Back in April 1964 the Ford Mustang revolutionized how cars were sold in North America. Basically a simple rebody of Ford's compact car line, the Mustang coupe, fastback and convertible were marketed aggressively as youthful, fun machines for those born after World War II. The Mustang was a massive hit, an instant legend, and almost universally beloved. In fact, it defined a whole new class of automobile: the pony car. But the Ford Mustang's greatest achievement was yet to come.
Reaching back across all those decades, the Ford Mustang's greatest achievement may well be that it has hewn closely to the original idea and never once left production. Yeah, the 1974-'78 Mustang II came close to a betrayal of the Mustang heritage, but there was still some recognizable DNA there. And Ford put the Mustang back on track in 1979 and hasn't looked back. Nothing, it seems, can stop America's love affair with the Mustang.
Every Ford Mustang ever made has had rear-wheel drive and has been built around a simple unibody structure. Four-cylinder engines were offered in Mustangs between 1974 and 1993, but before and since then the heart of the car has always been sixes and V8s. The sixes are for those who want a fun, spritely car that delivers economy, reliability and some practical utility along with its good looks. The V8 engines are for the enthusiast buyer who wants a Mustang that runs — kicks its tail out around corners and can burn down the rear radials in smoky burnouts that look like Viking funeral pyres. And it's V8 power that has had the Ford Mustang winning races since its inception.
Carroll Shelby has been (off and on) the patron saint of the Ford Mustang. His GT350s brought the car road racing glory in the '60s while his GT500s have earned plaudits both back then and going forward through the 21st century. Fortified and fractured by Shelby, sometimes equipped with engines making much more than 500 horsepower, the Ford Mustang is capable of performing like a supercar without ever losing its friendly character.
If there's one thing the Ford Mustang has been over the years, it's consistent.
