Father & Son Bond Over Arizona’s Backroads in a 1969 Mach 1
In the family for 15 years, Mach 1 rolls over the desert roads with a 351 Windsor under the hood, gold steelies on the corners.
What’s better than driving a Mustang around? Maybe driving one in the desert, taking in the mountains and sand around you. What’s better than doing so alone, though? Driving a Mustang with a loved one.
Such is the case for Keith and Sean McLaine. The father-son duo call Arizona home, where they cruise the desert roads in a 1969 Mach 1 Keith purchased 15 years ago. Hagerty has their story.
“I’ve always been into cars, and this one fits me well,” says Keith, “and it’s fun to drive. It’s a 1969 Mach 1. I’ve always wanted a fastback. We’ve had it for 15 years or so.”
Under the hood of his Mach 1 is a 351 Windsor, which has been rebuilt but remains “basically stock.” There’s a new exhaust system attached to it, as well as a Tremec five-speed to replace the FMX three-speed auto it originally had, and the car’s suspension was given a Shelby drop to bring it closer to earth.
“One of the cars that I really liked and I thought was cool was the Mickey Thompson cars that broke some speed records and some endurance records at Bonneville,” said Keith, “and they had gold steelies on it, and they were kinda lowered, and I really liked that look.”
“I always saw it in the garage, and it was always a little bit mysterious,” said Sean. “Now, since I’m able to drive it, it’s kind of like a whole new meaning to me. It symbolizes time that my dad and I have together.”
Keith adds that his son has been in the Mach 1 since he was “two or three years old,” and feels comfortable throwing Sean the keys to it now and again, one of the few people he trusts driving his car.
“We’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember,” said Sean, “but it’s been relatively recently that I’ve been able to kind of share in the driving part, too, which makes it all the more special.”
Keith adds that he enjoys going out on the road with his son or his friends, exploring every bit of Arizona he can in the Mach 1. Strengthening bonds between others is what Mustangs are best at doing, after all.
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