In 1969, the Mustang Boss 302 and Boss 429 added a new level in power and sophistication not seen in earlier models. The beautiful 1970 Mustang brought the sixties to a close, and some challenges awaited in the seventies.   For 1971, Ford introduced an all new Mustang that had a longer and bigger body. This version lasted only three years, and in 1974, with stricter emission regulations and fuel economy requirements, a completely different Mustang was introduced. The Mustang II debuted in 1974 to mixed reviews. Enthusiasts seemed to stay away but Ford still sold a lot of these small, economical cars, and they remained pretty much the same until 1979, when a whole new Mustang started a "second coming" of the legendary pony car. Ask anyone remotely interested in cars and I bet a 5.0L 5-speed Mustang from 1983 to 1994 would be close to the top of their wish list. These cars were inexpensive, reliable and fast. Very fast. And with tons of speed parts available from Ford and the aftermarket, these cars could be modified for unbelievable performance.

Ford's rock solid 302 cubic inch (5.0L) V-8 engine, coupled with a bulletproof drive-line and performance tuned suspension proved to be a winning combination both on and off the track. From the mid 80's on, there were probably more high performance parts offered for the Mustang than any other car. Ford sold millions of the "Fox body" (an internal Ford code name) Mustangs. And just like the early versions, you could order it pretty much any way you wanted it, from mild to wild. People thought the Mustang had reached its peak in popularity. But they were wrong. Stay tuned for the final chapter on Ford's little pony car.