The Ford Mustang is a series of American automobiles manufactured by Ford. In continuous production since 1964, the Mustang is currently the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Currently in its sixth generation, it is the fifth-best selling Ford car nameplate.
The namesake of the "muscle car" automobile segment, the Mustang was developed as a highly styled line of sporty coupes and convertibles derived from existing model lines, initially distinguished by "long hood, short deck" proportions. Originally predicted to sell 100,000 vehicles yearly, the 1965 Mustang became the most successful vehicle launch since the 1927 Model A.
Introduced on April 17, 1964 (16 days after the Plymouth Barracuda), over 400,000 units in its first year; the one-millionth Mustang was sold within two years of its launch. In August 2018, Ford produced the 10-millionth Mustang; matching the first 1965 Mustang, the vehicle was a 2019 Wimbledon White convertible with a V8 engine.
The success of the Mustang launch would lead to multiple competitors from other American manufacturers, including the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird (1967), AMC Javelin (1968), and Dodge Challenger. The Mustang would also have an effect on designs of coupés worldwide, leading to the marketing of the Toyota Celica and Ford Capri in the United States (the latter, by Lincoln-Mercury). The Mercury Cougar was launched in 1967 as a higher-trim version of the Mustang; during the 1970s, it was repackaged as a personal luxury car. Generally, the Mustang has found positive love from Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond.
The engine powered an inline-6 from first up to the third-gen known as Fox model. The inline-4 was added to address the 1973 oil crisis. Inline engine not available in fourth-gen, V6 and V8 was offered (with an additional supercharged version) for highest spec trim model (including Cobra R).
Later Mustang generation models is listed one of the most dangerous cars to drive due to many flaws.
Appearances[]
- In old Top Gear when discussing imports, Jeremy Clarkson takes a look at the fourth generation Mustang Convertible. He praises the simplicity and feels annoyed that it's not available in the UK.
- In Clarkson's Top 100 Cars, the first generation Mustang appeared on the #63 spot.
- In Series 2, Jeremy presents his case in believing the Mustang to be the greatest car of the 20th century due to the impact it had on society.
- In Series 4, Episode 6, the fifth generation Ford Mustang appears as a photo in the "Cars We Don't Get" segment. Richard thinks that the car looks cool, but Jeremy criticizes the car for having a live rear axle suspension and compares it to a Morris Marina, promptly throwing the Mustang in the "No Way" bin.
- In Series 5, Episode 7, Richard reviews the all new fifth generation Mustang as he travels towards Lincoln. Despite criticising the interior, handling, speed and quality, he praises the car's styling, features and very reasonable price, stating it to be a very cool car, which Jeremy agrees with.
- In Clarkson: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Jeremy races a fifth generation Mustang convertible against a horse round a short track. He ends up losing due to the Mustang's lack of power and suspension. He then drives an original GT390 Mustang which he praises for being charming, noisy and exciting. He then reveals two tuned Mustang's the Shelby GT500 and the Roush. Despite praising the Shelby's noise, speed and coolness he loathes the handling, stating it to be like a horse. He however praises the Roush for being far more stable, far more controlled and far better on a track. He then stages a race between the Roush driven by Danny McIver and a Lotus Exige S driven by the Stig, with the latter winning.
- In Series 9, Episode 6, after driving his own GT390, Richard takes a look at the fifth generation Shelby Mustang GT500 around the Top Gear Test Track. Despite praising the speed, he finds it to be not as powerful as Ford claim, the same with his GT390. He then criticises the Shelby for it's wayward handling and lack of suspension, stating to be a huge disappointment and finds the GT390 to be a better buy. At the hands of The Stig, it sets a time of 1:30.0. Jeremy then introudes the Roush Mustang in which the Stig sets a lap of 1:28.0.
- In Top Gear: At The Movies, Richard tests the fifth generation Boss 302 Mustang as the modern day car to be used in Bullit. He praises the car's speed, noise, excitement and handling, before recreating the Bullit car chase using a Vauxhall VXR8 as the baddies car. However despite his best efforts, the VXR8 ends up passing the Mustang.
- In Top Gear USA "Muscle Cars" Ferrara champions the fifth generation Mustang GT as the best modern muscle car against Foust in a Chevrolet Camaro SS and Wood in a Dodge Challenger SRT8. He also drives a 1970 first generation Boss 302.
- In Top Gear USA "Muscle Cars" Foust and Wood race two cowboys on horses in two fifth generation Mustangs. Foust selects the Boss 302 and Wood the Roush Stage 3. They end up losing but around the track the Boss 302 sets a quicker time of 1:28.2 compared to the Roush's 1:28.9.
- In Top Gear USA "Worst Cars" Ferrara is given a second generation Mustang by Foust as the Worst Car in America, as he competes against Foust in a Yugo GV and Wood in a Pontiac Aztek.
- In Top Gear USA "Monument to Moab" Ferrara uses a V6 fifth generation Mustang as he drives from Monument to Moab against Wood in a Toyota Yaris and Foust in a Lincoln Town Car, but ends up destroying the Mustang after he pushes it off a cliff.
- In Series 19, Episode 3, Jeremy races Richard and James from Wembley in London to the San Siro stadium in Milan in a fifth generation Shelby Mustang GT500. Despite praising the style, speed and value, he loathes the Mustang, for it's ride, cheapness, unrefinement and lack of equipment. He ultimately loses the race to both Richard and James due to a large number of setbacks on the Journey.
- In Top Gear USA "American Muscle" Foust selects a tuned first generation Shelby Mustang GT500 with over 500 horsepower as he competes for the chance to go drag racing against Ferrara in a 720 horsepower 1968 Chevrolet Camaro and Wood in a 570 horsepower 1972 Dodge Charger. He ulimates ties with Wood and competes in a drag race style fifth generation Mustang.
- In Series 1, Episode 3 of James May's Cars of the People, James May staged a chase with the first-gen Mustang and its European sibling, the Ford Capri.
- In the Patagonia Special, Richard buys a first generation Mach 1 Mustang as his ultimate V8 car against James in a Lotus Esprit V8 and Jeremy in a Porsche 928 GT. The Mustang proves to be the most unreliable car of the trio, breaking down several times on the trip as well as being the most thirsty, the least refined and the worst to drive. Despite Richard converting it into a pickup truck and toughening it up to deal with Argentina's roads, it still proves to be unreliable. Sadly the Mustang never completed the trip due to the issue with H982 FKL.
- In Top Gear USA "American Aftermarket" after driving a sixth generation Mustang GT, Foust selects the 730hp Saleen 302 Black Label Mustang as the ultimate tuned Muscle Car against Ferrara in the 667 hp Hennessey Camaro Z/28 and Wood in a 1000hp Petty Challenger.
- In Top Gear USA "Postal" Foust races the sixth generation Shelby Mustang GT350 against a cyclist called Josh Boothby ultimately losing the race.
- In Series 23, Episode 6, after testing a first generation Mustang, Reid reviews two sixth generation Mustangs, the V8 GT and 2.3L Ecoboost. Despite praising both for their speed, handling, the V8 for it's sound track and cool features and the Ecoboost for it's economy, he critisices both for their lack of Mustang appeal.
- At the beginning of The Holy Trinity, the trio of Clarkson, Hammond and May drive across the Californian dessert to the tent in a trio of sixth generation Mustangs. Clarkson drives a Fisker Galpin, Hammond drives a Shelby GT350R and May drives a Roush Stage 3.
- In Happy Finnish Christmas, Hammond compares the sixth generation Mustang GT to Clarkson in the Focus RS as to which is the better fast Ford. He praises the Mustang's handling, speed, noise, character, comfort and excitement, with both he and Clarkson preferring the Mustang which is ultimately faster in a drag race. In the hands of The American the sixth generation Mustang GT sets a lap of 1:29.6 around the Eboladrome.
- In "The Best" Brown brings a Mustang GT as the best used performance car for under $7000, against Ford in the Subaru Impreza WRX and Fichtner in the Chevolet Corvette C5.
- In Series 25, Episode 1, LeBlanc brings a Hennessy Shelby Mustang GT350R as his ultimate V8 car against Harris in a McLaren 570GT and Reid in a Jaguar F-Type SVR as they travel across Utah to search for the best V8 sports car.
- In Motown Funk, Clarkson bring a 720 horspower Mustang RTR Stage 3 as his tuned V8 Muscle car in Detroit against May in the 1000 horsepower Hennessy Exorcist and Hammond in the 880 horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon. Despite being the least powerful, Clarkson praises the Mustang's noise, excitement, reasonable price and razor sharp handling. Despite it not winning any challenge, Hammond and Clarkson agree it to be the best muscle car.
- On Drive Tribe, Hammond tests the sixth generation Mach 1 Mustang answering several questions from viewers while praising the Mustang for it's speed, handling, character and reasonable price.
- In "Supercars" Sheppard brings the sixth generation Shelby Mustang GT500 against Coddry in the Porsche 911 GT3 and Bovingdon in the McLaren GT.
- In Lochdown, Clarkson chooses a first generation Shelby Mustang GT500 as his classic muscle car against May in a Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and Hammond in a Dodge Charger R/T as they travel across Scotland.