Flowmaster SoundIt became the sound heard around the world, or at least around every American neighborhood. Flowmaster was one of the first companies to market an after-cat performance exhaust system for the 5.0 Mustang, and as a result, its chambered mufflers and larger tailpipes became a staple of late-model Mustang performance. Even today, a Flowmaster system is one of the first modifications made by owners of new 4.6 Mustangs.
Mustang MagazinesIn 1978, Larry Dobbs mortgaged his home to start a little magazine called the Mustang Exchange Letter, a name that was quickly changed to Mustang Monthly. Little did Dobbs know he was creating a new automotive magazine segment for specific vehicles. Within a few years, there were at least seven Mustang titles on the newsstand. Today, that number has dwindled, but Mustang Monthly, Mustang & Fords, 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords, and Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords are still promoting the Mustang tradition to thousands of Mustang owners and enthusiasts around the world.
Running Horse LogoEvery product should have a logo that is instantly recognized. Called the galloping pony or running horse, the logo has adorned nearly every Mustang since 196411/42. Originally penned by Phil Clark, a young Ford designer who reportedly sketched the horse running to the left because it was more natural for him as a right-hander, the running horse logo quickly became one of the world's most recognizable symbols. Except during Ford's "corporate" period of 1983 to 1989, when the Ford oval replaced standard nameplates, the Mustang running horse has appeared somewhere on every Mustang built.
Lee IacoccaWithout Lee Iacocca, we might very well be driving, restoring, and showing '64 Falcon Sprints today. It was Iacocca who recognized the growing baby-boomer market in the early-'60s and directed the rebirth of the Falcon as a practical, affordable, yet sporty Mustang with a long hood, short-deck profile. His success with the Mustang led to his promotion to president of Ford Motor Company in 1970 and a subsequent firing, due to "personality conflicts," by Henry Ford II in 1978. Iacocca then moved to Chrysler, where he hit another home run with the mini-van. Although often called the Father of the Mustang, Iacocca continues to shun any recognition for his involvement with the car.
Mustang GT Originally, it stood for Grand Touring, but today it represents affordable performance. Introduced in the spring of 1965 as the GT Equipment Group, the GT option added fog lamps, exhaust trumpets, side stripes, and more to the basic '65-'66 Mustang package. After giving way to the more popular Mach 1 after 1969, the GT Mustang went on hiatus until 1982, when it returned with a 5.0-liter HO V-8 and a "Boss is Back!" advertising campaign. During 1986-'95, with the venerable EFI 5.0 as its only available powerplant, the GT became one of the most popular Mustangs ever. From 1996 to today, with 4.6 power, the GT Mustang continues to offer sporty performance at an affordable price.
Carroll ShelbyThe man is a legend, and so are the Mustangs he created from 1965 to 1970. After success with his two-seater Cobras, Ford asked Shelby to bolster the Mustang's performance and racing image by building Shelby-modified fastbacks. The result was the GT350, in both street and race (R-model) versions. Jerry Titus drove one of the R-Models to the SCCA B/Production National Championship, securing the Shelby Mustang's reputation as a winner. Over the next five years, Shelby was involved in the creation of limited-production, high-performance Shelby Mustangs that added much to the Mustang's legacy with cars like the Hertz rental GT350Hs, big-block GT500s, and Cobra Jet-powered GT500KRs.