The Ford Motor Company has produced many stunning classic Mustangs through the years, and the company’s breathtaking muscle car has solidified its place in motor history.
Although we now think of the Mustang as one of Ford’s staple vehicles, its fate wasn’t always so secure. The 1967 Mustang addressed impending competition, improving their remarkable vehicle in the process. Here’s a brief history of Ford’s redesign of Mustang classic cars as well as the vehicle’s specifications and options.
The American Automotive Industry Leading up to the 1967 Mustang Redesign
Ford initially introduced their incredible Mustang in April of 1964, making the car a 1964 ½ model. The company made an immediate splash in the American automotive world by creating this unforgettable pony car. Technically, the world’s first pony car was the Plymouth Barracuda, which Chrysler debuted just two weeks before the Mustang, but Ford’s pony car absolutely trounced Chrysler’s vehicle in sales and performance.
Through 1966, Ford didn’t update the Mustang significantly, but this changed as the general public got used to Ford’s landmark car. Additionally, Ford had a looming competition to worry about that was set to debut in 1967: the Chevrolet Camaro. Before the Camaro, Ford was only competing with the Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracuda. The Ford Motor Company’s executives knew that they needed to update the Mustang to address the Chevrolet’s approaching car, and the company also needed to improve upon the Mustang to meet the public’s desire for more power, size, and luxury.
Ford updated the Mustang’s body and powertrain in the 1967 model year. The new Mustang offered more power, style, and size for motorists, making the vehicle more of a muscle car than a pony car.
Although this was an important shift for Ford, Mustang sales still decreased in 1967 thanks to the Chevrolet Camaro as well as the Mercury Cougar. Mustang sales dropped from 607,568 in 1966 to 472,121 in 1967. The Chevrolet Camaro certainly hurt Ford’s Mustang sales, but the company’s sales still paled in comparison to Ford with only 220,906 units sold.
Specifications of the Powerful 1967 Mustang Muscle Cars
With Ford now positioning the Mustang as a muscle car, they equipped it with the big block FE series V8. The 1967 iteration came with 390 cu in (6.4 L) FE V8 engines, and the 1968 models had 427 cu in (7.0 L) FE HiPo V8 engines.
To accommodate these new larger engines, Ford widened its chassis by 2.5 inches, also giving them a two-inch wider track in the process. This change improved the vehicle’s handling and roadability. The vehicle’s wheelbase remained the same as the 1966 models with 108 inches, but the 1967’s length was extended from 181.1 to 183.6 inches.
Although the vehicle underwent size updates and appeared heftier and larger, it was only 86 pounds heavier than the 1966 Mustang, meaning that the 1967 had a much more impressive performance while also being almost just as light. The 390 cu in engine also increased the Mustang’s speed performance and torque, empowering the car to boast 335 bhp.
Additionally, Ford updated the 1967 Mustang in ways that mirrored the Shelby Mustang GT-350 series with its relocated suspension components. Ford also improved the Mustang’s speed geometry to mimic the impressive Shelby vehicles.
Although the Mustang by and large outperformed the Camaro, Chevrolet did offer a 396 cu in (6.5 L) engine that had 375 bhp, but the Camaro was heavier and didn’t offer tilt steering.
Ford 1967 Mustang Options
The Ford Motor Company offered many impressive body styles and other options. They offered a convertible option in standard, deluxe, or bench seats. The company also offered hardtop and fastback options, with the hardtops being the number one seller with 336,271 units sold. Like the convertible, the hardtop also came in standard, deluxe, and bench seat options, and the fastback had standard and deluxe options.
Two other Mustang versions that sold considerably well in 1967 were the Shelby GT-350 and GT-500, both of which were fastbacks. The 1967 GT-350 sported a 289 cu in (4.7 L) Windsor V8, while the 1967 GT-500 boasted a 428 cu in (7.0 L) Police Interceptor engine with 600 cfm 4v carburetors. The remarkable GT-500 had 335 hp with the practical output being around 410 bhp.
In addition to Ford’s 472,121 units sold in 1967, Shelby American and Ford Performance sold 2,050 GT-500 units and 1,175 GT-350 units.
Get the Best Insurance on Your Ford Mustang Classic
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