For a long time, there have been a competition between the Ford Motor Company and the Chevrolet division from General Motors. Both companies operated on the same market. Chevrolet launched the Corvair because people wanted a compact and cheap car. Ford responded with the Falcon and this car was sold much better than the Corvair did. Just like the Thunderbird did to the Corvette in the fifties. Then Chevrolet took the Corvair Monza into production, a sporty, compact car and people wanted it. Ford tried to defeat this car with the Falcon Futura, but the Corvair Monza sold considerably better, because the Falcon didn't have the rival's image and caracter. To defeat Chevrolet, Ford needed a brandnew car, a car with a sporty image and sporty actions, a car to be wanted by the young people. And on 13 april 1964 the Mustang was coming up. It was really something special. Therefore this Ford was called "Pony Car". Not bound to rank or class, nearly everyone felt attracted to it. Simply ... for the normal people. The Mustang was advertised as "the car to be designed by you". This payable sports-car was an idea from the young vice-president at Ford, Lee Iacocca. He was asked to bring back the two-seater Thunderbird. In 1962 he build the Mustang I-prototype, a V4 two-seater. However it had to be a four-seater and in 1963 the Mustang II showcar was riding at the American Grand Prix. The car was received passionately and became so popular, the Mustang was taken into production.In order to keep production costs down, many of the Mustang's components were "borrowed" from the Falcon, including most of the drivetrain. In spring 1964 the Mustang was launched at the World Exhibition of New York and ... the Americans bought it ... !!The Mustang was heavily advertised during it's development. In 1964, Ford ran simultaneous commercials on all three major television networks. Immediately, people "attacked" the Ford showrooms. Everyone was in a frenzy to be one of the first to own the Mustang.
The 1964½, as it was later called, was available in only two models: the coupe and convertible. Both models featured a lengthened hood and shortened rear deck, chrome wrap-around bumpers, chrome grille with a running horse, and full wheel covers.
1964-1/2 Mustangs were only available in two body styles: Coupe and Convertible. 1965 Mustangs were now available in three body styles: Coupe, Convertible and the new fastback 2 + 2. 1965 also saw the introduction of the Shelby GT 350, GT, Pony Interior and 289 K High Performance engine.
1966 Mustangs were basically unchanged from the original 1964-1/2 models - and no one seemed to be tired of the world's best selling pony car as over an increbile 549,400 were sold making it the Mustangs best year ever. In 1966, the Mustang captured 6.1% of the total cars sold in the U.S., and 78.2% of the small sports car market.
1967 Mustangs changed a little for the first time. Mustangs were still offered in three body styles: Coupe, Convertible and Fastback 2 + 2. 1967's were both wider and longer, but they were still distinctly Mustang. New for 1967 was the GTA (A for automatic transmission), and the big block 390 GT engine.
1967 also saw the introduction of the Shelby GT 500 (GT 500's used big blocks engines while GT 350's used small block engines). The GT 500 used a 428 Police Interceptor engine with factory dual Holley 4V carburetors.They not only sold well, but were extremely fast. GT 350's were still available for 1967 with the same 289K engines; however, Shelby Mustangs became more of a touring car instead of the road cars of 1965-1966 vintage.
1968 continued with the same body styles with very little differences from the 1967's. On 01 April 1968, Ford did offer the 428 CJ engine option for all models topping off their performance campaign of domination on race tracks all over the country.
1968 Shelby GT 350's and GT 500's used a different front end than the 1967's. The GT 350 now used a 302 instead of a 289K - but GT 350's were available with a factory optional paxton SuperCharger.The GT 500 used the same 428 Police Interceptor - except they used only one Holley 4V carburetor instead of the two used on 1967 models.In mid year, the GT 500 changed names to the GT 500 KR (for King of the Road) and stopped using the 428 PI and used the 428 CJ
1969 Mustangs are considered to be the most aggressive looking models ever made. For one year, the Mustang incorporated quad headlamps with distinct rear fender flares that made the car look fast just standing still.
1969 saw the introduction of the 351 Windsor engine, the Grande, Mach 1 and the Boss 302 / Boss 429 Mustangs.The Boss Mustangs offered uncomprimised performance that has not been reproduced by any auto maker since.
1969 and 1970 Shelby's were available in the GT 350 and GT 500 (Ford dropped the KR off of the GT 500 after the end of the 1968 model year). The GT 500's were still powered by the 428 CJ, but GT 350's were now powered by 351 Windsor engines.1969 saw the end of Shelby production and even though 1970 Shelby's were sold, these cars were actually produced in 1969 and were left over units that were re-titled and sold as 1970 models.
The 1970 Mustang continued on the 1969's theme, and even though the body styles were changed only slightly, the changes made the cars look all together different.
1970 marked the last year of production for both the Boss 302 and Boss 429 models.
For the first time since 1964-1/2, the Mustang had gone through such a design change that it no longer resembled a Mustang.Gone were the Shelby's, Boss 302, Boss 429 and 428 CJ - but the Mustang was now available with the venerable 429 CJ or in a Boss 351 model.
The 1973 Mach-1 would signal the end of the performance era for the Mustang. It would also be the last time an engine larger than 302 cubic inches would be offered until 1995.
1973 also signaled the end of the Mustang convertible. A convertible wouldn't be offered again until 1980.
The Mustang was once again restyled in 1974. The Mustang II was downsized in an attempt to return to the Mustang's original roots, and while it is often ignored by most Mustang clubs, it was one of the best selling Mustangs ever offered.Mustang II's were only available in two body styles: Coupe and Fastback.
The 1975 Cobra II might have only been a graphics tape package, but it sold well and made the Mustang II look like a real performance car. . .even if it only had a 302-2V engine.
Mustang II's were also offered with T-tops as well.
Cobra II models continued to sell very well for Ford.
The most sought after of all Mustang II's are the 1978 King Cobras. King Cobras, like the Cobra II's were just a paint and graphics package but their beauty made up for the 302's lackluster performance.
1979 saw the introduction of another new 'Fox' Mustang design whose body style would last through to 1993. The only two body styles available remained the coupe and fastback - but the Mustang "II" designation was now gone.
1980 saw the return of the convertible for the first time since 1973.1979 saw the return of the Cobra - but it was once again just a tape package Once again, the Mustang was offered in three body styles: Coupe, Convertible and Hatchback.
1983 saw the return of the Mustang GT and the 5.0L. The Borg Warner T5 was
also introduced in 1983.
1983 saw the popularity of the 5.0 convertible start to boost Mustang into a new performance market.Beginning in late 1983, the Mustang SVO was introduced as a 1984 model.
1985 would be the last year for the 302-4V carbureted engine as it was replaced in 1986 with a fuel injected 5.0L
1986 ended the production of the SVO Mustang (Special Vehicle Operations) which began in 1984. The SVO's were powered by a 2.3 turbo charged and intercooled 4 cylinder engine that produced over 200 horsepower.
1987 saw the popularity of the 5.0L fuel injected engine become the preferred choice of street racers around the country.
In 1988, more people were ordering the Mustang LX models with the same 5.0 engine as found in the GT for both a savings in sticker price and weight...which made them a little fster than the gts1993 was the end of the long production run for the 'Fox' Mustang as the body was basically unchanged since 1979. Mustangs equipped with the 5.0 engine remained popular and not only propelled Ford back into the performance segment, it put them into the forefront of it.
1994 saw the introduction of a long awaited new body style that retained the 5.0 302, but with reduced performance - the new model 'SN-95' was an instant hit with Mustang fans and signaled another new era. In 1996, the 4.6 SOHC replaced the 5.0 in the GT while the 4.6 DOHC became standard equipment in Cobra models.
'SN-95' Mustangs were now only offered in two body styles: hardtop and convertible.
The most exotic Mustang since the 1969-1970 Boss 429's are the Cobras which are powered by a 4.6 Quad Cam all aluminum V8. 1999 NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 3, 1998 -- Ford unveiled its 1999 Mustang today, and there's no mistaking the car traces its heritage back to the original Mustang. Jim O'Connor, Ford vice president and Ford Division president,and Janine Bay, Mustang chief program engineer. The '99 Mustang features improved power and performance, dramatic ride and handling characteristics, and notable design enhancements. And for the first time, Mustang offers an optional all-speed traction control system.
1999 Mustang Cobra. Only Cobra models have rear yellow tail-lamp turn signal indicators.
