First Generation: 1964.5-1973
Most everyone knows the Mustang’s backstory, debuting at the New York World’s Fair on April 17, 1964. The car was a hit from the beginning, selling a million copies in less than two years. It was a game-changer in every sense of the word, delivering sporty looks and V8 power in an inexpensive package that was so good, it literally created the Pony Car segment. This generation saw the birth of legendary Mustang nameplates like Boss, Mach I, Shelby, and though nobody realized it at the time, Steve McQueen’s cop classic Bullitt would immortalize the 1968 Mustang in one of the greatest Hollywood car chase scenes of all time.
Though the first generation officially ran through 1973, the Mustang changed – and grew – significantly by the end of the run. Many enthusiasts regard the 1969-1973 models as separate entities from the earlier cars, but all Mustangs from the early-run 1964.5 production through 1973 are part of the first-generation family.
Second Generation: 1974-1978
The Mustang II from 1974-1978 saw the brand lose all kinds of horsepower – in fact you couldn’t even get a V8 engine in 1974 and when it returned a year later, it only produced 140 horsepower. It was also considerably smaller thanks to its subcompact Ford Pinto platform. Flamboyant 1970’s styling and graphics for the Cobra II and King Cobra models offered fresh visual punch to close out the second-generation run, but whereas time has been kind to the Pony Car’s competitors, today there’s plenty of contempt for the Mustang II.
What most contemporaries fail to understand, however, is that the Mustang II was the right car at the right time. The second-generation Mustang received considerable praise back in the day for its fuel economy and nimble nature, and the public responded in a major way. Despite having the shortest production run it remains one of the best-selling Mustang generations of all time. It may not be a powerhouse, but judged in context, the Mustang II was a tremendous success.
Third Generation: 1979-1993
Though launched in 1979, the third-generation Fox Body Mustang would become one of the most iconic rides in 1980’s American car culture. It was based on the Fox platform used by several Ford vehicles of the day, with edgy contemporary styling that was a complete departure from the Mustang II. Horsepower was finally returning under the hood, but sales through the mid-1980s were slow. The return of a convertible model and even a high-strung turbocharged engine in the Mustang SVO didn’t help, and as such Ford had actually planned to recast the Mustang as a front-wheel-drive, Mazda-based performance coupe by the end of the decade.
Enthusiasts launched a massive letter-writing campaign to save the Pony Car, and Ford listened. The front-wheel-drive model launched as the Ford Probe, and Ford facelifted the Mustang in 1987 while it scrambled to create a new model. A new niche performance division called SVT (Special Vehicle Team) stepped in to give the third-generation Mustang a special sendoff in 1993 with the return of the Cobra, generating 240 horsepower from its 5.0-liter V8.
Fourth Generation: 1994-2004
The fourth-generation SN-95 Mustang ushered in a rounded, Euro-inspired shape that saw a few classic Mustang design cues return – namely the side scoops and a prominent pony badge in the grille. Underneath, however, was a modified version of the same Fox platform from 1979, and the decades-old 5.0-liter V8 remained under the hood for 1994 and 1995, rated at just 215 horsepower. The old pushrod was finally retired for 1996, replaced with a 4.6-liter V8 producing the same 215 hp though SVT continued to offer the high-end Cobra that elevated power to 305.
A styling update in 1999 dubbed “New Edge” added more power to the Mustang GT, bringing its V8 to 260 horsepower. SVT would further ensure the fourth-generation Mustang ended its run with a bang by giving the Pony Car independent rear suspension for the first time on Cobra models starting in 1999, followed by a 390-horsepower supercharged V8 for the 2003-2004 “Terminator” Cobras.
Fifth Generation: 2005-2014
When the fifth-generation Mustang appeared for the 2005 model year, it was the first truly all-new model since the Fox Body debut 26 years prior. It also took full advantage of the retro craze among automakers in the early 2000s, drawing heavily on the first-generation Mustang from the mid-1960s. Buyers responded, and when the Shelby GT500 returned to the line in 2007 with 500 horsepower, there was no stopping the Mustang renaissance. Aside from Shelby, the fifth-generation Mustang would also see the return of iconic submodels as the Boss, California Special, the 5.0 GT, and the second special-edition Bullitt.
The fifth-generation also gave birth to the fastest, most powerful production Mustang ever built. Starting with the 2013 model year, the range-topping Shelby GT500 gained a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 producing 662 horsepower – enough to send the Mustang past 200 mph for the first time. This status could change when the new Shelby GT500 returns in 2019.
Sixth Generation: 2015-Present
After more than 50 years as an iconic American sports car, Ford did two things in 2015 to permanently alter the Mustang’s course. It gave the Pony Car a fully independent suspension on all models, and it took the Mustang to a global stage with right-hand drive models available in other markets. Known internally as the S-550, the current-generation Mustang is the best-selling sports car in the world and it's not hurting for power thanks to its turbocharged four-cylinder making 310 horsepower or a 5.0-liter V8 making 460 hp.
The track-focused Shelby GT350 offers 526 horsepower from a high-revving 5.2-liter flat-plane crank V8, and the special-edition Bullitt returned once again to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original film. In 2019, the Shelby GT500 is slated to return as well, becoming the most-powerful production Mustang with more than 700 horsepower.
Ford Mustang Generations
The Ford Mustang has been in continuous production for nearly 55 years, and it doesn't show signs of slowing down. The seventh-generation model could see the first-ever electric Pony Car, hybrid models, or possibly even an SUV. Whether that dilutes the brand or makes it stronger, one thing can't be argued: There’s no denying the Ford Mustang’s enduring status as an iconic American performance machine.
