On the 17th of April, 2014, the Mustang celebrated fifty years of its existence on this Earth: a feat that few other muscle cars can boast of. As we take a trip down memory lane, take a look at the five models which the world will never forget.
- The Original 1964 Ford
This baby was first manufactured in the year 1964, soon becoming one of the stars of the 1964 Bond classic, Goldfinger (though this is back when the Bond movies were extremely ridiculous and fantastical unlike Casino Royale and Skyfall – two of the best Bond movies of all time). Derived from the Falcon and Fairlane models, it had superior chassis, interior aspects, and suspension engines. It came with a German-made Ford Taunus V8 engine (289 c.u, 4.3 l), full-space front bucket seating arrangements, and rear seating arrangements. It was built from a prototypical T5 model, also known as Fastback 2+2, found instant acclaim from the media, and was championed by Donald F. Frey who built it up in record time.
- Ford Mustang Mach 1
The iconic 1970s shall forever remember the reiteration of Ford’s revamped Mach 1 model, a classic upgrade comprising of V8 351 cubic inch Cleveland engine or a 428 ci Cobra Jet. Automatic transmission, front spoilers, and if not mach 1, then some pretty serious speed thrill made up for a neat little package.
Besides, it came with an upgraded suspension, 4-speed manual/3-speed automatic or manual, dual beam headlights, deep dish sports wheel covers, and more. Of this entire range, the most special edition was undoubtedly the Boss 351, although the Boss 302 comes up close.
- The Shelby Mustang GT350
One of the most well-known of Ford’s classic creations, this 2 door fastback was first seen in the 1967s with fifteen inch rims of cast-iron, chrome front bumpers, and a sexy sleek look overall. The fairly iconic hood scoop today was a revelation, especially because the hood itself was made of fiberglass. It came with a 289 cubic inch, 4.7L Windsor engine where Ford utilized its V8 powers to the fullest. Top speeds generally ranged along 140mph, with power assist and power-steering to make up for an incredible driving experience.
- The 1994 Ford Mustang
This Mustang was Robocop’s sidekick when it cruised along in the 1990s, taking in a fair bit of admiration from different corners. With even the most basic model coming up with a 3.6l engine with V6 cylinders, a fourth generation Mustang could feature supercharged DOHC and 4.6l V8 engines. Holding on to a successful decade-long run, this baby could incorporate a FR layout, 2-door coupe and convertible body style, T-5 manual transmission (5 speed), and tremendous power. One of its popular models was the 94-04 Essex.
- The Shelby Mustang GT500
The GT500, like its cousin GT350, was introduced in the year 1967. With a 3-speed auto and 4-speed manual transmission power option, 427 cu 7.0 L engine, and similar design aesthetics as the GT350, it had a curb weight of over 3,241 lbs. Despite the passenger car engine, it could easily go from 0 to 106 mph in just 13.6 seconds: impressive by ‘60s standards. As for the specs, it had torque around 420 at 3200 (rpm), and horsepower in the region of 355 at 5400 (rpm).
These are the models which still inspire today’s Ford models, and they prove how Ford cars were built for power, performance, and most importantly, durability.