# Ugliest Year for Ford Mustang? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666 "2010-09-30T22:40:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/21 "2010-10-01T05:46:20Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > The Mustang IIs, however, [had no redeeming value whatsoever](http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/curbside-classic-fords-deadly-sin1-1975-mustang-cobra-ii/). Hideous, underpowered (even for that time) pieces of garbage. Damn, I really like that. ---
**Author:** ![clarkstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@clarkstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkstar)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/22 "2010-10-01T07:06:30Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [1974-1978 Mustang II](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ford_Mustang_II_(Centropolis_Laval_%2710).jpg). zactly! what were they thinking? although u throw a 351 in one of those and its not so ugly 😉 ---
**Author:** ![clarkstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@clarkstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkstar)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/23 "2010-10-01T07:12:46Z")
i think the 2005+ are the best loookign since the 69-70 my brother had a [79 pace car](http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/7726/1979mustangpace.jpg)and it wasnt too bad ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/24 "2010-10-01T16:23:30Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > I’m gonna go against the popular opinion here and say that I thought the [4th Generation Mustangs (94-04)](http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&expIds=17259,25260,26714,26781,26799&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=4th+generation+mustang&cp=17&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1680&bih=857) were unconscionably ugly. > > It’s supposed to be a muscle car. Why were they trying to make it look like a sedan? Ugh. No personality whatsoever. > > [My 2007 GT](http://s689.photobucket.com/albums/vv256/GameHat/?action=view¤t=Mustang.jpg), however, is beautiful. 😃 I’m not a big car guy, but I agree. At least the 80’s ones had some kind of style…granted, it was 80’s style, but whatever. But the mid-90’s to mid-2000’s Mustangs were as bland as white bread, crust removed. I guess that was the trend for every car in those days, but there’s a fundamental difference in doing that to something like a minivan, sedan, or station wagon, and then doing it to a Mustang. I remember the first time I saw the “new classic” Mustangs (2005 and on) I was like, “Holy shit, the Mustang is cool again!” ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/25 "2010-10-01T17:07:45Z")
The even-numbered generation Mustangs suck. Avoid these: Generation 2 1974-1978 Generation 4 1994-2004 I have every reason to suspect that Ford will continue this trend. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/26 "2010-10-01T18:11:21Z")
I’m also going to vote for the 1974-1978 Mustangs. My first car was a '65 Mustang (this was in 1976) and a friend of mine owned a 1980 Mustang and they weren’t bad. On the other hand, my favorite Mustang is the fastback Steve McQueen drove in **Bullitt**. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/27 "2010-10-02T02:48:52Z")
My neighbor has a convertible later 80’s Ford Mustang. It’s red. He washes it every Saturday, gives it a loving wax and shows all evidence of excessive pride in his vehicle. I just have to snicker. That ain’t no Mustang. That’s a stupid budget compact with a horse on the grill. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/28 "2010-10-02T19:55:59Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > [My 2007 GT](http://s689.photobucket.com/albums/vv256/GameHat/?action=view¤t=Mustang.jpg), however, is beautiful. 😃 I have to say that is the second most beautiful car I’ve ever seen. -Spud (owner of an '06 Vista Blue GT Convertible) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/29 "2010-10-03T00:01:12Z")
Okay, car-folk, here’s something I need answered: A guy I work with claims that the Mustang was actually introduced in 1955 for one model year and then discontinued until 1964.5, when it was reintroduced. I’ve never heard this, and have been unable to corroborate this with any kind of Google-fu. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/30 "2010-10-03T00:21:51Z")
'55 was the Futura concept, which is best known as the Batmobile. '62 was the first “Mustang” but it is closer related to the GT40. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/31 "2010-10-03T00:28:27Z")
The Mustang I prototype was designed in 1961 and unveiled in 1962. > **[1965 Ford Mustang Prototypes](https://auto.howstuffworks.com/1965-ford-mustang-prototypes.htm#pt1)** > > It was a long journey from the idea of a sleek American sports car to the first Ford Mustang. Learn about the many dead ends and how worried Ford execs settled on the right formula. ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/32 "2010-10-03T08:46:55Z")
Every time I see an 80s Mustang, early 80s Datsun pops in my head ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/33 "2010-10-03T12:10:23Z")
I use to work with a lady who promised her children if they got all A’s in High school they could pick any car that Ford made as theirs. Dad worked for Ford. Both picked Mustangs. The daughter graduated in 91 ish and her car was fugly as sin and I always felt bad. Her brother graduated a few years later and the car was redesigned and marketedly improved. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/34 "2010-10-03T13:08:41Z")
I always loved Mustangs. In the 5th grade, like '75, I had a major crush on my teacher, and she drove a [Mach I Fastback](http://www.allfordmustangs.com/photopost/data/3234/medium/1971FordMustangMach1FastbackRearSide.jpg). That was the coolest car I ever saw. Then the [80’s turned Mustangs](http://image.mustangmonthly.com/f/9185909/mump_0711_01_z+1985_ford_mustang_twister+photo.jpg) into [Bobcats](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4678609500_d2079cb43e.jpg). The 80’s did the same thing for music, by the way. But now they’re back looking cool. I managed to snag a [2007](http://www.byzan.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/ford-mustang-v6-coupe.jpg)last year. I’m no longer dirt poor, but I’m still not quite to the “I’ll buy a brand new GT” level yet, so mine is a used V6 version … but damn, it still looks cool. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/35 "2010-10-03T18:06:31Z")
I’ve owned an 03 GT and an 07 GT and rode home from the hospital in an 83 GT when I was born. The 79-04 are pretty much the same car. You can swap drive train, suspension, and several other pieces between them. They are easy to work on easy to improve or turn into race cars. The 05+ are the most refined. They handle and accelerate better than any Mustang ever made. They’re so comfortable though, that you don’t feel how fast they are. Even after mods, they don’t feel as “raw” as I think a performance car should. They’re great daily drivers though. Comfortable, fast, fun, and great gas mileage. My personal favorite is the 03-04 Mach 1. Suspension, 4.30 gears, and slicks turn it into an 11 second car. The big hole in the hood and the shaker hood scoop are also cool. My next “Mustang” will be a Factory Five Roadster with a Mach 1 drive train. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/36 "2010-10-04T02:52:47Z")
Y’all are raggin’ on the 80’s Mustangs. But my dad had a '89 GT convertable that was really good-looking and fast as hell. It had the state trooper modification (basically, the governer disabled). My god that car was fast and powerful and turned a lot of heads. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/37 "2010-10-04T03:13:48Z")
In my rambling, I forgot it was about the ugliest Mustang. Not a fan of the 94-98 Mustang, though the Cobras do look alright. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/38 "2010-10-04T03:42:33Z")
Screw all of you 80’s haters! I had a '89 and was happy with it: $13k brand-new with a 5 liter V8, holy sh\*t! That car roared, and was way fun to drive. Also, a lot of the boxy ugliness of the early-80’s had been smoothed out by '89, but I bought the car for how it drove, not how it looked. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/39 "2010-10-04T06:39:22Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > [1974-1978 Mustang II](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ford_Mustang_II_(Centropolis_Laval_%2710).jpg). > > I disagree that they were ugly in those days, but they certainly were steaming piles of crap. I had a 1978 for a few years, and it sucked in all possible mechanical ways. I think under the sheet metal it was really just a Pinto. But I still thought it was cute. I too don’t think they were the ugliest but I refer to them as Rustangs. The nice thing about them was that they weighed 2800 lbs with the 302 and air conditioning. They even had staggered shocks which worked well for drag racing and the 8" posi and C4 would stand up to 300+hp reasonably well. The factory brakes were worthless and would not work if asked to at 130 mph. ---
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666/40 "2010-10-04T15:42:09Z")
1. It looks like a Dodge Aries coupe, which is quintessentially the antithesis of a Mustang. [http://www.mustangview.com/1980-ford-mustang.html](http://www.mustangview.com/1980-ford-mustang.html) Aries coupe (bottom of the page) > **[The Chrysler K-Car Club – A Club for all K-Car's and K-Car Cousins](http://www.chryslerkcar.com/)** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugliest-year-for-ford-mustang/555666.md?page=3)