The
classic Ford Mustangs from the 1960s and early 1970s are some of the
most iconic cult cars of all time. But the downsized ponycars of 1974 to
1978 killed that buzz. In the '80s, Ford had to reinvent the Mustang
and restore its former glory—or risk losing an entire generation of
performance buyers.
The 1979 Mustang was a huge leap forward. But it was the 5.0-liter GT Mustangs that arrived in the mid-1980s that made hearts melt. The pushrod 302-cubic-inch V-8 was a powerhouse at the time and packed an exhaust note few could mistake. In 1985, the Mustang GT received a major power bump up to 210 hp; in 1987 that jumped to 225 hp, a level so impressive the number would be seared into the brains of Mustang fans of the day. After all, the mighty Corvette made only 15 hp more.
The 5.0-liter Mustangs were quick—in some cases quicker than the hottest GM muscle cars at the time. That led law enforcement agencies to buy the more subdued 5.0 LX Mustangs in the notchback body style for high-speed pursuit. The Mustang's popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s lead to a booming aftermarket and a specialty magazine (now called 5.0 Mustang & Super Ford Magazine). While Ford changed the body style in 1994, the 5.0-liter V-8 stuck around until it was replaced with a smaller 4.6-liter V-8 in 1996. However, Ford brought back the 5.0-liter for 2011 in a Mustang packing 411 horses.
The 1979 Mustang was a huge leap forward. But it was the 5.0-liter GT Mustangs that arrived in the mid-1980s that made hearts melt. The pushrod 302-cubic-inch V-8 was a powerhouse at the time and packed an exhaust note few could mistake. In 1985, the Mustang GT received a major power bump up to 210 hp; in 1987 that jumped to 225 hp, a level so impressive the number would be seared into the brains of Mustang fans of the day. After all, the mighty Corvette made only 15 hp more.
The 5.0-liter Mustangs were quick—in some cases quicker than the hottest GM muscle cars at the time. That led law enforcement agencies to buy the more subdued 5.0 LX Mustangs in the notchback body style for high-speed pursuit. The Mustang's popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s lead to a booming aftermarket and a specialty magazine (now called 5.0 Mustang & Super Ford Magazine). While Ford changed the body style in 1994, the 5.0-liter V-8 stuck around until it was replaced with a smaller 4.6-liter V-8 in 1996. However, Ford brought back the 5.0-liter for 2011 in a Mustang packing 411 horses.
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