Ford At Sema
Ford was the featured manufacturer at the '03 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show this past November in Las Vegas and that meant hold your breath ... that there were a lot of modified Fords cramming every nook of the Las Vegas Convention Center floor. That included 14 different customized new F-150s.
What was compelling was the company's "Cammer" 5.0L, DOHC, 32-valve crate engine. Based on the Modular V-8 architecture and first shown last year in the FR100 concept pickup, the Cammer is available injected, carbureted, or supercharged and intercooled with the normally aspirated versions making 420 hp and the blown monster rated at 600. And the Cammer was shown in some undeniably interesting vehicles.
Musclecar Of The Month
'69 Ford Mustang Mach 1
If the Boss Mustangs were the hardcore performance machines, then Ford's Mach 1 was a bodybuilder in a nice suit-it was just as important to look powerful as to be powerful. And, yeah, comfort counted too.
The Mach 1 first appeared with the introduction of the '69 models, which all featured new sheetmetal with pointed prow and cleaner flanks. All Mach 1s were based on the fastback "Sportroof" model and featured a blacked-out hood and cowl, dual racing side mirrors, some neat side stripes, and styled steel wheels. Underneath, the Mach's suspension was stiffened and blessed with a thick front sway bar, and the base engine was a 250hp 351 Windsor under a non-functional hoodscoop. The interior included high-back bucket front seats.
But the most desirable Mach 1s were those carrying some of the many engine options. Those included the Boss 302's 290hp 302 V-8, the ancient 390 V-8 lazily pumping out 320 hp, the awesome 429 CJ-R making 375 horses, and fully three different versions of the 428 Cobra Jet. At the bottom of the 428 pyramid was basically a carryover from '68, using the 390 GT hydraulic cam, connecting rods swiped from the Police Interceptor engine, 10.6:1 pistons, and a single four-barrel carb on a cast-iron intake. Breathing through a single-snorkel air cleaner, the 428 CJ knocked out 335 hp. Adding a functional Ram Air hoodscoop produced the "R-code" 428 CJ, but didn't change the 335-horse power rating. The "Drag Pack" (not an official designation) 428 Super Cobra Jet came aboard whenever a 3.91:1 or 4.30:1 final drive ratio was ordered in conjunction with either a Traction Lok limited-slip or Detroit Locker and included heavy-duty connecting rods, and finned alloy valve covers among other things. Yeah, it too was rated at 335hp, but capable of much more.
The 428s were available in Mustangs other than the Mach 1, but it was in the Mach that they seemed to find their most natural home. These were luxurious, fast, and sophisticated ponycars-and Chevy didn't make anything quite like it.
The Mach 1 would carry on into '70 with a new striated lower body trim and through the '71-to-'73 generation of Mustangs. The Mach 1 name would even continue with the introduction of the hideous Mustang II for '74, albeit with mere V-6 power. It mercifully faded away after the '76 model year.
The Mach 1 name reappeared during 2003 as a limited-edition powered by the DOHC, 32-valve V-8, and we understand the name will be used again on the all-new '05 Mustang. It deserves to live.
Chrysler At Sema
At SEMA this year, the name to remember was "Mopar," as it announced the official grand opening of Mopar Speedshops to show off performance parts for everything from classic muscle to the wicked little Neon SRT-4. And yes, one of the first parts to show up in those Speedshops will be a crate version of the new Hemi installed in the Ram pickup.