The Ford Mach II concept car was a significant mid-engine prototype that previewed Ford's eventual success at Le Mans. Created by Kar Kraft in Brighton, Michigan, and debuting in 1967 at the Chicago Auto Show, it featured a street-racing aesthetic, marking a departure from Ford's front-engine tradition. Though often compared to the Shelby Lonestar concept, the two vehicles only shared the idea of a mid-engine layout and little else.
The Mach II’s debut coincided with Ford’s motorsport dominance at Le Mans with the GT40, a racing machine that revolutionized Ford’s performance lineage. While the GT40 captured attention on the track, the Mach II, built more for the road, was meant to show how Ford could apply racing principles to road cars, possibly hinting at the future of Ford's sports car design. At its core, the Mach II was a forward-looking exploration into blending high performance with potential production vehicle feasibility, underscoring Ford’s commitment to innovation in the 1960s.
The design of the Mach II was unconventional for its time. It carried a low-slung profile with a sharply raked front end, wide haunches, and a mid-mounted engine configuration—traits typically found in European supercars like Ferrari or Lamborghini. Ford was serious about its exploration of mid-engine technology, as evidenced by its motorsport success with the GT40. Although the Mach II never entered production, it served as an essential exercise in engineering and design that would inform future performance vehicles.
Its street-racing theme was evident in its aggressive stance, flared fenders, and futuristic cockpit design, making it a head-turner on the auto show circuit. While Kar Kraft engineered the car with Ford's blessing, the Mach II never progressed beyond the prototype stage. Despite its limited public exposure, it left a lasting impression, influencing Ford’s approach to both racing and road cars.
The Mach II concept is often mentioned in the same breath as the Shelby Lonestar, another mid-engine concept based on the GT40. However, these two cars are distinctly different. While both were mid-engine designs aimed at performance, the Lonestar was developed in collaboration with Shelby American for potential sale. In contrast, the Mach II was purely a concept, never intended for production. The Lonestar, which featured a rear-mounted 289 V8 engine, was geared more toward potential competition with European cars like Ferrari. The Mach II, in contrast, showcased Ford's engineering prowess with a more street-friendly focus.
After touring auto shows and creating buzz throughout the late '60s, the Mach II disappeared, making sporadic appearances until it seemingly vanished in the early 1970s. Its mysterious disappearance has led to much speculation over the years. Could it be hiding in a forgotten barn, or locked away in someone’s private collection? While its whereabouts remain unknown, the Mach II concept left a significant legacy, serving as a precursor to Ford's continued involvement in high-performance, mid-engine vehicles.
The Mach II concept represents a key chapter in Ford’s history—a moment when the company was willing to take risks and explore groundbreaking design and engineering. Though it never saw production, the influence of the Mach II can be traced through Ford’s later successes, from the Shelby GTs to the modern Ford GT supercars.
As Ford continues to push the boundaries of performance and design, the lessons learned from the Mach II remain relevant. For car enthusiasts and collectors, the mystery surrounding the vehicle only adds to its allure. Perhaps one day, it will be unearthed in a barn or garage, a forgotten piece of automotive history waiting to be rediscovered. So, if you ever find yourself rummaging through your grandpa’s old garage, keep an eye out—you might just stumble across a piece of Ford’s forgotten past.
The Ford Mach II concept was a bold and forward-thinking car that, while never destined for production, played an important role in the evolution of Ford’s performance vehicles. Built by Kar Kraft and shown across auto shows in the late ‘60s, it embodied the street-racing spirit while serving as a precursor to Ford’s mid-engine Le Mans triumphs. Its mysterious disappearance only adds to its legend. For now, it remains one of the great "what ifs" of automotive history—an elusive symbol of Ford’s innovation.
_websize.jpg)
