Ford Mustang: 1994-2004

The venerable Ford small-block pushrod V-8 was put to rest in 1996 and replaced by an overhead-cam, "modular" V-8. To reduce tooling costs, this engine was designed to share components with other Ford engines, hence the "modular" terminology. The Mustang GT got a 4.6-liter version with SOHC heads that produced 215 hp, while the Cobra was blessed by a twin-cam version with 32 valves and 305 hp. In back, the horizontal taillights were swapped for more retro units with vertical bars. The 1996 model sold well and little was changed the following two years. Meanwhile Camaro sales started to slip and it was discontinued in 2002.

The Nines
Although it had a family resemblance to the preceding model, the 1999 Mustang was a significant improvement. The chassis was still based on the old Fox-4 (Ford's internal designation) design and the suspension was fundamentally the same. The body was similar but the side vents were now much taller and the taillights were changed. Both the V-6 and V-8 engines picked up power. The SVT Cobra received what was supposed to be a 320-hp upgrade to the DOHC engine, but some production versions proved to be less powerful and the resultant bad publicity forced Ford to pull the plug for the 2000 model year while they worked on a solution. It seems that casting flash inside the intake manifolds and clogged exhaust systems were causing the power loss, and all 1999 models were offered replacement systems. The good news was the introduction of independent rear suspension on the 1999 Cobra. It worked quit well, but the other Mustang models continued with live axles.


The 2000 model Mustangs were little changed from the 1999 models. SVT developed a 385-hp Cobra R with a 5.4-liter version of the modular motor. A taller hood was needed to clear the big mill, and a functional splitter and rear wing were fitted.

Bullit Proof
Probably the most famous movie Mustang of all time was the green '68 driven with alacrity by Steve McQueen in movie Bullitt. Ford brought back some memories with their Bullitt edition of the 2001 Mustang GT. It was lowered and had special wheels that resembled the 5-spoke mags used in the movie. Only 500 were built.


The SVT team had been busy developing a supercharged version of the 4.6-liter Cobra that came out in 2003 with 390 sizzling horses that drive through a six-speed transmission. A new Mach 1 model had many Cobra parts, but sans blower and sporting the classic shaker hood pioneered in the 1970s.