1973 Mustang the Death of the Classic American Muscle Car
The 1973 production year marked the end of the legendary generation of the Ford Mustang. The high performance engines were almost a thing of the past as they decreased in availability. 1973 was also the last year of the Mustang convertible until they were resurrected in 1983. The era of the classic Mustang drew to a close, leaving behind a rich history while the Mustang II debuted in 1974.
The first generation of the pony car ended.
Emissions regulations really began to cramp Ford’s style as it throttled output and performance. Power ratings dropped even further as the 302 plummeted to a mere 135 horsepower and the two 351s that were left (the renowned Windsor and two barrel Cleveland) were whittled down to just a little over 150 horsepower each.
In an effort to keep with the changing times, Ford began to rethink the Mustang and 1973 was the last year to see the classic muscle car. At its prime, the Mustang was powerful and sleek, the be all, end all pony car.
