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Ford Cars

Muscle · 35 models

Ford

The Mustang, the F-150, the GT40, the Bronco. No American maker has produced more icons across more categories than Ford.

Muscle

Ford has the deepest catalog of culturally important vehicles in the American auto industry. The Mustang is the original pony car and has run continuously since 1964 across seven generations. The F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in America for over four decades. The GT40 won Le Mans four years in a row from 1966 to 1969 and humiliated Ferrari while doing it. The Bronco built a reputation as a serious off-roader before disappearing for two decades and returning in 2021 to a market that had been waiting. The Mustang is the spine of Ford performance. The first generation (1964-1973) defined the pony car category. The Fox-body (1979-1993) became the staple of American grassroots drag racing because the chassis was light and the 5.0 liter pushrod V8 responded to every bolt-on ever made. The S197 (2005-2014) brought the retro design back. The S550 (2015-2023) introduced independent rear suspension, properly competitive handling, and the Shelby GT350 with its flat-plane crank 5.2 liter Voodoo V8. The current S650 continues the line. Outside the Mustang, the modern Ford performance lineup runs deep. The Raptor F-150 reset what a high-speed off-road truck could be. The Focus RS and Fiesta ST were two of the best front-wheel drive (FWD or AWD in the case of RS) hatches ever sold in North America before Ford pulled them. The Ford GT (both 2005-2006 and 2017-2022) revived the GT40 silhouette as a modern halo car. On WhipJury, Ford submissions are heavy on Mustangs (every generation, but especially Fox-bodies, S197 GTs, and S550 GT350s), Raptors, F-150s, Focus RS and Fiesta STs, and the occasional Ford GT or vintage Bronco.

Top Ford cars on WhipJury

2023 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra
2023 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra#1
Whip Score: 1212
2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R
2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R#2
Whip Score: 1206
2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse#3
Whip Score: 1188

Ford models we cover

Bronco
Bronco
Bronco Sport
Bronco Sport
Crown Victoria
Crown Victoria
Edge
Edge
Escape
Escape
Expedition
Expedition
Explorer
Explorer
F-150
F-150
F-250
F-250
F-350
F-350
Fairlane
Fairlane
Falcon
Falcon
Fiesta
Fiesta
Fiesta ST
Fiesta ST
Flex
Flex
Focus
Focus
Focus RS
Focus RS
Focus ST
Focus ST
Fusion
Fusion
Galaxie
Galaxie
GT
GT
GT40
GT40
Lightning
Lightning
Mach-E
Mach-E
Maverick
Maverick
Mustang
Mustang
Pinto
Pinto
Ranger
Ranger
Raptor
Raptor
RS200
RS200
Shelby GT350
Shelby GT350
Shelby GT500
Shelby GT500
Sierra Cosworth
Sierra Cosworth
Taurus
Taurus
Thunderbird
Thunderbird

The Mustang generations

First generation (1964-1973). Defined the pony car. Inline six base, V8 options up through the 428 Cobra Jet and 429 Boss. The 1969 Boss 302 and Boss 429 are the apex of the run. Massive influence on the entire muscle car category.

Fox-body (1979-1993). Light unibody, simple suspension, 5.0 HO V8 from 1986 onward. Became the default American drag racing chassis. Nearly every aftermarket part for a small block Ford was developed for or refined on a Fox.

SN95/New Edge (1994-2004). Bigger and softer than the Fox. The Cobra and Mach 1 variants reclaim some performance credibility. The 03/04 Terminator Cobra with its Eaton-supercharged 4.6 DOHC is a cult car.

S197 (2005-2014). Retro design returns. Solid rear axle through the entire run. The Shelby GT500 with the supercharged 5.4 liter and later 5.8 liter is the headliner; the Boss 302 (2012-2013) is the connoisseur pick.

S550 (2015-2023). Independent rear suspension, the Coyote 5.0, and the GT350 Voodoo flat-plane V8. The first Mustang that handles seriously on a road course.

S650 (2024-present). Current car. Coyote evolved, Dark Horse trim with Tremec manual, and a hybrid GTD ultra-track model launching as a halo.

The F-150 and the truck dominance

The F-Series has outsold every other vehicle in America since 1981. The F-150 specifically (the half-ton variant) drives most of that volume. Ford figured out earlier than most competitors how to package the truck as a daily driver, then how to layer increasingly extreme variants on top: the SVT Lightning of the 1990s and 2000s, the Raptor starting in 2010, and the Tremor and Lightning EV in the current generation. The Raptor in particular invented the "factory pre-runner" category and forced GM and Ram to follow.

The GT40 and Le Mans

The GT40 program started after Henry Ford II tried to buy Ferrari in 1963 and was rebuffed. Ford then committed to beating Ferrari at Le Mans, which the program achieved in 1966 (1-2-3 finish), 1967, 1968, and 1969. The 2005-2006 Ford GT and the 2017-2022 Ford GT both reference the GT40 silhouette and represent the modern Ford halo car program.

Ford on WhipJury

Ford is one of the most active makes on the platform. Mustangs of every generation are common, with Fox-bodies and Coyote-swap projects particularly active. Raptors and lifted F-150s have a strong presence. Focus RS owners are a tight community on the platform; the same is true for Ford GT owners on the rare occasions one is posted.

Frequently asked questions about Ford

What is the most legendary Ford?
The original GT40 has the strongest case on motorsport history alone. The 1969 Boss 429 Mustang has the strongest case on muscle car culture. The 03/04 Terminator Cobra and the modern GT350 are the connoisseur picks. The F-150 is the most culturally significant if you look at total societal impact rather than enthusiast credentials.
What is a Coyote engine?
The Coyote is Ford modular V8 family introduced in the 2011 Mustang GT. 5.0 liters, dual overhead cam, four valves per cylinder, around 412 to 480 horsepower depending on generation and tune. Famously responsive to bolt-ons and supercharger kits, and used as a swap candidate for everything from Foxes to classic trucks.
Why was the Focus RS discontinued?
Ford restructured its global passenger car lineup in 2018 and 2019, exiting most North American sedan and hatchback segments. The Focus RS ended in North America after the 2018 model year. A combination of low margins, regulatory complexity, and a strategic shift toward trucks and SUVs drove the decision.
Is the new Ford GT the same as the old GT40?
No. Both Ford GT generations (2005-2006 and 2017-2022) are modern cars that reference the GT40 design but share no parts with the original. The first Ford GT used a supercharged 5.4 V8; the second used a twin-turbo 3.5 EcoBoost V6. The original GT40 used various small block and big block Ford V8s in racing trim.
Are old Mustangs hard to find?
Original first-generation cars are abundant; the 1965-1968 hardtops are the most affordable entry point to muscle car ownership. Boss variants, Mach 1s, and Shelby cars are progressively rarer and more expensive. Fox-bodies are still common but appreciating quickly. SN95 and S197 cars are the value buys today for buyers wanting a rear-drive V8 platform.

Ford on the WhipJury blog

The 2027 Ford F-150 brings the V8 back in the expensive trims
The 2027 Ford F-150 brings the V8 back in the expensive trims

The 2027 Ford F-150 makes the 5.0-liter V8 available from the base XL to the top Platinum again, and the King Ranch and Platinum get it back for the first time since 2023. A new 325 hp 3.0-liter EcoBoost becomes the base engine, and a new Raptor 800A trim starts $4,010 cheaper at $74,995.

Why a V8 rumbles and a Ferrari screams
Why a V8 rumbles and a Ferrari screams

An American V8 rumbles and a Ferrari V8 screams because of the crankshaft. Cross-plane cranks fire unevenly between banks and produce the lopey rumble; flat-plane cranks alternate perfectly and rev higher for that howl. Here's also why an inline-six is the smoothest engine you can buy.

Window tint, explained: what VLT means and how dark you can legally go
Window tint, explained: what VLT means and how dark you can legally go

VLT is the percentage of light a tinted window lets through, so lower means darker and 5 percent is limo tint. Legal limits vary hugely, from 70 percent in California and New York to 20 percent in New Mexico. Ceramic film rejects far more heat than dyed film at the same darkness.

Range Rover doesn’t want to sell more cars. It wants to make each one worth more
Range Rover doesn’t want to sell more cars. It wants to make each one worth more

Range Rover's marketing director says the brand's job "really is not to sell lots and lots of cars" but to build value, with managing director Martin Limpert aiming to be "in the modern luxury business" through one-to-one bespoke commissions. It's also a smart answer to the Chinese copies problem.

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