1969 Ford Mustang E "Economy"
1969 Ford Mustang E was a very limited-edition model designed for the Mobilgas Economy Run.
Not familiar with the 1969 Ford Mustang E? No surprise. Reportedly only 96 examples of the E as in Economy model were produced. As the seller explains, this was a special edition produced for the Mustang to compete in the final Mobilgas Economy Run.
Not familiar with the Mobilgas Economy Run? As Dave Hermanson notes in his book, The Mobilgas Economy Run, A History of the Long Distance Fuel Efficiency Competition, 1936-1968, the event, a cross-country rally, was staged for decades “to provide the general public with an impartial and practical road test to determine the mileage potential of American passenger cars under driving conditions experienced in a year’s time by the average motorist.”
Note the word “impartial,” because, as Hermanson chronicles, automakers did all sorts of things to enhance the fuel economy of the cars they entered in the event.
To qualify the Mustang for the compact 6-cylinder class, Ford produced the Mustang E. The car featured the aerodynamic sport roof fastback body, a 250cid (rather than the standard 200cid) inline-6, a C-4 automatic transmission with high-stall torque converter and a 2.33 rear gear. The only visible difference between these and other 6-cylinder Mustangs was an E badge on the rear quarter panel.
