Within this article of “Clash of the Classics,” we are pitting two heavyweight muscle cars together: the 1969 Mach 1 vs 1969 Z28. Both of these impressive cars feature high powered engines with sleek exteriors that packed a heavy punch within the car enthusiast realm. Everyone wanted to have one of these beauties, and if you did have one, you were more than likely getting plenty of love and adoration over it.
It’s known throughout the automotive world that the longest living battle between muscle cars has been between the Mustang and the Camaro. In this case, the 1969 Mach 1 Mustang and the 1969 Z28 Camaro have been in a love/hate relationship since the late 1960’s. There has arguably never been more opinions, disagreements or tension between Mach 1 lovers and Z28 lovers throughout the history of cars. Also, these two classics were the most commonly pitted against each other in plenty of street races, making both of these cars impressive and super powerful.
The Greatest “Duel” in Automotive History
The Mustang loyalist swears the Chevy Camaro was the greatest lie ever perpetrated on the motoring public, many will claim the suspension was sub-standard and the the car was General Motors weak attempt to unseat the true King of the Road, contending that the Camaro isn’t worthy to be compared to the ‘All Mighty Stang’.
The Camaro fan contends the Mustang is all hype and will always be 2nd place in the Pony Car world citing the fact that FORD spelled backwards is “Driver Returns On Foot”. The debate and arguments have raged on for over 40 years and there appears to be no letup in sight.
1969 Ford Mustang
The impressively built and powerful Mustang was naturally more intricate than Chevy owners would want anyone to believe. The Boss 429 made 375 horsepower and ran exceptionally well while handling like a dream. The handle aspect was the main strength of the Boss 302, which was created to race up against Chevrolet’s Z/28 Camaro on SCCA Trans Am courses.
The overall weight distribution on this car was even enough to allow nimble handling and the Ford manual transmissions, along with the stout C6 automatic was outstanding. The overall styling of this car was meant to be timeless, which the manufacturer succeeded in, as the first generation of Mustang was an overwhelming success and became one of the world’s most popular cars.
Mach 1 Powertrain
One of the most impressive features of this Mustang is the Mach 1 powertrain, which was produced with upgraded suspensions. These suspensions varied slightly depending on which engine and transmission each particular model had. Mach 1 handling with a big block came with front shock tower reinforcements with much thicker sway bars and heavier springs. The 428 CJ and SCJ 4 speed cars also featured staggered rear shocks, as it was a popular feature to have within these cars. An impressive forte for the Mach 1 was incorporating an aggressive looking hood scoop that had integrated turn signal lights mounted into it. This helped with the overall aesthetic of the car to make it look meaner and leaner.
Due to the overwhelming popularity, Ford continued to manufacture the Mach 1 into the 1970 models without much change other than exterior or cosmetic. Some changes also included the elimination of the side air scoops behind the doors and the seats were revamped to offer a more comfortable design and more secure seating. New badging and striping were some of the immediate new distinctions within the interior design. For the 1970 models, the 351W was replaced with the new 351C, as the upgraded engine had poly-angle combustion chambers with canted valves. Every engine had either a two barrel or four-barrel carburetor that came with it.
1969 Camaro Z28
The 1969 Camaro Z28 was timeless and had a signature, impressive look to it. It was the ambassador of the year for the overall Camaro line and inspired the designs for future Camaros due to its extreme popularity and impressive features. The limited-edition models came with factory equipped Big Block 427 which cranked out 430 horsepower, which is still heavily sought over even in today’s standards. It is one of the most valuable editions of Camaro you can find on the road, and car collectors throughout the world would consider this model one of their gems within their collections. The M22 Rock Crusher Muncie 4 speed is still an icon today and the Turbo 350 automatic is equally as impressive and sought after. Needless to say, Camaro has produced some of the most sought-after models that have stood the test of time.
1969 Camaro Z28 with 302 cid V8
The Z/28 was for the road racing fan. This model came with dual exhausts, special suspension, a heavy-duty radiator, a quick ratio steering and 15 x 7-inch rally wheels. The 302 cid small block was still an option in 1969 and the transmission was a Muncie four speed. The differentials included a 12-bolt rear axle with a standard of 3.73 gears. The 302 had 11:1 compression, forged pistons with a forged steel crankshaft, solid lifters and a Holley carburetor. To say the least, these engines were built for power and speed, and were a necessary contender to the Mustang’s engine power and design.
A Forever Dispute
It is very presumably to say that the argument between which of these cars is better will never be solved. For the driver, it’s undeniable that each one of these impressive designs are fun to drive, but depending on car specifications, the diehard loyalty between the Mustang 1969 Mach 1 and the Camaro 1969 Z28 will lie within the owner or fan, respectively.
While each car is different and offers unique features, it’s safe to say that each of these car models are unmatched in influence within the world of automobiles and each continues to be highly sought after even today. The design of each of these cars paved the way for so many other new models to follow, but you simply just can’t beat the classics when it comes to this caliber of car.