Ford Mustang - Every Generation
Every Generation of this Iconic Model In One Place
Since its debut in the 1960s, the Mustang has symbolized America's love of fast cars and the open road. All of this for an affordable price that is made for the everyday American. Mustang have appealed to people of all ages and genders for since the very beginning when the juggernaut all began. The Ford Mustang was named not for horses, as one might expect, but for World War II fighter jets. The first official unveiling of the production Mustang was in New York on April 17, 1964, at the World's Fair. This was not the first glimpse of the Mustang, however, as two concept cars were shown in advance. The first showing came in 1962 and the second in 1963, only four months before the World's Fair debut. The grand unveiling of the two-seat "pony" car was made by Henry Ford II, and that same day, at Ford showrooms nationwide, consumers were able to view and even purchase one of the new cars for themselves. In fact, 22,000 were sold that day, more than 100,000 in the shortened first year, and as many as 500,000 in 1965. The interest in and demand for the car was partially due to the interest created by major media outlets.
Mustang Generations
Below we have an outline about every Mustang generation from the very first Mustang all the way to the current seventh generation.
1st Generation Mustang (1964.5-1973)
"An American Icon Is Born"
On Friday, April 17th, 1964, the world was forever changed with the introduction of an all-new breed of sports car. The Ford Mustang arrived in Dearborn, Michigan and created a pandemonium unlike anything seen by the Ford Motor Company prior to its introduction. Demand for the Ford Mustang almost instantaneously overwhelmed the company’s ability to produce the incredibly popular automobile. Feuds to purchase the car were common and created an incredible amount of hype that only further escalated the demand for this iconic sports car. The first Mustangs were made so they could be sold at an extremely low cost. In fact, the list price of the Mustang released in 1964 was as low as $2,368 for a standard coupe. To accomplish this, components from a relatively small car already in production, the Ford Falcon, were used.
2nd Generation Mustang (1974-1978)
"The Mustang II"
The second-generation Mustang, called the Mustang II, was based on the Ford Pinto. It bore little resemblance to the first generation. Released for the 1974 model year, it was lighter, by nearly 500 pounds, and smaller, with a four-cylinder engine to help counter rising gas prices. In addition, production of convertibles came to an end. In 1975, a Ford Mustang II was released with a 302-cubic-inch V8 engine, followed by the new Cobra II package the next model year. The Ford Mustang II with the Cobra II package featured front and rear spoilers, a hood scoop, and body stripes down the center for a sporty appearance. Despite the downsizing, the Mustang II was highly anticipated by American consumers due to the market's desire for smaller vehicles. The Mustang II sold quite successfully and was awarded Motor Trend's Car of the Year in 1974.
3rd Generation Mustang (1979-1993)
"Welcome to the Famous Foxbody"
The third generation of Mustang was built on the Fox platform which was used extensively by Ford on its midsize cars. Initially, Ford executives wanted to transform the Mustang into a front-wheel drive vehicle to go with the current trends of the time, but fans wanted the Mustang to stay as a rear-wheel drive and ultimate won. The Foxbody Mustang offered a variety of engines during its run, including an inline-four, an inline-six, a V6 and a V8. Four or five-speed manuals were standard as well as three or four-speed automatics. The appearance of this Mustang took on a more modern look with less heft than the earlier generations. The front end was unspectacular with large rectangle style headlights. In 1980, a hardtop was released for a convertible feel, but in 1983, after a nine-year absence, the convertible Mustang made a comeback. One of the most notable models introduced in the third generation of Mustangs was the Special Vehicle Team (SVT) Cobra, a special-edition Mustang released in 1993.
4th Generation Mustang (1994-2004)
"Mustang Returns To Its Roots"
A major redesign was in the works for the fourth generation of Mustang and the classic Mustang styling was back in a big way. Features like the traditional pony grill emblem and side scoops made a comeback. Even though it was still built on an updated Fox platform, the Mustang was called SN-95 by Ford. The base Mustang in 1994 through 1998 offered a 3.8-liter V6 and a five-speed manual transmission. A four-speed automatic transmission was optional. The Mustang GT boosted performance with a 5.0-liter small-block V8. The Cobra R got an update and limited re-release in 1995 and in 2000, an updated Cobra R was released. It featured a 5.4-liter V8 engine with 385 horsepower and five-spoke alloy wheels. Also during the fourth generation of the Mustang, Ford introduced its more conventional models in a variety of striking colors, such as bright yellow, bright green, purple, and metallic hues. Inspired by the 1968 film Bullitt featuring Steve McQueen and the 1968 Mustang GT, Ford released the Bullitt GT in 2001.
5th Generation Mustang (2005-2014)
"Muscle Car Performance Is Back"
The fifth generation Mustang committed even more to the retro styling of earlier models with a truly muscular look. The front grille and headlight placement highly resembled the earliest Mustang models. For the first half of this generation, the Mustang featured a 4.0-liter V6, a 4.6-liter V8 or a 5.4-liter supercharged V8. Transmissions included a five or six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. The second half of this generation saw a reworked design for better aerodynamics, though it looked ostensibly the same save for some other cosmetic details such as a redesigned emblem and headlight placement. A 5.8 liter V8 became the biggest engine offered, and a six-speed automatic transmission was introduced as well. The GT-500 came with a 500-horsepower engine, and the limited-edition GT500KR offered a 5.4-liter engine with 540 horsepower. The 2010 model year came with an optional Track Pack performance package. A new Shelby GT350 made its way on the streets in the 2016 model year.
6th Generation Mustang (2015-2023)
"The Sophisticated Mustang Arrives"
The current generation of Mustang departed from the previous two generations in a few ways. It now has a fully independent rear suspension, and the exterior design was adjusted to a more futuristic, European look versus the earlier retro-oriented style. The design update was a nod to the fact that this generation is the first Mustang to be sold globally. Four main engines became available on this version, including a 310-horsepower, 2.3 liter EcoBoost turbocharged inline-four, a 300-horsepower, 3.7-liter Cyclone V6 through 2017, a 435-horsepower, 5.0-liter Coyote V8 and a 5.2-liter Voodoo V8. A six-speed manual transmission was standard, and a six-speed automatic was offered through 2017 before a 10-speed automatic took its place in 2018. Also in 2018, the base 3.7-liter V6 was dropped from the lineup and the EcoBoost turbo four became the base engine. Each new year brings more sophistication and overall sports car performance. The Mustang is finally a true competitor to European exotica.
7th Generation Mustang (2024 - )
"Redefines Driving Freedom"
Ford launched the seventh generation Mustang sports car with reworked-but-familiar styling, revised chassis hardware, an all-new interior, and two improved powertrains. The new-gen car will continue to be powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 and an updated turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, though Ford hasn’t told us how many horses are present in either powertrain—only that there will be more of them than before. Both a six-speed manual and a 10-speed automatic will be available depending upon engine choice. The Mustang will continue to be offered in both hardtop coupe and soft top convertible bodystyles. The Mustang’s rethought cockpit includes an available 13.2-inch display that’s part of a large curved screen that extends over the center stack area. The system also replaces traditional knobs for climate and radio control with touchscreen “buttons.” Sales of the new pony car should begin sometime during summer, 2023.