Ford Mustang GT History

The GT badge has many meanings Throughout the life of the Ford Mustang. Introduced in 1965 for $165, it became a hit in the 1970s after starring as Steve McQueen’s hero car in the 1968 film “Bullitt,” before being introduced in the 1980s 5.0 Performance is back, much to Vanilla Ice’s delight.

While performance is a hallmark of the GT-390, 0-60 mph times haven’t dropped significantly in decades. That all changed in 2011, when Ford introduced a new 5.0-liter V-8 engine with dual overhead camshafts. Today, that engine and modern suspension make the Mustang an American icon, good enough to conquer the world.

Come review the history of the Mustang GT with us and experience its glory in the United States.

1965 Ford Mustang GT Kit

The Mustang GT started out not as a model, but as a $165 package that included disc brakes, dual exhaust tips, driving lights in the grille, badging, GT40-inspired rocker panel racing stripes, and a full Instrument cluster instead of idiot lights. It also comes with equipment from the Special Handling Package, which includes stiffer springs, heavy-duty dampers, 13/16-inch anti-roll bars and a faster steering box. It was only available in the 4-barrel version of the 289 cubic inch V-8 in 225 or 271 horsepower. This kit does not fit the earlier cars known as 1964 ½ models. For the 1966 model year, it was only available with the hi-po 271-horsepower engine, but in 1967 it was available with all V-8s.

1968 Mustang GT-390

Elements of the 1965-67 Mustang GT equipment package continued into 1968, but they were available with two new engines: a 230-hp, 302-cubic-inch V-8 and a more powerful 390-cubic-inch V-8. 8 335 ponies were produced. The latter was called GT-390. The stripes move up the body and create a new “C” shape to match the body styling, and all GTs ride on wide oval tires mounted on 6-inch-wide GT-style wheels. Ford offers packages as a hardtop coupe, convertible and fastback. exist car and driver In testing, a GT-390 equipped with the automatic transmission achieved a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14.8 seconds. But ultimate performance numbers didn’t matter when Steve McQueen drove a 1968 Mustang GT-390 through the streets of San Francisco to create one of the greatest car chase scenes of all time in the movie “Bullitt.” . The car became so iconic that Ford released four special edition Bullitt Mustang models over the next few years.

1982 Ford Mustang GT

GT nomenclature disappeared for the 1970 model year, not reappearing until 1982. By this time, Ford had moved on to the Fox-bodied Mustang (and moved beyond the unpopular Mustang II era of 1974-1977). The new Mustang GT is powered by a 302 cubic-inch (5.0-liter) V-8 engine that produces a rather meager 157 horsepower and accelerates the car to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. Buyers can also choose a 120-hp 255-cubic-inch V-8 as a credit option. The car features bucket seats, power brakes with larger front discs, Ford’s “handling” suspension and a locking rear differential. Introduced in 1979 for the third-generation Mustang, the Fox platform also underpinned performance powerhouses such as the Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr, but it created a lightweight, nimble Mustang. For ’82, the Mustang GT was only available in a hatchback coupe body style.

1983 Ford Mustang GT

The third-generation Mustang received its first facelift in 1983, with a rounder front end and a narrower grille. The convertible body style returns to the Mustang lineup for the first time in a decade, and it’s available in the GT. Ford increased the power of the 5.0-liter V-8 engine to 175 horsepower with a new carburetor and changes to the valve train and exhaust system, and switched the manual transmission from a 4-speed to a new close-ratio 5-speed Georgia Warner T-5 transmission. The GT also gets wider 220/55 tires, slightly larger 15-inch wheels, larger anti-roll bars, softer rear springs and stiffer steering. Midway through the year, Ford added a 140 cubic-inch turbo-4 version of the GT, using the engine from the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. The engine produces 145 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. The V-8 GT can accelerate from 0-60 mph in nearly 6 seconds, while the Turbo takes nearly 10 seconds. Worse, the Turbo lacks an automatic transmission and air conditioning, and costs $250 more than the V-8 GT. Only 483 units of the 1983 Turbo GT were produced.

1987 Ford Mustang GT

For the 1987 model year, Ford considered the idea of ​​building a front-wheel-drive Mustang based on the Mazda platform, but decided to go with the newer Focus-bodied car after protests from Mustang fans. The revised 1987 Mustang had a smoother appearance and flush-mounted headlights. The 302-cubic-inch V-8, known as the 5.0, now makes up to 225 horsepower, rivaling the Mustang’s Camaro and Firebird rivals. The Mustang is about 100 pounds heavier than before, so 0-60 mph times are still in the six-second range, but top speed is now just under 150 mph. The engine became as much a star as the car. Vanilla Ice boasted about “Rollin’ in my 5.0” while auditioning The Steve Miller Band. Buyers can also opt for the sport suspension on the 5.0 and GT, as well as the less flashy LX trim, which has proven popular as a sleeper option. Whether it’s the GT or the LX, the Mustang is a bargain, priced about $3,500 less than the Camaro.

1994 Ford Mustang GT

Ford spent $700 million to redesign the Mustang in 1994, far less than the $3 billion it spent on the 1986 Taurus. This means the Fox platform will remain, although Ford has toughened it up and now calls it the Fox-4, while the new car will be codenamed SN95. The body adopts a new design, blending old and new elements. Of the total 1,850 parts, 1,330 are new. Under the GT’s hood, the 5.0 returns, now with 215 horsepower, 60 less than the Camaro and Firebird. car and driver With a 0-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14.9 seconds, those numbers are no better than they were a decade ago. Buyers can purchase the GT in hatchback coupe and convertible versions, with prices significantly higher than in 1993 despite the legacy underpinnings.

1999 Ford Mustang GT

In 1999, Ford updated the SN95 Mustang. The biggest change was the sharper edges on the lower part of the body; Ford called it “New Edge Design.” Straight-line performance finally starts to improve. In 1997, Ford replaced the GT’s pushrod 5.0-liter V-8 with a 4.6-liter DOHC V-8, but this year it made a difference by adding 35 more horsepower, for a total of 250 hp. Motor Trend 0-60 mph time is 5.4 seconds and quarter-mile time is 14.0 seconds, both still behind the Camaro. All Mustangs also handle better, thanks to a wider rear track that now matches the front wheels, stiffer springs, and better steering on-center feel. Still, the Focus’s bodywork roots date back to 1979, making it structurally weak compared to more modern cars. Ford kept updating the Mustang without putting any real money into it in decades.

2005 Ford Mustang GT

Ford finally gave the 2005 Mustang a complete overhaul. The new look is definitely retro. Chief designer J Mays carefully selected exterior elements from the past; the front end is from the 1970 model, the fastback is from the 1969 model, and the C-shaped character line is from the 1965 model. The Mustang GT’s wheelbase grows by 5.8 inches to 107.1 inches, but the weight only increases by 100 pounds to 3,450 pounds. The new platform allowed Ford engineers to fix ergonomic issues that had plagued the interior for years, and it also has a retro look, complete with a 1960s-era dashboard. Under the GT’s hood, the 4.6-liter V-8 returns. Now it produces 300 horsepower, a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds, and sells for about $25,000. Unfortunately, the S197 Mustang (as it was called internally) had a solid rear axle rather than a separate setup, a concession made to keep the price down.

2011 Ford Mustang GT

Ford finally unlocked the GT’s power credentials for the 2011 model year, killing the modular 4.6-liter V-8 and reintroducing the 5.0 badge. The new Coyote aluminum 32-valve DOHC V-8 engine features a new cylinder head with variable cam timing. Its output is 412 hp, up from the 4.6’s 315 hp. Ford also tweaked the GT’s suspension, switched to electrically assisted power steering, added sound deadening, and offered it with 14.0-inch diameter rotors, 19-inch wheels and summer performance tires. These changes do wonders for performance. Motor Trend The Mustang GT accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and hits quarter mile in 12.8 seconds.

2015 Ford Mustang GT

An update to the 2015 S550 generation gives the Mustang something enthusiasts have been clamoring for for years: independent “integral link” rear suspension. Ford also widened the rear track and revised the front suspension geometry to better match the new rear end and accept larger brakes. The improved interior features higher-quality materials, more space and better ergonomics. Externally, the redesigned bodywork benefits from a sleeker, lower and wider version of the car’s original look. Fastback coupe and convertible are again body style choices. Up front, Ford has lightly updated the Coyote’s 5.0-liter V-8 to produce 435 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Ford sold the Mustang worldwide and offered it in right-hand drive for the first time.

2018 Ford Mustang GT

The Mustang received an update for the 2018 model year. The 2018 5.0-liter V-8 makes 460 horsepower, and buyers can choose a new 10-speed automatic transmission instead of the 6-speed. These upgrades reduce 0-60 mph acceleration time to 3.9 seconds. However, the real performance gains come from Performance Packs 1 and 2. Performance Package 1, introduced in 2015, includes 255/40 front and 275/40 rear summer performance tires on 19-inch wheels, 6-piston Brembo front brakes with 15.0-inch rotors, K-brackets, strut tower brackets, heavy-duty front springs , a larger rear anti-roll bar, a larger radiator, rear fenders and a Torsen limited-slip differential. Beyond that, Performance Pack Level 2 adds wider 19-inch wheels shod in 305/30 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, track-inspired springs and front anti-roll bars, magnetic dampers, front splitter and different rear fenders. This $6,500 package is Ford’s answer to the Camaro 1LE option, turning the Mustang GT into a track performer and a true sports car.

2024 Ford Mustang GT

The seventh-generation Mustang (known internally as the S650) will be launched in 2024 as an updated version of the S550 model, and therefore remains on the sixth-generation DC2 platform. Ford tweaked the suspension components for better responsiveness and increased the steering ratio from 16:1 to 15.5:1. Power from the Mustang GT’s 5.0-liter V-8 is increased to 500 horsepower, thanks to a longer exhaust camshaft and dual electronic throttle bodies fed by a dual-airbox intake. The shape has not changed much, but the back waist has become more obvious, the waistline has been lowered, and there are fewer side creases. Inside, the main change is the new screen wall. The 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster is highlighted by the available Fox Body theme, while the new 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen features Sync 4 technology. The car also adds some new toys to surprise and delight your friends, including remote rev and electronic drift brakes, as well as line lock, downshift rev matching and shift lights. The Performance Package is once again a great choice for performance enthusiasts, adding front strut tower braces, a Torsen limited-slip differential, magnetic dampers, wider rear wheels and tires, larger brakes, Recaro bucket seats, Active exhaust and better cooling.

High-Res Gallery: 2018 Ford Mustang GT Performance Package Level 2

This article was originally published by ClassicCars.com editorial partner Motor Authority