StangTV's Top 5 Most Under Appreciated Mustang Models

As Mustang enthusiasts we’re spoiled these days. Our favorite pony car makes well over 400 hp from the factory, the GT500 has been giving GM a black eye for seven years, and there’s an all new Mustang on the horizon that promises to out handle its domestic and foreign competition. Throughout the car’s history there have been heroes and the supporting cast. Often that supporting cast is forgotten by horsepower history, so we thought we’d take a look at the most under appreciated Mustangs in the car’s 50 year history.

Cobra II
While many have completely disowned the Mustang II, the Cobra II was Ford’s first step in trying to get the Mustang name headed back towards performance. This was also the first car to feature the now legendary 5.0 badge as the whole USA tried to go metric in the 1970s.

94-95 Cobra
Many of the younger Mustang faithful don’t even know these cars exist. Riding on the coat tails of the very successful ’93 Cobra, the ’94 brought similar upgrades to the table. These cars were also the first to wear the 13-inch Cobra front brakes which became a mainstay of Mustang performance for over a decade.

SVO
While it has a stronger following today, the SVO is still a misunderstood Mustang. Built to compete head to head with much more expensive European cars, the SVO was ahead of its time. We’ll see if these cars start getting more respect as the ’15 EcoBoost begins hitting the streets.

86 5.0
The ’86 Mustang looked the same as the ’85 from the outside with the exception of a third brake light in the spoiler or rear window. The truth is that 1986 ushered in several things that would become mainstays of Mustang performance for years to come. These included the 8.8-inch rear differential, true dual exhaust, and electronic fuel injection.

05-10 Three-Valve

Often forgotten in the age of the Coyote, the three valve was the little mod motor that could. Outflowing the heads of its four-valve predecessors the three valve loves boost, and can still be built into an outstanding performer. These cars will be a major bargain for Mustang fans for years to come.