Came across these articles recently. Ford is looking for help in researching a forgotten mid-engine Mustang prototype. Intriguing pics in these articles. Would love to hear the rest of the story.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/a...rototype/ar-BB12li8e

https://www.roadandtrack.co...ine-mustang-mystery/

Very cool find. Would actually be a fun project to take on but not gonna hack up my Mustang for that.

Found this on Jalopnik

https://www.motor1.com/news...mid-engined-mustang/

The Internet Solves The Mystery Of The Mid-Engined Mustang

Apr 10, 2020 at 6:04pm ET
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Brett T. Evans
By: Brett T. Evans
The unusual sports car was likely an engineering mule for the Ford Mach II concept.
Most automakers have a solid handle on their history and legacy, and Ford is no different. The company relies hard on legends like the Model T, F-1 pickup, Mustang, and GT40. But when you’re one of the largest (and possibly the oldest) automakers in the world, there are bound to be a few projects that slip through the cracks – including photos of an unusual mid-engined Mustang the company recently found. Turning to the internet for answers proved to be wise, as we now know it was likely an engineering buck for the 1967 Ford Mustang Mach II concept.

Thanks to a savvy automotive detective at Jalopnik, one of Ford’s archivists came forward with some relevant info. According to Ted Ryan, Ford Archives and Heritage brand manager, the photo of the skeletal mid-engined concept we saw last week is actually a “styling neg,” short for negative. Ever since the early 1950s, Ford’s designers would photograph and categorize their active projects, leading to this buck’s May 2, 1966 photo date and S-9955-1 serial number.

Gallery: 1966 Ford Mustang mid-engined concept
1966 Ford Mustang mid-engined concept
4 Photos
Digging further still, Jalopnik came into contact with Jim Farrell, an expert on Ford’s design department, who spread the mystery photo among his friends and colleagues. Blue Oval experts and former employees chimed in, leading to a consensus that the vehicle originated as part of the 1967 Mach II project.

However, it didn’t come from the styling department, and the final Mach II design is far different from that of the mystery machine. To wit, the photo released last week clearly shows a standard Mustang rear clip with peaked fenders and openings for standard three-segment taillights, while the Mach II is crisper, with round taillights and no vestigial fender vents. It’s likely that it was actually from engineering, built as a packaging study before being sent over to the design department to finalize the concept’s styling.

Gallery: Mustang Mach II: The Two-Seater That Almost Was
Mustang Mach II: The Two-Seater That Almost Was
2 Photos
So there you have it. The final result of this strange machine’s existence was the stunning 1967 Ford Mustang Mach II concept. If produced, the V8-powered Mach II would have elevated Ford’s sports car lineup, giving it an entry above the budget-friendly Mustang to compete with the more expensive Porsche 914 and Chevrolet Corvette. Alas, Ford would hold off on series production of a mid-engined sports car until the 2005 GT arrived.

Will Ford ever build a mid-engined Mustang? In our minds, the ethos behind the Mach II concept could hold true – a cheaper, more powerful alternative to the Porsche 718 Cayman and a bona fide budget-supercar rival to the C8 Corvette. But for the grace of God, the Mach II and its predecessors are relegated to history.

Source: Jalopnik

I wanted to add to this; I was a Ford man back in HS and for a while after (1974-1985 Approx) and followed what was going on Past-Present-Future with Ford. I knew about the Mach 2 and GT-40 and Pantera (First car love- My Dentist bought one) but then found out about the Mach 2C.

I suspect that the 2C was styled by Larry Shinoda; He had worked at GM Styling the '63 and '68 Vettes and '65 Corvair, then followed his boss (Bunkie Knudsen) to Ford, where he re-designed the '69 Mustang into the '70. Larry was not a typical suit-wearing "Stylist"- He had been interned at Manzanar in the 40s and then during his later teens had built hot rods- actually won in "Fuel Eliminator class" at the first Hot Rod National meet. At Ford HE came up with the idea of the "BOSS" Mustang and BUILT the prototype himself. (The guy should have a movie made about his life)

The Mach 2C was supposed to have a 429 Boss engine......It was cancelled when Ford found they could just buy up De Tomaso Panteras and sell them.

quote Originally posted by cvxjet: The Mach 2C was supposed to have a 429 Boss engine......It was cancelled when Ford found they could just buy up De Tomaso Panteras and sell them.

Boy, that was gorgeous. What a shame they decided not to produce them.

More photo's

That's some nice pics.....I was searching and found an article on the whole development program; https://performance.ford.co.../mach-2-concept.html

I also have a story about one of the prototypes- Larry Shinoda had followed his boss Bunkie Knudson to Ford from GM- He was not totally happy with GM so he took the Mach 2 prototype over to the GM development garage and burned rubber down the center isle! (I cannot remember where I read this- I used to have a lot of Ford books)

Here is a picture of the (Finished) Mach 2 Protoype;

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 09-14-2021).]

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Mustang IRS 1966, note the trailing and leading links, producing vertical axle movement,
the lower swing-arm and axle making unequal length pivots, producing camber gain in roll.

[This message has been edited by Valkrie9 (edited 01-06-2022).]