1970 Mustang

Throughout the car industry, 1970 can probably be viewed as the pinnacle of performance. The next few years would see regulations requiring stricter emissions control, unleaded gas requirements and more safety regulations combined with higher insurance rates, a weakening economy and higher gas prices due to a fuel shortage. All of this added up to less interest in performance based vehicles than had been seen throughout the ‘60s by American drivers.

Still, though the indications of these coming events were already beginning to show, the Mustang changed very little in 1970. True to the form it had begun with the 1969 Mustang had something to offer every one. The perennially popular hardtop base model could be appreciated by anyone, the Grande line was for those who wanted a little more luxury from their Mustang, and there were two lines specifically geared at buyers who desired performance: the Mach I and the newly introduced Boss 302.

Two six-cylinder options were available in 1969—a 200 cubic inch version producing 120 horsepower and a 250 cubic inch motor rated at 155 horsepower. There were, however, quite a few changes in the V-8 options offered as compared to the previous year. Gone were any 390 cubic inch versions, and the base was a 302 cubic inch 2-barrel V-8. A 4-barrel version of the 302 was the Boss 302—available only on the Boss 302 Mustang. There was a 2-barrel and 4-barrel version of the 351 cubic inch V-8, producing 250 and 300 horsepower, respectively.

The Cobra Jet and the Super Cobra Jet Ram Air were both 428 cubic inch V-8’s producing 335 horsepower or 360 horsepower, depending on which model was chosen. A limited edition (499 units produced) Boss 429 was available on select models and produced 375 horsepower. This version also had Ram Air hood scoops.

Hardtop

Still the best selling Mustang, as it had been since the initial 1964 1/2 Mustang, the hardtop production continued the decline it had been experiencing since 1967, producing 82,569 units, down 35 percent since the previous year.

Sports Roof

After 1969 saw an increase in production of the fastback version of the Mustang, production for the 1970 model slipped 25 percent from the previous year to 45,934 units. While the 1969 models had been priced exactly the same as the hardtop models, the base fastback model was $50 more expensive than the hardtop model in 1970, still making it the second least expensive Mustang.

Convertible

Since 1967, the convertible version of the Mustang had been showing dramatic decreases in production every year, and 1970 was no different. At a nearly 50 percent decrease from 1969, convertible production was down to 7,673.

Grande Hardtop

Effectively a luxury package for the Mustang, the Grande was available with any engine option but came with visual and comfort standard features like a vinyl Landau roof, high-back bucket seats and a wood-grain instrument panel.

Mach I Sports Roof

Much like the introductory 1969 Mach I, the 1970 version offered a sportier looking and performing Mustang. The 2-barrel 352 cubic inch V-8 was the base engine, and the exterior included a unique grille emblem, new cast wheel covers and a hood lock pins.

Boss 302

The Boss 302 was perhaps created in answer to Ford’s dropping of the GT option package. Intended to be the sportiest looking Mustang with high-performance, the Boss 302 came standard with 4-speed manual transmission, rear deck spoiler, louvered rear windows, “Mag”-style wheels and 15-inch tires.

Pony Car Competition

Dodge entered the pony car class in 1970 with the Challenger, a sister car to the Plymouth Barracuda. Though Challenger production was relatively high in 1970, with 83,032 units produced, it would never again post numbers anywhere near this threshold before production was discontinued in 1974 (this is, of course, not counting the re-launch of the Challenger in 2008). The Barracuda, restyled with the introduction of the Challenger, was the only pony car to post increased production numbers relative to the previous year in 1970, though still only 55,499 were built.

The Chevy Camaro continued to hold the second spot in the pony car class behind Mustang with 117,604 cars produced, and its corporate cousin, the Pontiac Firebird’s production was down to 48,739. The AMC Javelin produced the lowest numbers in the pony car class with 30,180 units produced in 1970.

This classic design would be replaced with big and bold 1971 Mustang.