Despite Chevrolet being an iconic American brand, it always had competition. The company behind the Nova produced several excellent vehicles, but their main rival always had something unique in store.
Henry Ford is a person who needs no introduction. A well-known American inventor, visionary, and businessman, he created one of the best car manufacturing companies and pushed vehicle design more than a few steps further.
Even though Ford manufactured many great vehicles, there’s nothing more legendary than the sturdy Ford Mustang. Receiving a starkly positive reception from the get-go is no small feat, and it’s interesting to look at the journey and discuss the history, generations, and models for such an auto.
In the 1960s, Lee Iacocca, vice president, and general manager at Ford, thought of a youth-market sporty car based on the Falcon designs. He pitched the idea, and decision-makers saw the potential. The Mustang was quickly developed on a very tight budget, and Ford introduced the 1965 model to the market in 1964.
The first lineup had a 170-CID straight-six, a 4.3-liter V-8, and the 298-CID with up to 271 horsepower. For the later models, Ford used an enhanced six with 200 CID (3.3 liters), with additional replacements that improved performance.
The next set of changes arrived in 1967. The 390-CID, 6.4-liter V-8 produced 335 hp and displaced the 289. The vehicle grew in length, width, and weight, allowing the manufacturers to install a big-block engine. Additional changes were made to the exterior and interior, while other Mustang models received upgraded engines.
Around 1969, the Mustang got bigger. An increase of 3.8 inches in length and half an inch in height was noticeable. Ford completely dropped the 289 and added a new 351-CID *5.8-liter) V-8 with 250 or 290 hp. Then Mach and Boss were launched as the new homologation models for racing, but there was a dip in sales. It caused the company to do some restyling in response, which, unfortunately, didn’t help the situation.
Two years later, Ford increased the Mustang in size and bulk. They added a buttressed rear window and, as the emission rules became stricter, moved away from muscle cars and reduced engine choices. The six was enlarged to 250 CID (4.1 liters), but the 429 was gone, leaving the 351 as the biggest engine. In 1973 the Mustang weighed about 3,600 pounds, but the sales took a dive again.
As the Mustang grew, Ford received many complaints that the automobile was getting too big. After the last sales decrease, they started to treat it more seriously and introduced Mustang II in 1974. The auto turned into a subcompact based on a stretched Pinto platform, available as a notchback or hatchback. Consumers could choose between the 140-CID (2.3-liter) four-cylinder or a 171-CID (2.8-liter) V-6. Ford marketed the vehicle as an upscale economy car, which was a great choice due to the oil embargo.
After oil started to flow again, big cars were on the rise, and the company made necessary corrections to adapt, tinkering with engine options and exploring future possibilities.
In 1979 Ford started using the Fox platform for Mustangs, still offering the notchback and hatchback styles. The car was now offered with 2.3-liter four-cylinder engines in naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms, 2.8-liter V-6, 3.3-liter I-6, and the 4.9 V-8. There were further engine swaps and increases in performance from 1983 to 1984, and the company even introduced an all-new Mustang SVO with a 2.3T engine capable of 175 hp.
There was even a 1987-1993 period where Ford made Aero-themed Mustangs. During those times, V-6s were dropped entirely, leaving only two models: economy Ford Mustang LX and the flashy V-8 powered FOr Mustang GT. Closer to the end, the company introduced SVT Cobra with a highly-modified 235-hp V-8 and less aggressive styling.
In 1994 the company surveyed the public and found that consumers wanted the comeback of older Mustang iterations. The Fox platform remained but was enlarged, and the vehicles got noticeably bulkier. The suspension was tuned for a smoother ride and good handling. The 4.9-liter V8 returned with 215 hp, and a 3.8-liter V-6 became the new base engine. Around 1999 Ford used the “New Edge” styling, with upgrades to V-6 and 4.6-liter V-8.
Five-gen Ford Mustangs (2005-2014) debuted with a squared-off shape similar to the first models. The Fox platform was ditched, but the automobile had a live rear axle to keep costs down. The base V-6 Mustang used a 4.0-liter V-6 that produced 210 hp, while the 4.6-liter V-8 now could pull off 300 hp.
Mustangs were then upgraded stylistically and started coming with sequential taillights. Ford also enlarged engine selection and included a 3.7-liter V-6 with 305 hp and a 5.0-liter V-8 with 412 hp into the mix.
Around 2015 Ford revised the Mustang again and made a unique 50th-anniversary model. An independent rear suspension became standard equipment, while the autos came with 300-hp V-6 and 435-hp V- engines, along with a 310-hp, 2.3-liter four-cylinder. The V-6, however, was dropped in 2018. Mustangs also became visually different, and the electric crossover 2020 Mustang Mach-E was finally shown.
The Ford Mustang remains a great vehicle. Fast, sturdy, and incredibly powerful, it’s a great choice for those who like things sporty. It offers you various options for picking something suited to your tastes but can sometimes get expensive.
This concludes our set of four articles about popular car models. We hope the information was helpful and we managed to give you an understanding of how these vehicles developed over time.
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