The 25 Greatest Mustangs
The Mustang contains multitudes. Although it’s never radically departed from Lee Iacocca and Donald Frey’s original formula, it has managed, over the decades, to spawn endless variants and attract loyalists of all ages and from all walks of life. It is unapologetically American, yet sells in 146 countries and is the bestselling sports car in the world. And, of course, it’s that magic combination of attainable and aspirational. Steve McQueen and Johnny Hallyday drove Mustangs; maybe your mom or dad did, too.
Every Mustang lover has their favorite. These are the 25 that matter most to us. Think we’re wrong? Tell us why on our new forum, community.hagerty.com.
1964 ½ Mustang
The original. [Read about it here.]
1965 Hi-Po Mustang
The first Mustang with teeth. [Read about it here.]
1965 Shelby GT350/ GT350R
Enter, Carroll Shelby. [Read about it here.]
1966 Hertz Mustang
The rent-a-Shelby. [Read about it here.]
1967 Shelby GT500
No replacement for displacement. [Read about it here.]
1968 ½ Cobra Jet Mustang
The street racer’s special. [Read about it here.]
1968 Bullitt Mustang
The most valuable Mustang, ever. [Read about it here.]
1969 Boss 429 Mustang
It’s all about that engine. [Read about it here.]
1970 Boss 302 Trans-Am Mustang
Parnelli Jones’ tour de force. [Read about it here.]
1971 “Eleanor” Mustang
Gone in 60 seconds—but never forgotten. [Read about it here.]
1971 Boss 351
The Mustang’s last gasp in the muscle car era. [Read about it here.]
1978 Mustang II King Cobra
It kept the flame burning. And who doesn’t love great decals? [Read about it here.]
1982 Mustang GT 5.0L HO
It brought sexy back. [Read about it here.]
1984 Mustang SVO
The European sophisticate. [Read about it here.]
1985 Saleen Mustang
The Fox-Body-era Shelby. [Read about it here.]
1987 Vanilla Ice 5.0
Admit it: you know the verse. [Read about it here.]
1993 SVT Mustang Cobra R
The ultimate Fox-body. [Read about it here.]
1994 Mustang SN95
Our favorite jellybean flavor. [Read about it here.]
2001 Bullitt GT
The second coming of Steve McQueen. [Read about it here.]
2003 SVT Mustang Cobra Terminator
Supercharged send-off for SN95. [Read about it here.]
2005 Mustang
It’s 1965 all over again. [Read about it here.]
2012 Boss 302
Two words: side pipes. [Read about it here.]
2013 Shelby GT500
662 horsepower. Need we say more? OK: Carbon-fiber drive-shaft. [Read about it here.]
2015 GT350/GT350R
Flat-plane-crank V-8. You know, like a Ferrari. [Read it here.]
2020 GT500 CFTP
The most powerful Mustang yet. [Read about it here.]
The Camaro
It makes every Mustang better. [Read about it here.]
