The Ford Mustang is a car that needs little introduction. Few cars have captured the zeitgeist quite as well as the original, which was launched all the way back in 1964. It became such an instant hit that one Manhattan diner was rumoured to have hung a sign in its window that read “Our hot cakes are selling like Mustangs!” It was powerful, it was handsome, and it was affordable.
It’s never been out of production since, with successive updates keeping the Mustang fresh, and it’s stayed true to that original recipe, although some generations have done so with greater success than others. It's been a worthy rival for other top muscle cars, like the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger.
But it wasn't until 2015 that the Mustang was officially imported into the UK, in sixth-generation form.
However, many earlier models have been privately imported by enthusiasts, with the result that you can buy any age of Mustang you want in the UK, from classic 1960s models right through the boxier “Fox body” cars of the 1980s and the retro-styled fifth-generation introduced in 2005.
While it’s never been able to match its European or Japanese rivals in terms of dynamic prowess, that hasn’t mattered to Mustang buyers. At heart, this is a muscle car, after all; easy, affordable power is what the Mustang’s all about. That, and looking good.
Generations: 6
- Ford Mustang mk6 (S550) (2015-present)
- Ford Mustang mk5 (S197) (2005-2014)
- Ford Mustang mk4 (SN95) (1994-2005)
- Ford Mustang mk3 (“Fox Body”) (1979-1993)
- Ford Mustang mk2 (“Mustang II”) (1974-1978)
- Ford Mustang mk1 (1964-1973)
Ford Mustang mk6 (S550) (2015-present)
Bodystyles:
- Two-door coupe
- Two-door convertible
Notable features:
- First Mustang to be officially imported into Britain
- Independent rear suspension replaced old-fashioned live axle
- Four-cylinder turbo engine fitted to entry-level model
- Most powerful production Mustang – the Shelby GT500 – produced 760bhp
Where revolution (or rather, revisitation) had been the hallmark of the fifth-generation Mustang, its replacement favoured evolution instead, taking the same retro-inspired looks and updating them to keep them fresh.
Beneath the skin, though, it was all change, as the Mustang finally got a more modern independent rear suspension setup, which vastly improved its handling. The entry-level V6 was gone, too, replaced by the first four-cylinder engine to power a Mustang since 1993; although given the 2.3-litre Ecoboost was the same that featured in the Focus RS hot hatchback, it was a good deal more powerful.
However, good as the Mustang Ecoboost is, the high-performance 5.0-litre V8 engine is still the powertrain to have; in the Mustang GT models it produced more than 400bhp. Ford released ever-more bonkers upgrades, which topped out with the ballistic supercharged Shelby GT500, which has 760bhp and big Brembo brakes. Other special editions included the Mustang Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R.
Old-school fans will prefer the Mustang's six-speed manual transmission, although in 2018, Ford introduced a much more modern 10-speed automatic. Couple that with modern features like a Sync 3 infotainment system, complete with Apple CarPlay, and you've got a retro-inspired Mustang that's firmly in the 2020s.
Read our expert review of the Ford Mustang mk6 or search for a used Mustang mk6 on CarGurus
Ford Mustang mk5 (S197) (2005-2014)
Bodystyles:
- Two-door coupe
- Two-door convertible
Notable features:
- All-new retro styling harked back to 1964 original
- Upgraded V6 engine for entry-level model
- Retro-inspired special editions added power and equipment
- Updated in 2010 with slimmer headlights and taillights
A new 2005 model brought a huge shift for the Mustang. Until then, its design had evolved with each new iteration; for the fifth-generation model though, Ford went back to the start, aping Mustangs of old with the backward-raked nose, fastback profile and stubby tail.
Who can blame them when the result looked this good? The Mustang, which had started to feel rather staid, suddenly had a new lease of life. It was met with widespread approval, though many felt the old-fashioned suspension setup was unbecoming of a modern sports car.
Buyers didn’t seem to mind though, and lapped up special edition after special edition, many of which harked back to the Mustang’s heyday, boasting more horsepower, shouty graphics and lurid paint schemes. These special editions included the Boss, the Ford Mustang Bullitt, the Ford Mustang Mach 1 and the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.
Ford Mustang mk4 (SN95) (1994-2005)
Bodystyles:
- Two-door coupe
- Two-door convertible
Notable features:
- New, more aerodynamic look meant Mustang now looked more modern
- Updated in 1999 with sharper-edged styling
- Four-cylinder engine ditched from range, leaving V6 as entry-level option
- “Fastback” body style carried over, but hatchback tail axed in favour of conventional boot opening
With fuel in the early '90s super-cheap across America, there was no longer a need for an entry-level, high-MPG, four-cylinder engine – so from 1994, the only Mustangs you could buy had V-engines.
But that wasn’t the only change. Under the skin, the Mustang was still based on a modified version of the third-generation Fox platform, but now there was all-new suspension to improve handling, and for the 1996 model year, a new V8 engine, replacing the old 4.9-litre that had its roots way back in 1968. There was a new, sleek body – the epitome of the smooth, curvy aerodynamic style that was all the rage at the time – and a new, much fresher interior, too.
This Mustang handled and rode better than any that had gone before, but very soon the aero-look fad started to wane, and the Mustang’s styling started to look dated. So in 1999, Ford released an updated version, with slightly edgier styling and more power.
The hottest Mustangs of all, as before, were the SVT Cobras. They were rated in 1999 at 320bhp, but uprated for 2003 and 2004 to a whopping 390bhp courtesy of a supercharger.
Ford Mustang mk3 (“Fox Body”) (1979-1993)
Bodystyles:
- Three-door coupe
- Two-door coupe
- Two-door convertible
Notable features:
- Longest-lived Mustang thanks to comprehensive mid-life facelift in 1987
- Last generation to be available as a two-door “notchback” coupe
- T-top roof with two removable glass panels available on both coupe body styles
- Nicknamed “Fox body” after the “Fox” mechanical platform on which it was based
If the idea of the Mustang was to be whatever you wanted it to be, then the third-generation model surely epitomised it. Its popularity ensured it lasted a whopping 14 years in production – an aeon in automotive terms – with an engine range that included fuel-sipping four-cylinders and high-tech turbos as well as gutsy V6s and fire-breathing V8s.
Customers could order a full convertible, or cars with removable glass roof panels – known as T-tops – giving Mustang buyers the best of both worlds.
Part of the car's longevity was down to its 1987 facelift, which brought more aerodynamic styling. It was only intended to see the Mustang out for a couple more years, as it was due to be replaced by the front-wheel-drive Ford Probe. In the end, Mustang fans clubbed together and pleaded with Ford to keep making its most iconic model. Ford relented, and kept the car on sale while it developed a replacement.
The final third-generation Mustang was arguably the most special. The SVT Cobra R packed a 235bhp punch from its 4.9-litre V8, and featured specially tuned suspension and brakes and no rear seats to make it the most focussed Mustang yet.
Ford Mustang mk2 (“Mustang II”) (1974-1978)
Bodystyles:
- Three-door coupe
- Two-door coupe
- Two-door convertible
Notable features:
- A more compact Mustang based on the Ford Pinto, and designed for fuel economy
- Four-cylinder and V6 engines available at first, V8 options came later
- Hatchback rear end added practicality
- Awarded Car of the Year in 1974 by Motor Trend magazine
The Mustang II is not remembered fondly, largely because of its asthmatic engines – the 2.3-litre four-cylinder base model put out a measly 88bhp, for example. This was no longer the performance icon it had once been.
But it was the right car for the time; with fuel shortages throughout America, buyers wanted better economy, but didn’t want to miss out on style, and the Mustang II was perfectly placed to capitalise. What was more, a hatchback tail on the fastback version made it even more practical.
Eventually, a V8 engine did join the range, bringing some much-needed grunt. But soon, under threat from even lighter, more nimble and more modern rivals from Japan and Europe, the Mustang was in dire need of a re-think.
Ford Mustang mk1 (1964-1973)
Bodystyles:
- Two-door coupe (‘fastback’)
- Two-door coupe (‘notchback’)
- Two-door convertible
Notable features:
- Became an icon thanks to its blend of great looks, power, and affordability
- Huge options list meant buyers could customise their cars
- Choice of straight-six and V8 engines
- Grew less desirable later in life due to increased size and weight
What is there to say about the original Mustang that's not been said already? It’s one of the all-time automotive greats, a car with which Ford precisely nailed its target market: young adults, flush with cash after the post-war boom. Since its introduction, it's gone on to become an automotive icon, helped by appearances in popular culture. Who can forget Steve McQueen in Bullitt, for example?
Until the arrival of the Mustang, American cars had been geared more toward middle-aged and older buyers, those with the disposable income to afford such things. But Ford realised younger drivers were flush with cash, too: it was just that there was nothing out there that really appealed.
But the Mustang did. Known colloquially as the pony car, it was smaller, lighter and more nimble than the land yachts their parents drove, and with a lusty six-cylinder engine and the option of a potent V8, it was satisfying to drive, too. Buyers could also personalise their car by choosing from an options list, adding equipment, cosmetic modifications, different interior styles, sticker packs, and so on, something that had never really been offered before.
Versions with higher performance stats appeared to enhance its appeal, including the Mustang Boss 302 and Boss 429, and you could get a Mustang Convertible as well as a Mustang Coupe.
As the years wore on, though, the Mustang grew more bloated. Pretty soon it was a much larger, weightier car – the very antithesis of what it was conceived to be – and with a fuel crisis unfolding, sales tailed off dramatically.