Ford Mustang

The Birth of the 'Stang

Powerful, fast, and distinctive, this popular American pony car had a fan base even before its debut. What began as a vision to create a smaller and more affordable sports car has now been called the grandfather of the pony car class. The public admired the new car's smooth ride and sporty style, and sales followed. By 1964, Ford Mustang dealers worried more about restocking than selling their inventory, as Ford's 400,000 sales outperformed the initial projection of 100,000. Tack on a few more improvements over the years, and you can see why this beauty has been propelled into legendary status. Some would argue that when one generally thinks of an American muscle car, they think of the Mustang.

The first ‘Stangs released were affectionately called the 1964½ models for debuting halfway through the year, but some enthusiasts consider 1965 to be the first official year. Constructed on the Falcon chassis, it came as a convertible or coupe. Since the car wasn't projected to be as successful as it was, it only came with four engine models: a 170 cubic inch inline six-cylinder with 101 horsepower, a 260ci V8 with 164 horsepower, a 289ci V8 with 210 horsepower, and, released three months after initial production, a 289ci V8 Hi-Po with 271 horsepower.

Galloping Forward

In 1965, Ford debuted its newly designed fastback model. This model would be the basis for the white-bodied Shelby GT350. In addition to the 289ci V8 Hi-Po planted in the Shelby, Ford improved and upgraded the engine options. They bumped the I6 up to 120 horsepower, the 289ci  two-valve to 200 horsepower, and the 289ci four-valve to 225 horsepower. Other changes for 1965 included an alternator that took the place of a generator and a luxurious "pony interior" option with woodgrain trim on the steering wheel, glove compartment, and center console to go with a herd of mustangs branded into the center of the two-tone leather seats. The GT trim also featured some distinctive options, such as dual exhaust, disc brakes, and larger sway bars.

1967 brought the first big transformation for the Mustang. Available option levels were the base, GT, GTA, Stallion, Shelby GT350, and Shelby GT500. A massive 427ci V8 engine with 520 horsepower was created for a Shelby Super Snake prototype, but it never reached mass production due to its costly nature. There was also a big block 390ci V8 to contend with the Corvette and Camaro SS 396. The front end grew another three inches, and headlights were moved to the outside of the grille. More models were eventually released, such as the rare Boss 302 and 429, the Mach1, and the GT, GT350, and GT500. Horsepower continued to rise, with 335 horsepower in the GT500 and 376 horsepower in the Boss 429.

Some consider the ‘70s to be a bleak time for the Mustang. A V8 that once pumped out 375 horsepower now cranked at 275. The Boss and Shelby GT trims were abandoned after 1970, and the base model for the 1972 year offered only 98 horsepower, a bit less than the 1964½'s 101.

In 1974, the Mustang II officially replaced the beloved first generation, and it barely matched the features of its predecessor, in part because of US government regulations and emission standards. So the compact, fuel-efficient Mustang II had more in common with the Pinto than an actual Mustang.

Change occurred for the better with the introduction of the third generation in 1979. Now on the Fox platform, the best the '79 model could pump out was 140 horsepower with a 5.0L V8.

In the mid-1980s, it was rumored that Ford wanted to switch the rear-wheel drive (RWD) layout to front-wheel drive (FWD), but many enthusiasts cringed at the thought, and, after hearing such a negative response, Ford decided to preserve the ‘Stang as it was. Ford spend the rest of the decade trying to restore the Mustang's image to that of the 1960's days of performance. First, the Mustang GL, GT, and GLX were offered, and a convertible followed shortly thereafter. 1984 brought an anniversary model GT350 and a new SVO that put out 175 horsepower from a turbocharged inline four. 

Once Again, A Pony with Performance

As sales began to dip, the Fox platform was ditched in favor of the SN-95 platform, and the base model returned to offering a six-cylinder. With increasing horsepower and better performance, the Mustang truly revived itself in the ‘90s. A new Cobra was introduced, and a powerful Saleen S351 with a 5.8L V8 that kicked 371 horsepower was also available. In 2005, the beginning of a new generation featured an S-197 body style that had a small taste of the first version and later featured a glass ceiling.

Today, the Ford Mustang is one of the few muscle cars still produced. It is available with a V6 with 300 horsepower, a turbocharged EcoBoost I4 with 310 horsepower, or a V8 with 435 horsepower; six-speed manual or automatic transmission; coupe or convertible body styles; and for the first time in the Mustang's history, independent rear suspension. Spanning four decades of production and having several highly collectible variations, the Ford Mustang is truly the premier American muscle car.

Need Ford Mustang Parts?

1A Auto is dedicated to helping make your classic or new Mustang last. Your Mustang is only as good as its parts and 1A Auto has the Ford Mustang parts you need to keep it running smoothly and maintaining that classic look for years to come.

Our product development team spends over 8,000 hours a year researching the best auto parts, and they are carefully selected by our trained engineers so you can rest assured that you are getting the correct, high quality part you need for your Ford Mustang, at a discount price. If we wouldn't put the part in our own vehicles, we won't sell them to anyone else. A new aftermarket replacement Ford Mustang part from 1A Auto will save you 30-50% on average over a comparable new OEM replacement Ford Mustang part that you would get at a dealership, and our new aftermarket Ford Mustang parts are also extremely durable and reliable. Don't overpay for Ford Mustang parts and save yourself from a lot of potential headaches by shopping at 1A Auto.

You can shop for all of your Ford Mustang auto parts online and buy safely and securely right here on our website, or you can call our customer service toll free at 888-844-3393 if you have any questions about any of our parts, or to buy over the phone. With over 150 years combined experience, 1A Auto's customer service representatives are the most qualified to answer your questions about all of our Ford Mustang parts. Our representative's answer 99.9% of phone calls in less than one minute and emails are responded to within the hour because we know you need answers quickly to get your beloved Ford Mustang back in working order again. We also know you want your part fast for the same reason; 98% of in stock Ford Mustang parts ship from our warehouse within one business day so that you can get back on the road in no time, and all ground shipping in the continental U.S. is completely free. And, in the unlikely case that you are unhappy with your Ford Mustang auto part for any reason, 1A Auto also offers the only No Hassle return policy for unused items in the industry. Simply put, our competitors can't beat the 1A Advantage. Don't just take it from us - take it from over 50,000 satisfied customers!

Don't settle for less and let faulty equipment ruin your drive - order from 1A Auto today and get your replacement aftermarket Ford Mustang parts delivered fast. If you happen to be an enthusiastic Ford Mustang owner, have a deep passion, or just want to learn more about it, continue reading below for a look at the vehicle's history and some fun facts.