Mach 1 had “MACH 1” lettering on the rear decklid and honeycomb pattern on the rear panel. These are tell-tale signs only, meant to help you distinguish between the years of production. Please note that there are many other differences between the Ford Mustang 1969 models and Ford Mustang 1970 models. The colour chart was also extended with eight new colours, unique colours for the 1969 Ford Mustang: Aztec Aqua, Black Jade, Calypso Coral, Indian Fire Red, New Lime, Pastel Grey, Silver Jade and Winter Blue. The most popular colours remained Wimbledon White, Raven Black and Rudy Red. We’re not sure why, but Ford renamed the fastback “Sports Roof”. The new name lasted to 1973… not quite as cool. Have a sweet ’69 or ’70 of your own? Send us some pics on on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, or reach out by email here. We’d love to feature some on our socials! Liked this article? More like this: What Is The Best Year For A Classic Mustang? The History Behind The Iconic Ford Mustang