Classic Mustangs

The original 1964 1/2 model, as well as the 1965 and 1966 Mustangs offered various engine options, from a 170 CID straight-6 to the hi-po 289 CID small-block. They were available in hardtop, convertible and 2+2 fastback body styles.

The 1964 1/2 through 1966 Mustangs were based on the same body, with only minor trim changes and a few options changing from year to year.

In 1967, a major redesign of the body allowed Ford to shoehorn a big-block 390 CID engine into the Mustang, making it a true muscle car. The high performance 289 small-block was still available, but took a backseat to the new big block. The new design was again available in hardtop, convertible and fastback models.

The 1968 Mustang used the same design, with some trim changes, but a major change in engine options saw the 428 CID big block made available. This engine was officially rated at 335 horsepower, but in reality produced well over 400 HP. This was one of the fastest "production" drag racers available.

In 1969, the body design changed once again and several specialty models were added to the lineup. The most notable of these were the Boss 302 and the Boss 429 - both made purely to satisfy the homologation rules of NASCAR (Boss 429) and Trans-American (Boss 302) racing leagues.

The 1970 model year is again based on the same design as 1969, with some trim changes being the most notable difference.

The final years of the classic Mustangs, 1971 to 1973, saw a significant redesign of the body. This design tends to polarize Mustang fans - some people love it, other hate it.

1971 was the final year of a big-block Mustang, with the 428 Super Cobra Jet. 1972 & 1973 saw a return to small-block only, due in a large part to the strict emissions controls that were now in place.

Between the high cost of gasoline and the high cost of insurance, the era of the muscle car was coming to a close (for a while, at least).

Over the years there were quite a few specialty models of Mustangs. The most well-known is probably the Shelby series of GT-350 and GT-500 cars. Carroll Shelby started modifying the Mustang fastback for racing in 1965 and these modified models were also sold to the public for homologation purposes.

Homologation was necessary in the 1960's because the "stock car" racing leagues required that the cars being raced were actually models that were available to the general public. A certain number of these cars had to be manufactured for public sale in order to qualify for racing.

Homologation rules also led to the Boss 429 (NASCAR) and the Boss 302 (Trans American) in 1969 and 1970.

In 1967, with the redesigned body allowing big-block engines, Shelby released the GT-500 and GT-500KR models which used the bigger engines, but were not actually used for racing (officially at least - plenty of people did race them).

The Shelby Mustangs continued through to 1970, but for the last couple of years they were merely an optional model being sold by Ford, not a street version of a racing car.

There were other specialty models over the years as well. The 1968 California Special and High Country Special models were special trim packages that were added to the standard hardtop and convertible Mustangs.

While not exactly a specialty model that was for sale, the movie Bullitt with Steve McQueen made a green '68 fastback famous. The car chase scene between the Mustang and the Dodge Charger R/T is still one of the most exciting chase sequences even today.

There were plenty of localized special models that various dealers put together as well, such as the Tasca 428 Cobra Jet "King of the Road" model, which was so popular that Ford made it a factory option in 1968.