"Whilst many favour the first generation Mustang, the original Falcon-based Pony car, it was the second generation, which was larger and more comfortable with room to accept Ford’s big block engines, which had made Mustang’s reputation. Importantly the 428 Cobra Jets. The concept for these came from no less an authority than Carroll Shelby, who realised that the 428 unit, a longer stroke, smaller bore version of the FE series 427 engine was a match made in heaven, or maybe in Dearborn, for the larger engine compartment of the second-generation Mustang. Carroll extracted a few engines from Ford and dropped them into Mustangs and created the Shelby GT500 which revolutionised both Shelby and the Ford Mustang. Another Ford insider, Rhode Island dealer Bob Tasca, had a better idea; mating the 428 blocks with a set of free-flowing 427 low rise cylinder heads. This combination benefited from the long stroke 428’s torque and the 427’s heads high rpm power. After some massaging by Ford to ensure its long-term reliability in the hands of ordinary retail buyers it became the 428 Cobra Jet. Dropped into the Mustang, the Cobra Jet quickly earned a reputation as a power-plant worthy of respect from any other Mustangs or Muscle cars.
In the 1970’s there was a school of, what can only be called automotive artists, who restored American muscle cars by making them completely individual and unique. They were then given a title; this 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet is such a car. Purchased in 1974 by Barry Sturgess for £850 from a bloke in Luton, he ‘tarted it up’ and used it. By 1977 it was looking a bit shabby, so he decided to do the job properly. The car was completely stripped down and then layers of paint were added - first came a coat of Snow Pearl base followed by a coat of Silver Mist Pearl. The stripes and murals were applied in Burnt Orange Candy with a couple of dust coats of red and blue ‘flip-flop’ over the whole thing and then six coats of lacquer. To finish, a white Webasto sunroof was fitted. When it was complete it featured a mural on the bonnet by an American gentleman called Lee Roy Strange depicting several people in a spaceship, and hence how this Mustang got its street name ‘G Force’. A year or so after completion Barry took the car to a drag meeting where it is reported to have run in the mid 14 seconds giving ‘Neon Star’ a good run for its money.Unfortunately, the mural is no longer on the car but the rest of the paintwork has stood up to the test of time with just a little corrosion on the top of the passenger door and some chrome work that requires replating. With a black interior, this car is supplied with a UK V5C registration document and a file containing Ford build sheets and contemporary magazines with articles featuring the car."