The BEST Mustang of Every Generation

Intro

The Ford Mustang is an iconic American performance car that has been with us for 60 years. 2024 began the seventh generation of the beloved pony car. Over the course of time there have been a series of ups and downs with the Mustang. There have been some incredible models that many of us would drool over. And there have been some forgettable models as well. Today we are focusing on the highlights. We selected the best Mustang from each generation. That is a lot tougher than it sounds. There are so many worthy contenders, how could we choose just one as the best? We used a mix of hard numbers and gut feel. Do you agree with our choices? Would you make different selections? Let us know what you would pick and why.

Image: Ford

1. First Generation (1965 – 1973) – 1965 Mustang Shelby GT 350

This is where it all started. Yes, we know technically it was 1964 ½ but we are rounding up to 1965. From 1965 until 1973 Ford cranked out some incredible Mustangs. There was the GT 500, GT 500KR, the Boss 302 and so much more. All were wonderful. But our favorite is the original 1965 GT 350. 513 of these fastback cars were built and they were all painted in Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue rocker panel stripes. But we love this car for more than its looks. The 289 V8 engine got a revised intake manifold and headers that help it put out 306 horsepower. It also received larger rear drum brakes and disc brakes up front. It was the start of a series of fantastic Mustang Shelby cars.

Image: Ford

2. Second Generation (1974 – 1978) – 1978 Mustang II King Cobra

The second generation of Ford Mustangs was the shortest generation to date. And most Mustang fans are probably ok with that. This was a transitional period for the car as it faced tougher emission standards. These “Mustang II” cars actually sold quite well at the start but then sales quickly diminished. However, before the generation would close we got the 1978 King Cobra. Pontiac Trans Am sales soared after the 1977 film Smoky and the Bandit. Ford wanted a piece of that action and gave us the King Cobra complete with a T Top roof, front spoiler, fake hood scoop, and of course graphics that look like they were taken right off the Trans Am. It looked the part but the V8 engine made just 139 horsepower. Fun fact, the Mustang II King Cobra was the first Mustang to ever wear a “5.0” badge.

Image: Ford

3. Third Generation (1979 – 1993) – 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra R

The second generation Mustang was the shortest but the third generation was the longest. This is of course the fox body era, and it was not easy to pick a favorite here. There are too many iconic fox bodies to count. But we had to pick a winner, so we went with the 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra R. Under the hood you will find a 5.0L V8 that puts out 235 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. That is enough grunt to push the car to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds.

But the whoa is as impressive as the go in this Mustang. The brakes were upgraded to massive 13-inch Kelsey-Hayes vented discs up front and 10.5-inch vented discs for the rear. To save weight many power options were removed from the SVT Cobra R. Manual door locks, rollup windows, and manual adjusting side view mirrors were part of the package. The air conditioner, fog lights, rear seats, and more were also removed to save weight. Only 107 of these were ever built, and they are highly sought after. When this example sold a few years ago at Barrett-Jackson for $132,000 it was the most expensive fox body ever sold.

Image: Barrett-Jackson

4. Fourth Generation (1994 – 2004) – 2003 SVT Cobra “Terminator”

We didn’t want to name a Cobra model as our favorite for two generations in a row. However, the 2003 – 2004 SVT Cobra “Terminator” is just too good to leave off the list. The Ford SVT folks pulled out all the stops for this one. The 4.6L V8 got help from an Eaton supercharger. Ford officially rated it at 390 horsepower, but dyno numbers show that the actual output is closer to 430 horsepower. All this power is controlled via a 6-speed transmission.  Helping you carve up corners is an independent suspension and helping you stop are Brembo brake discs all around. This car could hit 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. That is a respectable number in 2024 let alone 2003.

Image: Ford

5. Fifth Generation (2005 – 2014) – 2013 Mustang Shelby GT 500

This was probably the most difficult generation to select a winner for. There are so many incredible Mustangs built from 2005 through 2014 that naming a single favorite is a tall order. We thought about the Boss 302 Laguna Seca, the Shelby GT-H, the Bullitt and many others. But at the end of the day we could not say no to 662 horsepower. That is more than a 2013 Corvette ZR1, a 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo, and even more than a 2013 Ferrari 458 Italia. When new, the GT 500 cost less than $60,000 yet could hit 60 in about 3.5 seconds and just kiss 200 mph on the top end. The price to performance ratio of this machine is off the charts.

Image: Ford

6. Sixth Generation (2015 – 2023) – 2020 Mustang Shelby GT 350R Heritage Edition

Our favorite first generation Mustang is the 1965 Shelby GT 350. So, it should not come as a surprise that for the sixth generation we pick the one car that pays tribute to the very car. The 2020 Heritage Edition cars come painted in Wimbledon White paint with Guardsman Blue side and over-the-top racing stripes. And a 2020 GT 350R is one heck of a machine to start with. A glorious sounding flat-plane crank V8 engine makes 526 horsepower. That is a lot, but this car is not just about horsepower. It is about handling and this baby can handle. The 350R is a track weapon. It rides on sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires wrapped around carbon fiber wheels. The rear seats are ditched to reduce weight. This is a very special car that will be sought after by collectors for years to come.

Image: Ford

7. Seventh Generation (2024+) – 2024 Mustang Dark Horse Premium

The S650 Mustang generation has just started, and we are thrilled to report that Ford is still delivering us V8-powered sports cars with manual transmissions. The top dog is the Dark Horse Premium. Not counting of course, the $300K+ GTD that is in such a completely different class that it is unfair to lump it in with any other Mustang. But for a fraction of the price the Dark Horse will deliver plenty of Mustang thrills. The Coyote V8 is good for 500 horsepower. Massive Brembo brakes help slow you down and if you opt for the Handling Package you get 305/30R19 (front) 315/30R19 (rear) gumballs to keep you on the road or track. Buy one of these now while you still can. It won’t be long before the days of the Dark Horse are remembered as the good old days.

Image: Ford