You could consider the Ford Mustang the best platform re-skin ever performed by an auto manufacturer. Ford already had a compact car in the form of the Falcon, but executives knew that in order to grab a part of the up-and-coming Baby Boomer market share, that a few things needed to change. Above any model, any performance level, or even color, the Mustang had to be customizable from the order form onwards. This gave the car a broad appeal that transcended it’s original place in the lineup. You could order the 1965 Mustang as a standard two-door hardtop with an inline-six and automatic in a light shade of blue to make a personal car with fuel economy, or you could go for the black with red stripes on the fastback, order up the “K-code” 289 and the Rally-Pac gauges, opt for the four on the floor, and have a capable handling vehicle that would surprise a lot of vehicles on the road. We gathered up a collection of the major models of Mustang we could find for review…and we will be upfront and honest: we doubt we got them all. We didn’t go for aftermarket tuning shops like Saleen, Steeda or Roush, and yes, we included Shelby…partially because Ford and Shelby American had a solid working relationship, and partially because Ford has pretty much adapted the Shelby name into the lineup for late-model cars. Did we miss a favorite Mustang of yours? Put up a picture of the missing horse!

Mustang

Development started in 1962 and was wrapped up in 18 months. The goal: four seats, floor shift, 2,570 pound curb weight, base price of $2,500, and have plenty of options. The Mustang shattered sales records and became an icon almost overnight.

Mustang GT

What makes a good thing better? Power! Mustang GT has always stood for affordable performance and handling, and the first V8 car on the options list. GT has been used for most of the Mustang’s life, with exceptions during the very late Sixties through the end of the Mustang II.

Shelby G.T. 350, G.T.  and G.T. 350H

The opening shot of the partnership between a speed-addled Texas chicken farmer and Ford, Carroll Shelby’s Mustangs in G.T 350 form were small V8 cars that were wound up tighter than a drum and ready to fight. The G.T. 350H was a special promotion between Ford, Shelby and Hertz Rent-A-Car that allowed people to rent a street fighter for a few bucks a day…excellent business plan!

Ford T-5

In Germany, Ford could import the car, but until 1978, could not call it Mustang, due to copyright infringement with Krupp, a small truck manufacturer, so Ford used the Mustang’s project development code, “T-5”, as the model name.

High Country Special and California Special (C/S)

The Mustang High Country Special ran for three years (1966-68). For the first two years it was a Mustang with special colors like Timberline Green and a special stripe/decal kit, but for 1968 the High Country Special got the same hardtop as the California Special Mustang, complete with Shelby-style taillight panel.

Shelby G.T. 500 and GT500KR

Not that Shelby was playing nice before, but when Chevrolet, Pontiac and even AMC started to nip on the heels of the G.T. 350, it was time to call in the big guns. The G.T. 500 has been the end-all, be-all Shelby Mustang package, bringing the most horsepower to the table. The KR designation means King of the Road, and Carroll was bent on keeping his angry horses at the front of the pack.

Cobra

First appearing on the 1967 GT500, the “Cobra” name, first used on the infamous AC/Shelby Cobra sports car, was meant to add to the menace. Cobra disappeared for 1969 and was reborn on the Mustang II and has since appeared sporadically as either a mid-range or top-tier performance Mustang, depending on generation.

Mach 1

In 1969, Ford went a little ballistic with the performance Mustang models. In addition to the Shelby GT350, Shelby GT500, Boss 302, Boss 429, and the last-year GT before it went on hiatus until 1982, the Mach 1 arrived on the scene as a combination performance/appearance package. Mach 1 lasted until 1978, then reappeared for the final two years of the New Edge design.

Boss 302

Calling yourself the “Boss” is a pretty ballsy move in the performance auto world, and you better have the cojones to back it up. Ford could do just that with their Trans-Am homologation special. Fitted with a rev-happy screamer of a small-block, the Boss 302’s hockey-stripe paint scheme and handling-tuned nature has appeared three times: the original 1969-70 run and the 2012-13 run.

Boss 429

The Boss 429 Mustang has an interesting gestational story. Originally, the semi-hemi head Boss 429 block was developed as a nuclear warhead meant to take on Chrysler’s 426 Hemi in NASCAR racing. In order for the powerplant to be legal to race, Ford had to put the mill into a production car, and decided the Mustang would be an excellent platform. Contracting the work of shoving ten pounds of engine into a five-pound car, Ford contracted out Kar Kraft to perform the necessary modifications that allowed a Mustang to swallow up the big mill. Anyone who believed the 375hp/45o lb/ft rating of the big-block was lying to themselves…these were easy 500 horsepower cars out of the gate.

Mustang E

Oddly enough, Mustangs can be a good fuel economy car due to their relative light weight and size. Fitted with the inline-six and devoid of heavy options, the 1969 Ford Mustang E was an attempt at selling an economical pony car. Only 50 or so were made before the plan was shoved to the back burner.

Twister Special and Sidewinder

Two dealer promotional packages that are similar in style, both were based on a 1970 Mach 1 and had special stripes and graphics. Not much else is known about the Sidewinder, but the Twister was an interesting package, that provided either a 428 Super Cobra Jet or the 351ci small-block, the Track Pack, and a blinding Grabber Orange paint job. 96 Twisters were made, while numbers for the Sidewinder are difficult to determine.

Grande

The Mustang with a nice suit on. As the first-generation Mustang became a big-bodied boy, the regular coupe gained the Grande package, turning the Mustang into a personal luxury coupe, offering upscale interiors and added sound deadening to any form of Mustang coupe.

Boss 351

Bigger body and bigger engine are the theme for the Boss 351 Mustang. The 11.0:1 351 walked with 330 horsepower on tap and was plenty of competition for the likes of the LT-1-powered Camaro and the 340 Six-Pack optioned Mopars.

Sprint

Often mistaken as an Olympic special, the Sprint was simply a patriotic special edition that was shared with Maverick and Pinto. If the car was sold in Canada, the USA shield was swapped out for a maple leaf.

Shelby Europa

A rare European variety, Shelby Europas were the idea of a Belgian dealer who thought that selling Shelby Mustangs in Europe didn’t have to end. He got Carroll Shelby to build what was essentially a modified 1971 Mustang Mach 1 in both big-block and small-block forms and shipped them to Europe, where they were positioned as an expensive sports car. It is believed that 14 were sold, two being convertibles.

Shelby de Mexico GT-351

The Mexican Shelby. Between 1968-1972, Shelby de Mexico, a partnership between Carroll Shelby and Mexican businessman Eduardo Velasquez, sold Mustangs with Shelby parts south of the border. The final run in 1972 were the GT-351 cars. These were notchback Mustangs with a special fiberglass “cap” on the rear body, covered in vinyl.

Ghia

Ford had bought a majority stake in Italian coach builder Ghia, and between 1974-1981, used the company’s name on the luxury version of the pony car. Vinyl roofs and plusher appointments were Mustang II options, while the early Foxes got a fiberglass roof cap and a fake cabriolet top.

2.3L MPG

If there was one bright thing about the Mustang II, it was that Ford couldn’t have timed it’s arrival into the marketplace better. A smaller, more frugal Mustang was needed after the Gas Crunch, and the company delivered. The Mustang II MPG capitalized on the need for a small fuel-sipper, combining the 2.3L inline four, a four-speed, and highway flyer gears to keep the revs down. Oh, and options…no options. Too much weight.

Stallion

Ford’s Stallion package was a mid-70s dress-up act for Mustang II, Pinto and Maverick.

Cobra II and King Cobra

The Cobra IIs and King Cobras were Ford’s attempt to try and grab back some of the performance creed that had been lost with the Mustang II. The Cobra IIs were mostly graphics packages, but the King Cobra edition was a solid attempt at bringing in performance…in a limited-edition form, of course.

1979 Indy Pace Car

Chosen to lap the Indy 500, Ford celebrated by Xeroxing off copies of the Pace Car Mustang like none other. Two engines were available: a 140-horsepower 5.0L V8 and a 139-horse turbocharged 2.3L four that liked to eat it’s own turbochargers.

Turbo and Turbo GT

Despite learning the hard way in 1974 that Mustang should have a V8 option, Ford was still bent on turning the 2.3L four cylinder into a powerhouse with a turbocharger. When it worked, the four would produce power numbers on-par with the V8. When it didn’t work, bad things happened, like seized turbochargers and engine bay fires.

McLaren M81 and GTE Enduro

Two different Mustangs, one similar body kit. The M81 was a turbo-four package massaged by McLaren to be a rocket that didn’t sell well. The GTE Enduro appeared when at least three M81-bodied cars were fitted with V8s. Looking like a lost IMSA racer, these box-flared Mustangs are a rare sight no matter what.

SSP

When the reign of the 440 Mopar police cruiser came to an end, a new car had to step in to catch fleet-footed criminals. After trying to get a bunch of Malaise-era barges to hustle, the California Highway Patrol started testing out pony cars. Chevrolet Camaros liked to eat camshafts, so the Ford Mustang was tested out with the 5.0L V8. Small wonder, cops loved them, and the Special Service Pursuit edition was born, lasting until 1993.

20th Anniversary G.T. 350

It’s a 1984 model GT with a throwback appearance package and the TRX Handling Package that could come with either the four-cylinder or the V8. Carroll Shelby and Shelby American did not participate in the construction of these cars and reception to them was mixed.

SVO

After many years of trials, Ford successfully pinned down the combination for a powerful, turbocharged four-cylinder Mustang and unleashed the SVO model. With 200 horsepower on tap, Koni suspension and a Hurst shifter, the SVO was the only four-cylinder Mustang to stand above a V8 model in the hierarchy.

SVT Cobra and Cobra R

The Cobra name took a hiatus (1981-92) in the U.S. market, and reappeared on Ford’s SVT (Special Vehicle Team) parting gift for Fox Body fans in 1993, complete with a 225 horsepower 5.0L, special rear spoiler, and other trim bits that lesser 5.0s didn’t get.

1994 Indy Pace Car

It’s a 1994 Mustang Cobra convertible, in Rio Red with a saddle interior. The Pace Car stickers came in the trunk, so it was up to the owner if they wanted to show off or not.

Mustang GTS

This is the car enthusiasts were begging to be built that Ford couldn’t sell. The GTS was a Mustang GT with the options removed. Crank windows, cloth seats, air conditioning and manual locks were what you got for luxuries, and the fog lights and spoiler were ditched. You could option everything back on, of course, but why in the hell would you?

Mystic Cobra and Mystichrome Metallic Cobra

There are two versions of the multi-hued Mustang: the Mystic Cobra, which was a 1996 option, and the Mystichrome Cobra, a 2004 model-year option. Both paints used ChromaFlair pigments which transitioned the color through an array of purples, greens, blues, golds and so on, but they are not the same pigment. What they are, however, is rare (a couple thousand apiece were built) and a bitch to repaint if something happens: the car must be VIN-verified as an original Mystic car and painted at a Ford body shop. The paint has to be shuttled with an employee from Dearborn, and any leftover paint is put back into a can and hauled back to Dearborn. Wow.

FR500 series

The Ford Racing series of Mustangs were factory-built race cars. We’re talking no VIN numbers, hot engines, the whole nine yards. There are several levels of road-racing car, from weekend warrior to GT3-level, plus a Salt Flat racer. Technically, the Cobra Jet is an FR car as well, but it’s a bit different…

Bullitt

The movie “Bullitt” starred a dark green 1968 Ford Mustang GT390 and Steve McQueen, and contains one of the most iconic car chases ever filmed. So it would seem fitting that Ford would pay homage to the movie twice: 2001 and 2008. Only a few thousand were made in either year.

Pony

It’s a V6 dressed up like a V8. Moving on…

Iacocca 45th Silver Anniversary

Most 45th Anniversary Mustangs had emblems to signify the Mustang’s anniversary, but the Iacocca Mustang paid homage to the man who had a lot to do with getting the Mustang going in the first place. Sculpted by Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters, the Iacocca Mustang was a visual one-off, and with only 45 made, will be difficult to see in person.

Cobra Jet

The Cobra Jet name, last used in the early 1970s to denote some of the baddest blocks on the options list, returned with a vengeance in 2008 as the FR-series drag pack car. No VIN number is on the car, so no strip-car-on-the-street shenanigans…right…but if you want to jump straight into Stock Eliminator racing, you couldn’t go wrong. Just be sure to order your Mustang in FR500CJ flavor.

Boss 302 Laguna Seca

The Boss 302 nameplate, last seen in 1970, returned for 2012, and brought along an angry twin, the Boss 302 Laguna Seca. An X-brace where the rear seats used to be, a front splitter that you could have a picnic on and one of the most violent exhaust notes in recent memory gave the Boss a newer, harder edge. We like it.

GT350R

The newest Shelby breed, the GT350 and GT350R are sheer lunacy. Running a 5.2L flat-plane crank V8 called “Voodoo”, this shrieking, barking and pissed off horse is the closest thing you can get to a race-ready Mustang today without ordering an FR-series car. When former Top Gear Stig Ben Collins gave it a romp at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last year, his slithering, tire-hazing launch and generally drifty antics opened his eyes quite wide. The GT350R is the current king…for now.