Fastest 71-73 mustang belonging to forum member

[Tyson Blair]

Hello gentlemen,
I hit 140mph in my 71 the other day and I got to wandering what is the fastest top speed you guys have pushed your machines to. I know 140 is no big deal. It would be cool to see a 71-73 built for speed. Mine is a mild 429 with 3.0 gears and a c6. Probably tops out at 5500 rpm. What top speeds have you guys hit and what modifications if any did you make?

 

[Stanglover]

I took my 72 Mach 1 off the clock once many years ago and it scared the sh*t out of me.......... and that was after a beer or two too many!! And you say 140 is no big deal! These cars were never built for those speeds without many upgrade modifications, including BRAKES!
Tony Muscle will no doubt agree.

 

[bkdunha]

I know way way back when I was much younger and 10x more stupid I buried my speedo on the back road everyone used for drag racing. If memory serves me the speedo only goes to 120 so I do not know the actual speed. One lesson learned at that point was without the block offs in the NACA ducts on the hood that front end gets really really light. Don't even think about moving that steering wheel. I was one and done after that experience.

 

[tony-muscle]

My record is 137mph as measured via external GPS unit. This was on a track with a 1 mile long straight. I am sure it could go faster with a longer straight.
How long of a straight you had to reach 140mph?

 

[PNWMach1]

I know way way back when I was much younger and 10x more stupid I buried my speedo on the back road everyone used for drag racing. If memory serves me the speedo only goes to 120 so I do not know the actual speed. One lesson learned at that point was without the block offs in the NACA ducts on the hood that front end gets really really light. Don't even think about moving that steering wheel. I was one and done after that experience.

I did this when I was young and dumb early morning (2AM ish) on I-96 through Detroit. Had the block offs at the time but had the exact same experience as you...front end felt like it was floating. Was one and done as well

 

[Cleveland Crush]

I'm taking the 5th (amendment) on this topic
But like everyone else, the front end felt like a feather!

 

[Stanglover]

Addendum to my story. The road I was on ended at a T junction with the river just the other side of it. My car only had drum brakes up front and I really thought I was going swimming. I stopped the car about half way across the road. And that's why I mentioned "BRAKES" in my first post.

 

[basstrix]

The night before I pulled the 429 (for a 460), I went for a farewell drive. I ended up racing a couple of different Porsches...one of them being a very nice 930. On our last race, I stayed in it as long as my nerves would allow and we got up to either 135 or 137...that was based on his speedo and confirmed with a back calc based on 7300 RPM I revved it to. To say it was a squirrely ride is a gross understatement. The guy took me for a ride in the 930 after that and he took it up to 150....was so smooth and stable....not scary at all lol. Incidentally, the 429 snapped off a piston skirt in that over-rev session and I didn't know until I pulled the pan.

 

[Fabrice]

About feeling the nose getting light when the needle goes down right, I must say that since I have fully closed the front valance, have functional scoops and lowered the front, I never had the feeling that the steering wheel was just there for decoration again. I know I was having that "floating" issue at relatively low speeds, prolly because the hood acts as a parachute/lift.
I no longer push it, I think last time was before moving over to AOD about 2 or 3 years ago, because they keep adding cameras and radars around here where I used to push it a bit. Dutch fines being the highest in the world, fact that they take your driving licence and even take your car simply doesn't make it worth it anymore. They've killed all the fun!
What's the cost in USA for this kind of speeding?

 

[73pony]

About feeling the nose getting light when the needle goes down right, I must say that since I have fully closed the front valance, have functional scoops and lowered the front, I never had the feeling that the steering wheel was just there for decoration again. I know I was having that "floating" issue at relatively low speeds, prolly because the hood acts as a parachute/lift.
I no longer push it, I think last time was before moving over to AOD about 2 or 3 years ago, because they keep adding cameras and radars around here where I used to push it a bit. Dutch fines being the highest in the world, fact that they take your driving licence and even take your car simply doesn't make it worth it anymore. They've killed all the fun!
What's the cost in USA for this kind of speeding?

At some of those speeds your going to jail for quite some time for Reckless Driving.

 

[PBR]

I got mine up to 34 the other day on our street.

but it's halfway built back up so............I'm thinking hitting 70 is on the horizon.

Brace yourselves.

 

[Sheriff41]

Back in the late '70s I'd routinely bury the needle on the speedo running between Tucson and Phoenix on I-10. This was before Eloy and Casa Grande became speed traps. One trip westbound just east of Picacho Peak I was cooking along well above the speed limit when a Pantera overtook me at an incredible rate. I sped up but only prolonged seeing it disappear from view in a few minutes. Nowadays if I see 80 mph I'm pushing it!

 

[pedstagn71]

I have hit the rev limiter at 140mph and 6500rpm once. Been 120 numerous times To me the car is comfy anything over 90mph. I hit 110 passing cars regularly

 

[Cleveland Crush]

I got mine up to 34 the other day on our street.

but it's halfway built back up so............I'm thinking hitting 70 is on the horizon.

Brace yourselves.

PBR's Mustang speed TODAY:
PBR's Mustang speed SOON:

 

[PBR]

PBR's Mustang speed TODAY:
PBR's Mustang speed SOON:

We can only hope.

 

[c9zx]

Hello gentlemen,
I hit 140mph in my 71 the other day and I got to wandering what is the fastest top speed you guys have pushed your machines to. I know 140 is no big deal. It would be cool to see a 71-73 built for speed. Mine is a mild 429 with 3.0 gears and a c6. Probably tops out at 5500 rpm. What top speeds have you guys hit and what modifications if any did you make?

At 140 mph, the contact patch of the front tires is that of a bicycle tire. You need upgrades before trying again for your "personal best". Chuck

 

[Tyson Blair]

My record is 137mph as measured via external GPS unit. This was on a track with a 1 mile long straight. I am sure it could go faster with a longer straight.
How long of a straight you had to reach 140mph?

I am not exactly sure maybe a half mile?

My record is 137mph as measured via external GPS unit. This was on a track with a 1 mile long straight. I am sure it could go faster with a longer straight.
How long of a straight you had to reach 140mph?

Not sure, half mile maybe?

 

[Tyson Blair]

I am not exactly sure maybe a half mile?

Not sure, half mile maybe?

I

I know way way back when I was much younger and 10x more stupid I buried my speedo on the back road everyone used for drag racing. If memory serves me the speedo only goes to 120 so I do not know the actual speed. One lesson learned at that point was without the block offs in the NACA ducts on the hood that front end gets really really light. Don't even think about moving that steering wheel. I was one and done after that experience.

i did not realize that the ram air ducts had such a dramatic aero effect!

 

[Tyson Blair]

The night before I pulled the 429 (for a 460), I went for a farewell drive. I ended up racing a couple of different Porsches...one of them being a very nice 930. On our last race, I stayed in it as long as my nerves would allow and we got up to either 135 or 137...that was based on his speedo and confirmed with a back calc based on 7300 RPM I revved it to. To say it was a squirrely ride is a gross understatement. The guy took me for a ride in the 930 after that and he took it up to 150....was so smooth and stable....not scary at all lol. Incidentally, the 429 snapped off a piston skirt in that over-rev session and I didn't know until I pulled the pan.

Damn 7300rpm I bet it sounded great. Nothing like a 429. What rear gears 3.5?

 

[Tyson Blair]

I have hit the rev limiter at 140mph and 6500rpm once. Been 120 numerous times To me the car is comfy anything over 90mph. I hit 110 passing cars regularly

Nice ride, I am guessing you have made some modifications?