Ford Mustang GT Packaged for Speed

1967 Shelby GT350 - Picture of the most desirable Shelby.

Ford introduced the Grand Touring package to the world in 1965. Designed to take the Ford Mustang from a tame saddle horse to one wild pony, the Grand Touring (GT) package as it came to be known, offered drivers a better performing car with better handling. The options in the GT package were not new to Ford, but the package just bundled them all together. This way, buyers did not have to wade through an extensive list of options to put together the features that they desired to make a car that was a top performer and handled like a dream.

Early Years Ford Mustang GT

In the early days of the Ford Mustang GT, there was little by way of speed and power that set it apart from other Mustangs. Car Life in 1965 did a story on the Mustang GT and reported that a hardtop sporting a 225 Challenger V 8 clocked a ho hum 16.80 with a C4 on the drag strip. Likewise, a 289 with 271 hp only pulled a 15.90 at the drags and that was with guys from Motor Trend helping out. Nevertheless, even with their slow start, the Ford Mustang GTs are still a favorite among Mustang enthusiasts. The sporty, hot look of the Ford Mustang has been wooing and wowing collectors and fans alike for decades.

Ford Mustang GT 350

The Ford Mustang GT has that “certain something” that carries an enticing mystique that extends far beyond sports car handling and major power. The Shelby took on the GT package in 1966 with several offerings of power options. The 289ci Windsor V 8, also known and the K code became a legend on the Ford forefront. One interesting feature of the first 300 or so GT 350s that rolled off of the production line were rear battery cars. In other words, the batteries for the cars were mounted in the trunk. However, when customers complained of acid fumes Cobra Battery Caps were created. This vented the acid fumes so that they went outside of the car instead of inside.

2002 Ford Mustang GT Accessories

Side view of a 2005 Ford Mustang GT ivy green automobile with polished bullit wheels.

The Ford GT that emerged in 2002 took on the body style that was somewhere between the classic mustang and a red-hot racecar. While the response to the Ford GT was very positive, it persuaded Ford to make the decision to offer limited numbers of the car. The Ford GT is an ultra high performance two seater with sleek styling and top-notch performance. The heart of the beast is a supercharged 5.4 liter V 8, mid mounted and packing 550 horses and 500 foot pounds of torque. This baby hits top speeds of 212 mph.

Ford Mustang GT a Retrospective

The Ford Mustang GT has had its ups and downs, in production, out of production and back in with as many different modifications in look and power. It has seen increases in power, changes to body style and tweaks here and there that give it an edge at the drags. One thing is for sure, though, this pony was born to run.

The following video sums up why the Ford Mustang GT has kept the hearts of fans for over 40 years. We here at Ford Mustang History are proud of the job Ford did in not only capturing the feel of Mustang fans but their wonderful salute to the men and women that make owning one possible to drive in a free country. Remember always that freedom is rarely free and be glad for what you have for someone else has had to sacrifice so that it is all possible. It’s a nice look at the GT from old to new. We salute the brave men and women of the American Armed Forces who we love more than our Stangs.