2022 11 22 CCC Blog Post – Some of our Favourite Ford Mustangs
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2022 11 22 CCC Blog Post – Some of our Favourite Mustangs
Lee Iacocca and the storied vision of Ford Motor Company ensured that the Ford Mustang was released in 1964 for the 1965 model year. Iacocca, who later piloted a turnaround at Chrysler Corporation to ensure his legend in automotive history, had the basic idea of installing a high-powered engine in a smaller car. Not all were convinced in advance of its release but the market response was unprecedented, with over 550,000 units sold for that first model year. The pony car class was created. General Motors with its Camaro and Firebird, then Chrysler with its Challenger and reskinned Barracuda scrambled to catch up.
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2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra Convertible
The Cobra name returned in 2003, for the first time in the SN95 generation, technically still part of the Fox body Mustangs. This car was a product of the Ford SVT division, denoting Special Vehicle Technology. A clean look and lots of power – 390 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque – ensured that this release was popular with the Mustang set. That power figure outdid the same year’s conventional Mustang GT by 50% while using the same displacement (double the valves, however). The growl was available in hatchback or convertible form.
1987 Ford Mustang GT
The Fox body technically ran from the 1979 through 2004 model years. The most impressive Fox bodies are generally considered the 1987 – 1993 examples. The ’87 abandoned the “four-eye” headlight look and moved forward with flush headlights and round fog lights for a striking fascia. The 5.0L V8’s displacement was unchanged but the newer fuel injection set-up was refined to produce 225 horsepower and 300 lb. ft. of torque. High school parking lot dreamers abounded. We prefer the pre-’90 examples particularly because its headrests were more compact than what some call bulky on the ’87, and it was before the equally bulky steering wheel with airbag made its debut on the Mustang (same wheel on almost all Ford models) in 1990.
1965 Ford Mustang GT
The first year – we can’t resist. The American Dream was alive and the pony car was born. The early GTs came with a 289 cubic-inch four-barrel V8 engine which, before emissions controls at the EPA began to choke power output in the early ‘70s, delivered 225 horsepower and 305 lb.-ft. of torque. (Do those figures sound familiar?) For the times, we can’t help but think of California or resist making ours a manual transmission. That in the photo wears custom wheels that suit it but we might just prefer the factory covers.
2022 Ford Mustang GT
Modern comes to Mustang. The 5.0L displacement engine in a Mustang GT is back and the power numbers are more prodigious. Horsepower is rated at 450 while torque is also healthy, at 410 lb.-ft. That horsepower figure is double the ’87 Fox body which was a breakthrough at the time. The engineers have been hard at it, 35 years of innovation and this is what we have. On a value-for-money scale, this Mustang also delivers – but good luck getting one for MSRP. Supply chain challenges continue, dealer mark-ups have been the norm. It’s just one more reason we like used!
What do you think? Got a favourite of your own? Let us know with a comment below. Remember the Comment of the Week wins a CCC ball cap.*
*- to be shipped by CCC to winner, maximum one prize per user per year, Canadian residents only.
1 Comment
#516
I would have to say that maybe a 70 convertible with a 351 Cleveland is far more interesting than pretty much any of the Fox Body cars even though there are some nice one’s. Just saying!
PHOTO CREDITS:
Fox Body – Zero260
SVT – NetCarShow
Fox Body – Zero260
SVT – NetCarShow