Seven of Our All-Time Favorite Mustangs

For nearly 60 years, the Ford Mustang has been a mainstay of the American auto industry and defined the quintessential pony car for generations of drivers. That’s a lot of different models, particularly since the Mustang never took any years off like some other cars out there. (The Camaro and Charger had, and plenty of others ceased production and never returned). And yet, throughout all the changes and decades it has been through, the Mustang has remained an iconic vehicle that stands in a field all its own. As your premier Ford dealer near Columbia, TN, we love the Mustang as much as you do, as well as everything it’s brought to the road over the years.

That being said, there are certainly some years and particular models that stand out more than others. It’s not that there are really any “bad” Mustang models, nor are there ones that we don’t like, but some simply spring to mind as perfect expressions of everything the Mustang can be. With so many changes to the auto industry these days, even the meaning of “Mustang” is different than it once was; there’s an all-electric Mustang Mach-E crossover model, after all. While we cannot say what the future holds for this American classic, we can take a look back at where it’s been and our favorite models from the past six decades.

#7 – 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra

There’s a fair amount of controversy around the Mustang II, which was the second generation that ran from 1974 to 1978. We’re not going to get into that debate because, at the end of the day, much of the criticism was ultimately subjective, and the Mustang II was a product of its time and the Oil Crisis, much like many other vehicles from the 1970s. That being said, the King Cobra that emerged at the end of that generation was certainly something special. To this day, it remains a unique design and iconic aesthetic for the Mustang, with a rear wing, a bulging hood that hinted at the 4.9L V8 lurking beneath it, and a hood graphic that truly marks it as a worthy addition to any favorites list.

#6 – 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R

The third generation of the Mustang ran from 1979 through 1993 and saw numerous facelifts and updates throughout its extensive lifespan. Of all the models that hit the road during that time, the one that stands out the most—and has the greatest lasting legacy, particularly amongst Mustang fans and collectors—is the 1993 SVT Cobra R. While it might lack the stunning hood graphic of our previous mention, this beauty was notable for its 235-hp 5.0L V8 engine that let it go from zero to sixty in just 5.7 seconds. Perhaps even more importantly, however, this marked the first model designed by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT), and it was built to be as equally at home on the street as on the race track.

#5 – 2015 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

The sixth generation of the Mustang launched in the 2015 model year, and it delivered several options, including this beauty: the Shelby GT350. This Mustang features a 5.2L V8 engine that sounds like nothing else on the road—certainly like no other Mustang before (or since). This roaring, howling engine featured a flat-plane crankshaft and a redline above 8,000 RPM, not to mention 526 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque. While its unique sound might not be to every driver’s tastes, we love to see Ford try something different and not be afraid of making a vehicle that stands out in the crowded auto market.

#4 – 2004 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra

Our final “Cobra” on this list, the 2004 SVT Cobra, came in right at the end of the Mustang’s fourth generation and signaled the conclusion of the Fox platform that Ford had used for over two decades. More than that, this beauty was another fantastic entry from Ford’s SVT, and they built it with a monster of a V8 engine tuned to deliver 390 hp. It truly sent the Fox platform out in style by going from zero to sixty in just 4.5 seconds and running the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds. This beast handled beautifully and, perhaps best of all, was available in Mystichrome Clearcoat paint that shifts colors as you move around it from deep greens and blues to a gorgeous purple and even black. Honestly, the paint color alone is reason enough to love this Mustang, but the fact that it also delivered amazing performance truly makes it exceptional.

#3 – 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

The fifth generation of the Mustang ran from 2005 to 2014, but the 2012 model year saw the return of the iconic Boss 302 model, and it lived up to that name’s reputation. Featuring a 5.0L V8 engine that delivers 440 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, this pony can go from zero to sixty in just 4.6 seconds, with a top speed of 146 mph. The original Boss 302 hit the road back in 1969; while this might have come along more than 40 years later, the power and capability of it more than made up for that gap in time. The available Laguna Seca package included a chassis upgrade and boosted performance for superior acceleration, making an amazing Mustang even better.

#2 – 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

We struggled to decide between this model and our next choice for the top spot, and, honestly, our pick would probably depend a lot on the mood we were in on any given day. The reason is that these are both amazing choices and legends in their own right, though for different reasons. Here we have the model that cemented the Mustang’s place in automotive history and ensured it would become a legend right out the gate: the 1965 Mustang Shelby GT350. This beast featured a 4.7L V8 engine that delivered 306 hp and 329 lb-ft of torque with a top speed of 120 mph. Built for performance and raw muscle, the Shelby GT350 featured a rear-seat delete to reduce weight and a large Holley carburetor to help boost performance. No one who drove this car ever forgot it, and the “Mustang” and “Shelby” names would be inseparable for generations of drivers.

#1 – 1964 ½ Ford Mustang

While the Shelby GT350 is the favorite of many of us here at Newton Ford South, it wouldn’t exist without this model—the inaugural entry in the Mustang lineup. The original Ford Mustang was released early for the 1965 model year, which is why it’s often referred to as a 1964 ½ model and blew away all expectations for success. Ford hoped to sell 100,000 of them in the first year; instead, they sold more than triple that amount, becoming an automotive phenomenon. This first model featured a 2.8L I-6 engine that only put out 101 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque—which is a big part of why many of us prefer the Shelby GT350—but there’s no denying the place of honor this classic holds.

Which Mustang Is Your Favorite?

There’s a reason we chose these models as our favorites rather than as the “best” Mustang models; there’s really no such thing as best or worst when it comes to something like the Mustang. We all have our favorites, and we all have reasons for them; for some of us, it was one of the first vehicles we owned, while for others, it was the car they grew up riding in or that a cool uncle had and they always knew a party was going to get wild when he rolled up in his King Cobra. When you look at vehicles like these, with this sort of legacy to them, it’s hard not to get emotional because they mean so much to us and have become part of our lives and families.

But what about you—what’s your favorite? Call or visit us today at Newton Ford South to talk about the Mustang lineup; tell us about the models you loved over the years and what you hope to see from Ford in the generations to come.