- Ford offered three V-8 engines in the 1973 Mach 1: the 302-2V, the 351C-2V and the 351C-4V Cobra Jet. But the Cobra, the most powerful of the three, produced only 156 horsepower, down from as much as 390 horsepower available in some engines a few years earlier.
- The 1973 Mach 1 was the first of the line to come with federally mandated 5-mph impact bumpers designed to protect the fuel system and radiator from damage in low-speed crashes. But the bumpers added weight to the vehicle and many Mach 1 fans thought they detracted from the car's sporty looks.
- Thanks in part to an oil embargo in 1973, that year's Mach 1 would be the last to have the option of a V-8 engine until 1975. And the V-8 that returned in 1975 was the weakest yet. Also notable in the 1973 model, the ram-air hood kit was sold as an appearance -- rather than performance -- package on some models. It came with a two-tone paint scheme and hood pins, but without any of the functioning parts.
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