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From its growling engine to its unmistakable body, the Mustang is arguably the most iconic car in U. Spearheaded by the late Lee Iacocca in the early s and entered into America's imagination in , six generations of Mustangs have since rolled off the line in almost as many decades.
Over the years, the brand has had its icons and failures, but one thing has never changed: The Mustang is America's muscle car. It's also the last remaining passenger car made by Ford for North America. Here's a roundup of the best Mustangs of all time, including a new and perhaps controversial pick: The new Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV, which has even sold out of models thanks to unprecedented demand coupled with the ongoing supply-chain crunch. Yes, Ford finally made an all-electric Mustang.
And there are plenty of Mustang purists who aren't happy with the Mach-E — not just because it's electric, but because its SUV-like body is a far cry from the classic muscle car. But like it or hate it, the Mach-E is no slouch, and the Performance Edition can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.
It recently beat out Tesla for Consumer Reports' top pick in electric vehicles, and it was named the Kelley Blue Book EV Best Buy of for its easygoing suspension, lack of road noise, interior layout, and ample legroom. Experts there say it's practical and fun to drive, earning it the moniker the "sports car of SUVs.
Production of the Mach-E will begin later this year. In , the automotive world underwent a revolution that would change the history of American automobiles for the next half-century and beyond.
That year, the Ford Motor Co. The run of the original Mustang lasted less than five months, but its impact would endure through the ages. Legendary Ford executive Lee Iacocca, who died in July at the age of 94, imagined the vehicle — a small and accessible performance car for the everyman — in the wake of the Edsel disaster.
On April 16, , the night before the World's Fair, the company bombarded the airwaves with publicity for Iacocca's creation.
Pioneering automotive designer and engineer Carroll Shelby made his mark on the Mustang brand a couple years before he would perfect the Shelby model with the GT In , Shelby designed a Mustang that was a road car built for racing, and the brand subsequently earned the status of legend in the performance automobile world.
In terms of both style and performance, the Shelby came of age in That's the year that the GT debuted, and Carroll Shelby himself would later reflect on the car as one of his greatest prides. Based on the same engine that the Shelby racing team used to sweep the top three spots at Le Mans, it was the first of its kind to come with a roll bar.
First produced in , this beauty was the brainchild of a Southern California sales manager who headed a group of Golden State Mustang dealers who wanted a car to call their own. The prototype for this classic was given the green light by legendary auto man Lee Iacocca himself. For more fun auto stories, please sign up for our free newsletters. The police thriller "Bullitt" featured Steve McQueen as the lead actor — but the real star of the show was the Mustang he made famous.
There were actually two Mustang Fastback models with modified engines featured in the film, but one was so heavily damaged it was beyond repair. The other would forever be known as the Bullitt , one of the most iconic Mustangs in history, and Mustang would give it several reboots decades after the movie dazzled audiences, including the most recent Bullitt.
In the history of American muscle cars, few names ring out louder than the Boss Its genesis is legendary. To race a car with its new cubic-inch engine in the Trans-Am series, Mustang had to offer a production version of that car. Mustang's new competitor, the Chevy Camaro, had done just that and won the Trans-Am series in Not to be outdone, Mustang responded in kind with this roaring model.
When the world met the Mustang Mach 1 , it fell instantly in love. The grill-heavy beast stayed in production for nearly a decade. Although it offered more performance options than its predecessors, it came standard with a V8 that was capable of generating horsepower. The arrival of the Mach 1 spelled the beginning of the end of the GTs that came before, and it remained nearly unchanged through Like the Boss , the Boss was born out of necessity as it pertains to race series entry rules.
Although it never actually competed in NASCAR, the Mustang with the cubic-inch engine, which could crank out horsepower, did go down in history as one of the greatest street cars ever built. One of the biggest factors in the decline of the Mach 1 was the arrival of the uber-popular Cobra II in The model reflected changing times in the automotive world.
The original Mustang pony cars had been phased out in , which contributed to the decline of the Mustang brand during the rise of Mustang's second-generation line.
To stoke a resurgence, and in reaction to energy insecurity in the era of the oil embargo, Ford unleashed the Cobra II, which not only was reminiscent of the early GTs, but also guzzled less gas than its predecessors. In , the Mustang was honored as the official pace car for the 63rd Indianapolis A longtime favorite among drivers and collectors, it remains a cult classic in Mustang world. The original prototypes for the Ford Mustang SVO were built in under the direction of a collection of gurus from the racing world known as Special Vehicles Operation.
Since Ford was interested in launching Mustangs as competition vehicles once again, the SVO was built with a focus on handling, thanks to big wheels, big brakes, and advanced struts and shocks. The Cobra is a survivor, and different models of snakes slithered their way through the s, '80s and into the '90s. But it wasn't until that the Cobra reemerged as a pony car. Built under the direction of Ford's Special Vehicle Team, the division that bears the '93 Cobra's acronym, the SVT Cobra was powerful and limited, built in small quantities that were consumed mostly by racers and collectors.
It earned its nickname and its place in history from its raw power and impressive muscle. Its horsepower engine actually tested at The Terminator's engine is among the most powerful in Mustang history, and one of the toughest ever to appear in a mainstream car.
Mustang is known for breathing life into old favorites, and that's what happened in when Ford introduced a new, and some would argue improved, Boss There was actually a model that incorporated the same engine, but the model featured a host of amazing cosmetic upgrades, not the least of which were reflective racing stripes and a new paint finish.
Thanks to the arrival of giant Hellcat engines, the model is not the biggest, meanest muscle car on the block — but it's close. The beast puts out an impressive horsepower. Some Texas school districts to require clear backpacks in wake of Uvalde shooting. US Fed announces biggest interest rate hike since Ad Microsoft. Have Excellent Credit? These Cards Are for You. Full screen. Horse Power From its growling engine to its unmistakable body, the Mustang is arguably the most iconic car in U.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Mach-E Yes, Ford finally made an all-electric Mustang. The Original In , the automotive world underwent a revolution that would change the history of American automobiles for the next half-century and beyond. Shelby GT Pioneering automotive designer and engineer Carroll Shelby made his mark on the Mustang brand a couple years before he would perfect the Shelby model with the GT Slideshow continues on the next slide.
Shelby GT In terms of both style and performance, the Shelby came of age in The Bullitt The police thriller "Bullitt" featured Steve McQueen as the lead actor — but the real star of the show was the Mustang he made famous. Boss In the history of American muscle cars, few names ring out louder than the Boss Mach 1 When the world met the Mustang Mach 1 , it fell instantly in love. Boss Like the Boss , the Boss was born out of necessity as it pertains to race series entry rules.
SVT Cobra The Cobra is a survivor, and different models of snakes slithered their way through the s, '80s and into the '90s. Found the story interesting? Like us on Facebook to see similar stories. I'm already a fan, don't show this again. Send MSN Feedback. How can we improve? Please give an overall site rating:. Privacy Statement. Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window.
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