In 1969 Ford introduced the Boss Mustang, named after Ford designer Larry Shinoda's nickname for the automaker's president, Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen. The Boss 429's V8 developed 375 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. To compete in SCCA Trans-Am racing with Chevrolet's Camaro, which won the 1968 title, Ford built the Boss 302, powered by a 290-hp V8.

March 9, 1964: The first production Mustang, with an optional 260-cid V8, rolled out of Dearborn. Originally intended as a two-seater, Lee Iacocca, Ford general manager and the force behind the car, thought a four-place car would sell better. Some 22,000 sold the first day, April 17, and 1 million sold in the first two years. The rest, as they say, is history.

For those who thought a stock '65 Mustang too tame, Ford worked with racing legend Carroll Shelby to produce the GT350, a Mustang fastback with a 306-hp 289-cid V8. The car had no back seat, came only in white, and was said to be ready for the track straight out of the factory.

1967 saw the Mustang's first major styling changes, which included a bigger grille and concave tail. Seven engines were available that year, from the 115-hp inline six to the 355-hp 428 in the Shelby GT500.

It all went horribly wrong in 1974. The Mustang II was Ford's shot at a small, light sporty car. It ended up with an underpowered, ill-handling coupe based on the Pinto. The Mustang II got a 90-hp 2.3-liter four-cylinder (Ford thought V8s too heavy); the "performance" model came with a 100-hp 2.8-liter V6. The highlight: a Ghia model, complete with vinyl roof!

The Mustang II soldiered on and in 1978 the King Cobra was launched to mixed reviews. Some saw the $1,200 package as purely cosmetic, but it came with a four-speed manual transmission, front and rear antiroll bars and more aggressive Goodyear tires. A 134-hp 302 V8 powered King Cobras.

The Mustang II was (thankfully) killed after the 1978 model year and the third generation debuted in 1979. Based on the Fox platform introduced with Ford Fairmont in '78, the '79 Mustang grew in length and height, but weighed some 200 pounds less than Mustang II. Six engines were available, starting with the base 2.3-liter four up to the 302-cid V8, now producing 140 hp

Midway through the 1984 model came the Mustang SVO, named for Ford's Special Vehicle Operations. The SVO was available only as a hatchback and was powered by a turbocharged 2.3-liter four developing 175 hp. Many SVO buyers checked option 41C, which eliminated the radio, power locks and windows, and a/c. This saved $1,200, and nearly 100 pounds

For 1987 the Mustang was significantly restyled. The SVO model was dropped, but many of its parts were carried over. In its second year with fuel injection, the 5.0-liter V8 in the Mustang GT now developed 225 hp. The V6 was dropped, so choices were limited to the V8 or a 2.3-liter four producing 88 hp. Body styles were a two-door hatchback and a convertible.

1994, and an all-new body, based on a revised Fox platform. A 3.8-liter V6 now powered the base car, replacing the four. The 5.0 V8's horsepower was now 215. Ford dropped the hatchback and only the two-door coupe and convertible were available. The Cobra R was introduced, intended for racing. It came with no a/c or radio, and most of the sound-deadening insulation was removed.