Let's Take a Moment to Remember the Mach 40

Sweet Mashup

Throughout the illustrious history of Ford's pony car, the Mustang, its formula has remained simple and classic - rear-wheel drive with the engine up front. But what if The Blue Oval decided to mashup its legendary GT40 and its equally famous Mustang, giving it a mid-engine layout and transforming it into something a bit more exotic? Well, the answer might look something like this - the Mach 40 - a custom, mid-engine 1969 Mustang Mach 1 owned by Terry Lipscomb.

Photos: Eckert's Rod & Custom

Ultra Low

The heavily modified Mustang was designed by Mike Miernik and built by Eckert’s Rod & Custom, though the masterful bodywork was performed by Hardison Metal Shaping. Like the GT40 it's inspired by, the Mach 40 sits ultra-low, with a roofline measuring in at just 43 inches off the ground - three inches taller than the GT40.

Photos: Eckert's Rod & Custom

>>Join the conversation about the Mach 40 right here in the Mustang Source Forum!

Stout Upgrade

The engine is now located mid-ship and is clearly visible underneath the rear glass. Fittingly, the powerplant is a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 from a 2006 Ford GT, which has been heavily modified with a 4.0-liter Whipple blower and injected with ethanol to produce a stout 850 horsepower.

Photos: Eckert's Rod & Custom

>>Join the conversation about the Mach 40 right here in the Mustang Source Forum!

Modernized Cabin

The cabin is equally modernized with a mixture of red and black leather, a dished steering wheel, aftermarket gauges, and a hidden stereo system for a super sanitary look. Peek behind you, and you can see the supercharged V8 sitting behind the seats via a glass panel, just like a modern-day hypercar.

Photos: Eckert's Rod & Custom

>>Join the conversation about the Mach 40 right here in the Mustang Source Forum!

Many Hours

It took a whopping 11,000 man-hours and three years to craft this amazing machine, which is pretty much a requirement when you're trying to restyle a classic muscle car to look like a legendary supercar. Just fitting the engine where it lies required stretching the chassis and creating a clamshell rear deck and a new suspension setup.

Photos: Eckert's Rod & Custom

>>Join the conversation about the Mach 40 right here in the Mustang Source Forum!

Special Creation

The transaxle and rear suspension were lifted from the donor GT as well, resulting in a very unique mashup that looked cool enough to land the Mach 40 a special appearance as part of an update in the video game Gran Turismo Sport a few years ago.

Photos: Eckert's Rod & Custom

>>Join the conversation about the Mach 40 right here in the Mustang Source Forum!

Tall Task

As most automotive enthusiasts are well aware, making something as iconic as a 1969 Mustang look like a totally different car with a re-engineered drivetrain and chassis is a tall task, and even harder if you're trying to make it look like it was built by Ford. But the Mach 40 is one of the few creations in history to pull that off perfectly.

Photos: Eckert's Rod & Custom

>>Join the conversation about the Mach 40 right here in the Mustang Source Forum!

For help with service and mods on your Mustang, visit the how-to section of our sister site MustangForums.com