Year By Year

The following is a prelude to a complete guide to the progression of the third-generation Mustang from its humble beginnings in 1979 to its awesome street prowess of 1993. The third-generation did not just happen; it evolved over a 15-year period. For this reason, we encourage you to begin with the 1979 years and continue to 1993 without missing any time in between.

At this point, the authors would like to express some important points. As Mustang enthusiasts, we appreciate ALL Mustangs and we are not arguing the issue of which is the best Mustang ever. In our opinion, they are all great and there is something to be said about each model year and style. Being a true Mustanger means having an appreciation for the breed, not just one steed in particular. Since we have a heightened interest with 1979-93 model 5.0s, we will probably refer to them as the best Mustangs ever. Please do not misconstrue this as an attempt to discredit other Mustang generations. Shelby, GT, 2.3L, Cobra, GT-350, King Cobra, and Boss Mustangs, to name a few, are all part of the same family and each is great in its own right. More importantly, they all have a place in the annals of the legendary pony car, the Ford Mustang! Our purpose is to inform people about the third-generation Mustang, a particular segment in the Mustang's history, and what makes it great!