Instagram user and digital artist Abimelec Arellano (@abimelecdesign) has created a wild restomod by merging the 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 with the 2023 S550 GT500. He has transformed the classic muscle car into a modern high-performance vehicle, giving it many new parts and a fresh interior.
The exterior styling is similar to the 71′ Mach 1. However, there are several new exterior modifications. The digital restomod runs on a wider track and sits lower to the ground. It’s got modern lights and a set of sweet-looking HRE wheels.
In an Instagram post, Arellano says he always wanted to combine the new GT500 with an old Mustang. He picked the 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 because he believes it is one of the coolest cars. Arellano has given his creation a wicked name: Ecdysis. He explains it is “the process of a snake molting its exoskeleton to grow a new, larger, and stronger covering.”
1971 Mach 1 Restomod Has Classic Styling And A Modern Interior
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Key Highlights Of The 1971 Mustang Mach 1 Render
- Interior borrowed from a 2022 Shelby GT500
- Body sectioned and widened for a well-proportioned look
- Wheel wells enlarged
- Carbon fiber body panels
- 2022 GT500’s 760 hp supercharged 5.2-liter V8
- 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
Arellano paints this digital restomod a bright shade of metallic blue. The car now features a carbon fiber body. The blue is laid over it, leaving the two stripes on the hood uncovered. The restomod’s overall shape resembles the original 71′ Mach 1. Arellano mentions in his post that he has sectioned the body and enlarged the wheel wells for this purpose.
In addition, he has given this car slimmer fender flares and made them wider, adding a better finish to make them stand out. The rest of the proportions of the render stay the same as the original Mach 1. But this Mustang restomod has many new bits that give it a wicked profile. The headlights’ shape is the same but now have LED bulbs. The grille has a cleaner design, and the Shelby emblem is in the center.
Arellano has tucked in the bumpers and added a custom lip. The side skirts and the rear diffuser are also new additions. There is also a custom cowl on the hood, which is pretty big compared to the original one. At the back, this restomod gets a ducktail spoiler, quad-exhausts, and the rear lights from the 2013-14 Mustang. The original interior of this Mach 1 has been replaced with the modern interior of the S550 GT500.
This Mach 1 Restomod Packs GT500’s 760-HP Supercharger V8
5.2-liter Predator V8 Specs
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production Years | 2020 – present |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Displacement | 5.2-liter |
| Power | 760 hp |
| Torque | 625 lb-ft |
| Fuel | Gas |
| Noteworthy Applications | Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Ford F-150 Raptor R |
(Technical informations of the 5.2-liter Predator V8 sourced from Ford)
The 1971 Mustang Mach 1 had three engine options: a 302 ci Windsor V8, a 351 ci Cleveland V8, and a 429 ci Cobra Jet V8. Ford offered each motor in multiple configurations with varying power outputs. For the 1971 model year, the most powerful Mach 1 came with the 375-hp 429 ci Super Cobra Jet V8 engine.
However, this digital restomod of the 1971 Mach 1 has the driveline from the 2022 S550 GT500. Under the hood, it has a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine that can produce 760 hp and 625 lb-ft of peak torque. The motor connects to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and sends power to the rear wheels.
A 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Is Worth $50,280
1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Pricing
| Trim | Average Used Market Price | Original MSRP |
| 2-door fastback | $50,280 | $3,268 |
(Pricing data sourced from J.D. Power and Classic.com)
Ford introduced the Mach 1 as a high-performance version of the Mustang in 1968. It was available in the muscle car lineup until 1978. Later, Ford reintroduced it in the model years 2003 and 2004. The S550 was the latest generation of the Mustang to get a Mach 1 version.
If you want a 1971 Mustang Mach 1, you’ll need to spare $50,280. That’s the current average selling price of a 71′ Mach 1 in today’s collector market, according to Classic.com. However, prices could shoot up substantially for low-mileage models, as the highest sale for a Mach 1 from the 1971 model year has gone up to $253,000.
Source: Abimelec Arellano – Instagram, Mecum Auctions, J.D. Power, Classic.com, Ford
