The Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic American muscle cars. Since 1964, this car has found its way into our hearts and minds.
The Mustang is pretty special in its own right, but over the years, we’ve seen some amazing special edition models of this car. A great way to celebrate al that the Mustang ha brought to the market is to take a tour of some of the best special edition versions of this car from the past two decades.
The Mach 1 Returned for 2003
The Mach 1 Mustang is a throwback name from 1969 that didn’t quite catch on as one of the most popular versions of this Ford car. That said, it does have a special place in our hearts and Ford saw fit to bring the name back for 2003. This version came with a functional hood scoop, the classic style, and tons of upgrades that made it a modern car. The 2003 Mach 1 was powered by a 4.6-liter V8 that gave it 305 horsepower. Of course, a loud exhaust was added to give this car the attention-grabbing, ear-splitting sounds we all love.
The 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR Was Something Special
If you want a car that was truly King of the Road, the GT500KR is that car. This Ford Mustang brought some incredible power and performance with a beefier suspension. The KR model offered more than 100 carbon fiber parts and used the 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine from the GT500 model. This engine delivered 540 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This special model was unique in that only 1,000 were made.
Check Out the Boss 302 Laguna Seca Mustang from 2012
The Laguna Seca racetrack is iconic in the racing world and this particular Mustang become a bit of an epic vehicle as well. This special edition model used the Coyote 5.0-liter V8 engine but it was tuned to deliver 444 horsepower. The Boss 302 Laguna Seca Mustang was made to be lighter and ready for a serious track day. This car was light enough and fast enough to race around the Monterey race track faster than a BMW, which is saying a lot for an American muscle car.
The 2019 Bullitt, not to be Confused with Earlier Versions
If one Ford Mustang Bullitt is good, two are better. The 2019 version of this car marked the 50th anniversary of the Steve McQueen car. To celebrate this event, the car came in with a 5.0-liter V8 that turned out 475 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. The top speed of the 2019 Bullitt is 163 mph. The launch was more dramatic with Molly McQueen behind the wheel racing a Dodge Charger in a parking lot.
Add The Roush Performance Name and You’ve got a Spectacular Mustang
One of the latest special edition models of the Ford Mustang is the 2020 Roush Performance Jack Roush Edition version. This was one of the most powerful Mustangs ever made. This Roush Performance model uses a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that produces 775 horsepower and 670 lb-ft of torque. All of this added power requires special brakes and a beefed-up suspension to ensure this car would perform as desired on any track.
The Old Crow Mustang GT was Something Special for 2019
Only 100 models of the Old Crow Mustang GT were made. This car was created to respect and honor WWII pilot Colonel Bud Anderson. Anderson was a triple ace pilot that flew the P-51 Mustang fighter plane, making this car the perfect tribute to him. Why are only 100 in existence? There’s one for every mission that Anderson flew. This car received a Roush supercharger to help the 5.0-liter V8 engine produce 710 horsepower and 610 lb-ft of torque. On the back, this car sports a massive wing, which keeps it grounded.
How Did Ford Celebrate 50 Years of the Mustang?
2015 was the official celebration of 50 years of the Mustang in the market. Technically, that would be in 2014 ½ considering the original model was released in 1964 1/2, but we’re not quibbling. This date brought us the 50th Anniversary Special Edition model at the New York Auto Show. Only 1,964 of these models were made, and each one receives power from the venerable 5.0-liter V8 engine. The power numbers reach 500 horsepower and 435 lb-ft of torque.
Ford Honored Lee Iacocca with a 2009 ½ Silver Edition Model
Most of the American automakers wouldn’t have taken steps forward without the influence of Lee Iacocca. He was responsible for the Ford Pinto and some of the Mustang models. At the 45 year mark of this muscle car, Ford created the special Iacocca Silver Edition. Only 45 were made, which makes this one of the most exclusive Mustangs in existence. The car showed up with custom body work, special wheels, and a silver paint job to make it look more elegant than you might expect from any Mustang.
A Special Nod to the Shelby Cobra Came in the 2007 GT500 Version
The 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 was the most powerful version of this car ever made. This car uses a massive 5.4-lier V8 engine that return 475 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. This car was developed by the Ford SVT team, to ensure it would be worthy of the Shelby Cobra signature. The original version of the Shelby GT500 was made between 1967 and 1970 and couldn’t offer nearly as much power as this modern variant.
The 2001 Bullitt GT Celebrated the Special Feeling of a Mustang
The 2001 Bullitt takes us back to celebrate the cool sounds of this car from the 1960s while offering the benefits of modern driving features. This model might be the oldest on our list, but it still gave us a lot to enjoy. The Bullitt GT was powered by a naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 engine that made 265 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque. those are pretty good numbers for the time.
Which one of these special edition Ford Mustangs do you admire the most? Is there one that you’ve always wanted to drive?
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