Ford has produced the Mustang since 1964, making it their longest-produced car nameplate. It’s a beloved pony car that’s produced countless celebrated models, but these 19 stand apart with their greatness.
1964 Ford Mustang GT
The 1964 Ford Mustang is a beloved classic car. It is famous among Mustang fans for introducing the “GT Equipment Package.” This package included a V-8 engine that enhanced the car’s performance, disc brakes, grille-mounted fog lamps, and rocker-panel stripes.
1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR
The 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR earned its name as the “King of the Road” with its powerful 428 Cobra Jet V-8 engine. Its unique styling featured a functional hood scoop, which delivered fresh air to the engine. Car and Driver argued that it “was the ultimate Ford pony car, sporting a big bad V-8 and scoops and spoilers aplenty.”
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429
Ford produced only 1,359 units of this rare muscle car, making it a collector’s piece for Mustang enthusiasts. It allowed Ford to use its 429 cubic inch V-8 engine for NASCAR racing in the Grand National Division.
1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
This pony car produced by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) was the top-of-the-line Mustang. It was launched during the 1992 Chicago Auto Show and gained attention for its upgraded 4.9L 5.0 V-8 engine, which could complete a quarter mile in 14.5 seconds at a trap speed of 98 mph.
2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R
The 2000 SVT Cobra R was a high-performance Mustang variant known for its 5.4L V-8 engine. It was stripped down for weight reduction to enhance its track performance and had a limited production of 300 units, making it an incredibly rare and expensive car today.
2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT50030
Ford’s 2007 collaborative effort with Carroll Shelby was introduced in 2005 at New York’s International Auto Show and was assembled at Ford’s Flat Rock, Michigan, AutoAlliance facility. It featured a supercharged 5.4L V-8 engine that produced over 500 horsepower, and Car and Driver argued that it delivered “enough compliance to make everyday driving a pleasure rather than a punishment.”
2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302
In 2012, the legendary Boss 302 nameplate was revived by enhancing the standard 2011 Ford Mustang GT’s 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 engine. The new 302 featured CNC ported heads, revised camshafts, and a forged crankshaft and produced 444 horsepower, 32 more than the standard GT.
2015 Ford Mustang GT
The 2015 Ford Mustang GT introduced an independent rear suspension featuring a 5.0L V-8 engine with significant power improvements. It was celebrated for its modern design and advanced technological features for the time.
2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
Autoweek praised the 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 as a “nearly perfect” pony car with a ride/handling balance that was “about perfect.” It was noted for its high-revving 5.2L Voodoo V-8 engine and for balancing power and precision.
2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
The 2020 Shelby GT500 was the most powerful street-legal Ford with a 760 horsepower supercharged V-8. Its advanced aerodynamics and performance technologies set new standards for Mustang performance.
1966 Hertz “Rent-A-Racer” Shelby GT350H
This special edition Shelby GT350H allowed Hertz Sport Club members over 25 years old to rent a 306-horsepower Mustang. At just $17 per day and 17 cents per mile, it was a bargain at the time, and it’s popular among collectors today due to its unique history.
1967 Ford Mustang Fastback
The 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback is remembered for featuring in the classic Steve McQueen movie Bullitt. Its iconic Highland Green color in the film has made it a highly sought-after collectible today.
1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1
The Ford Mustang Mach 1 is celebrated for its aggressive design, which includes spoilers and dual hood scoops that were functional when purchased with Ram Air. Classic Driver notes, “Sean Connery slid a red 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 through the streets of Las Vegas while evading the local police” in Diamonds Are Forever.
1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 429 Super Cobra Jet
The 1971 Mach 1 429 Super Cobra Jet had a distinctive, larger body style that was popular during the early ’70s. Mustang fans praised it for its straight-line speed and muscle car aesthetics, and today, it’s a sought-after car for collectors.
1995 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R
The 1995 SVT Cobra R was a limited-production track-focused model stripped of non-essential features to reduce weight. It featured a 5.8L V-8 engine that offered significant performance upgrades over older models.
2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca
This special edition Mustang was named after the famous Laguna Seca raceway in central California. A total of 750 units were produced, and they came with Recaro sports seats, revised suspension tuning, and a larger rear stabilizer.
1984 Ford Mustang SVO
Fewer than 10,000 units of this spin on the third generation of Mustang were produced. Racing enthusiasts celebrated it for its turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four engine, advanced suspension, and braking systems. In October 1983, Car and Driver argued, “One quick walk around the Mustang SVO will convince you that it looks the part of a purposeful road car” and that it had “the most tasteful interior ever sewn into a Mustang.”
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet
The 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 428 featured a powerful 428 Cobra Jet engine and was recognized for its aggressive styling and performance. The 1969 model cemented the Mach 1 as a premier American muscle car.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
The 2021 Mach-E was Ford’s first all-electric Mustang. It combines classic performance with modern electric technology and was praised for pioneering Mustang’s transition into sustainable performance vehicles.
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