The 2008 Mustang convertible has been awarded, five-stars, the top mark in all federal crash tests, a first for a convertible sports car.

Ford said the 2008 model earned five out of five stars in front and side crash protection for drivers and passengers in tests run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It also received five stars for resistance to rollovers. Side air bags were optional on 2007 models. NHTSA rarely runs crash tests on convertibles, with only five models tested so far in the 2008 model year with one additional 2008 model scheduled to be tested.

The agency lacks funds to crash test every model of car and truck, and focuses on more popular vehicles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ranked the Mustang in the middle of the class in its own crash tests earlier this year, grading it “acceptable” in front collisions and “good” in side-impact safety.

More of the model and the car here.