MUSTANG MACH 1 SHAKES BACK TO STREET

Underneath, the 1969 Mach 1 offered a 250-horsepower 351 Cleveland V-8 or a 335-hp 428 Cobra-Jet mill. Mach 1 and its stablemate, the Boss 302 Mustang, reenergized the fastback, tripling sales of the body style in 1969. The much smaller Mustang II model, introduced in 1974 as a response to the nation?s ?energy crisis,? was the weaker sibling to its older muscle car brothers. The 1974 Mach 1 featured a 2.8-liter V-6 with dual exhaust while the other Mustangs of the period carried 2.3-liter I-4s as the base engine.

Muscle Car Reborn

Newer, more efficient V-8 engines brought Mustang back to its roots in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1994, the Mustang was completely redesigned with many of the popular styling cues of the original pony cars restored. The new car featured a long nose, short rear deck, ?C-scoops? on the sides, three-element tail lamps and the return of the galloping pony emblem on the grille. Mustang sales once again soared to the lead in its segment.

The high-revving, highly efficient, overhead-cam MOD 4.6-liter V-8 replaced the pushrod 5.0-liter V-8 in 1996 and assured Mustang?s longevity as a modern-day muscle car for years to come. The Mustang was freshened again with a new, edgier design in 1999.

Today?s Mustang

Just as the originals in 1964, the modern Mustang is a leader. It stands alone in its class, as the cross-town rivals, who in 1968 rushed to create a competitor to the original pony car, have now quietly departed the segment. Mustang has led its class for more than 15 years and is the best-selling convertible in the United States.