The car, currently in its 6th generation, has had a long and checkered history. We bring you the best of the Mustang models from all time:
- Ford Mustang Boss 371, 1971
Introduced 6 years after the original Mustang 1964 ½, the Ford Mustang Boss 1971 was part of a series of Boss models. This one was powered by a 351 cubic inch V8 engine to deliver 330 hp and a torque of 370 pounds-feet.
It had an acceleration of 0-60 in 5.8 seconds and a maximum speed of 100.8 mph. This performance still makes it one of the fastest cars of all time. The brakes and suspension were completely overhauled to make it a car designed for high speeds. The only thing critics could complain about was the slightly uncouth elongated bonnet design. But hey, you had to make room for that huge engine! It is pretty long though.
- VT Mustang Cobra R, 1993
Though its looks belied its power, the Ford VT Cobra R ran at 235 hp and 280 pound-feet of torque. It was built to showcase Ford’s new Special Vehicle Team and made track-worthy by cutting out all flab, like backseats, air-conditioning, sound dampeners, and so on. It was available only in red and was a limited edition, selling only 107 models.
It does not look all that special but at the time they impressed some people.
- 2003 Mustang Mach 1
The Mach model followed the SVT Cobra model popular in the 1990s. It was created to cash in on the popularity of the Mach Bulitt, which gained its name after one of the old GT models driven by Steve Macqueen in the film Bulitt.
The 2003 model was powered by a 4.6 litre V8 engine providing 305 hp and 320 pound-feet of torque. Its specialty was an all-aluminum engine from the Windsor Aluminum Plant (WAP), and a unique model of DOHC engine powered by 32 valves. It shared, however, a lot of other features with Ford’s earlier Cobra models. But the mid-range torque and jaw-dropping speed made it a very popular car for racers to own.
- 2007 GT California Special
Not overtly concerned with the international market, Ford’s business strategy has always been to attract home drivers. This is why it keeps coming up with limited edition domestic models, like the California Special model, which started in 1968 after requests from California administrators.
The 2007 edition was a throwback on the 1968 one, with significant upgrades which included a 24 valve V8 engine, 300 hp with 320 pound-feet of torque and a speed of 103 mph. A standard model, it is nonetheless guaranteed to adapt to high speed situations.
- 2013 Mustang Shelby 1000
In 2013, Ford brought out the Shelby 1000 to celebrate its production partner Shelby’s 50th anniversary. The mean beast, which is based on another 2013 GT 500 model, combines a 1,200 hp engine with 631 pound feet of torque. It would also go over 200+ mph. That is much faster than the others on this list. This is the most powerful and fasted Mustang ever assembled.
The car was designed with the track in mind, and the 5.8 L V8 engine was stripped down and upgraded from the original GT 500 to deliver a finely tuned adjustable suspension with an advanced cooling engine, and thus is built for rough environment driving. Even so, its girth and density makes it a smooth car to run on metropolitan roads. The Shelby also looks better than the other cars on this list – by far.
