Like a firework on the 4th of July, few things are as American as a Ford Mustang. Since its introduction, the Mustang has stood as the backbone of American style and performance. Just as each decade has changed the culture of the United States, the Mustang has changed in meaningful ways even early on in its life, quickly becoming the muscle car it was never originally meant to be.
Fast-forward to the present day, and we now have fully track-capable Mustangs proving to be extraordinarily competitive in their class. The Mustang may have evolved into a full-on sports car, but here are some of the Mustangs we adore most.
10 The 1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt
Another famous movie icon is the 1968 Mustang from the Movie Bullitt starring Steve McQueen. Here the green Mustang can be seen chasing baddies in a Dodge Charger, ravaging the streets of San Francisco. For this chase scene alone, the "Bullitt" Mustang has remained an extremely popular one, showing up as multiple variants in Ford's Mustang lineup over the decades.
9 The 1967 Ford Mustang GT500
Shelby’s GT500 variant of the Ford Mustang was equipped with a more powerful 428 cubic inch engine that put out an additional 50 horses under the hood compared to the GT350 of the time. With 355 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, the GT500 was a healthy step up in power while offering a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic. GT500 was also equipped with a roll bar. The GT500 was a car made to be excessive, only to be succeeded by the GT500KR or “King of the Road.” This variant featured a 428 Cobra Jet V-8 with various reworked engine components bringing output past 400 horsepower.
8 Gone In 60 Second's Infamous Eleanor
One of the most replicated movie Mustangs is from “Gone in 60 Seconds,” the 2000 remake of the 1974 car heist thriller where "Eleanor" appeared as the halo car. As the most desirable of all, Eleanor was the most elusive specialty vehicle on the list of cars to highjack. Culturally, many Mustangs can be seen at car shows replicating the famous 1967 GT500 movie car with the signature tan color, black racing stripes, and deep wheels, giving a wide and low-but-planted stance to the Eleanor GT500.
7 The 1965 Shelby GT350
The GT350 was Carroll Shelby’s answer to Ford when asked if the car could be made to be more of a sports car and less of a commuter. The GT350 featured an uprated horsepower figure of 306 due to a revised intake. Beefier brakes were added, as were high-speed rated tires along with partly magnesium wheels. The rear seats were removed to fit a full-size spare tire allowing the GT350 to go racing and comply with SCCA rules. Later Shelby made a deal with Hertz, and 1001 GT350H designated cars were built for the “Rent-A-Racer” program. The cars were then sold off to customers as they left the rental fleet.
6 The 1969 Mach 1
Building upon the success of high-horsepower Mustangs in the 1960s, Ford decided to release their own version rivaling that of the Shelby GT350 and GT500. The Mach 1 came standard with a 351 cubic inch V-8 and a 3-speed manual. Various upgrades were available including an uprated 351, 390, and finally a 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet V-8 with a 4-speed manual. Along with more powerful engines came stiffer suspension and thicker sway bars. Perhaps the most recognizable feature of the Mustang Mach 1 was the “Shaker Hood,” which consisted of a functional air scoop that directed air into the engine intake. The Mach 1 was sold well into the 1970s and even rendered the GT model unsellable for a period.
5 The 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R
More wing, please! The 2000 SVT Cobra R took the standard Cobra and added a slick side exit exhaust, tall rear wing, front splitter, and proper Recaro racing bucket seats. Additionally, the R-badged Cobra meant light-weighting measures were taken to make the most of its already punchy 385 horsepower. The wildest of the “Terminator” generation Mustangs was the SVT Cobra R.
4 The 1987 Mustang Foxbody 5.0
Perhaps the most popular “5.0” Mustang, the Foxbody Mustang 5.0 GT still stands as a wildly popular way to obtain 5.0-liter status for a reasonable amount of money. Modified Foxbody Mustangs are often found at drag strips running unbelievably powerful engines making the boxy 80s muscle car fly down the track. The Foxbody Mustangs just have a “cool” about them that seems to resonate with the Mustang community.
3 The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302
A muscle car with a “surround sound” exhaust. That’s how the 2012 Boss 302 was marketed. The beefed-up 5.0 mustang was aimed at slightly better handling and providing an astounding aural experience by adding small exhaust outlets that exit right below the driver and passenger, giving occupants the very best of the 5.0 coyote V-8. With a unique intake setup and higher horsepower, the 2012 Boss 302 was a force to be reckoned with.
2 The 2016 Ford Mustang GT350
An instant classic, even upon its launch in 2015, the GT350 proved to be and will remain one of the most desirable Mustangs ever to be built. With its flat-plane crank V-8, the GT350 brought a European flair to the Mustang that the world has never seen. A factory Mustang with a redline of over 8,000 RPM and an engine that shares characteristics with Ferrari V-8s were elements that the world never thought they would see from the humble American muscle car. This, combined with the S550 generation’s independent rear suspension, was the car that solidified the Mustang’s place as not only a muscle car but an all-out sports car.
1 The 1984 Ford Mustang SVO
A Mustang with a 4-cylinder? Yes, and what a 4-cylinder it was for the time. A turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four that produced 175 horsepower initially and uprated to 205 horsepower not much later meant this lighter, more tech-oriented Mustang was one of the most competitive 4-cylinders of its time. It handled better and braked harder than its V-8 GT counterpart. The SVO had a variable output selector based on fuel giving drivers more options to fine-tune the way they used the SVO. Ultimately enthusiasts still preferred the V-8-powered Mustangs despite the SVO’s performance advantages.