The Ford Motor Company has been one of the most dominant forces in the automotive industry since the turn of the 20th century. Having revolutionized the entire industry and sold hundreds of millions of cars, Ford has often been the trendsetter in the market.
How does a brand like that celebrate its many successes on the market? One of the ways is by doing what they know best: making incredible cars but in exceedingly rarer and more unique versions.
Ford introduces special editions every few years to commemorate their success and history, adding a little something to each edition that attaches a special significance to those cars. Over the years, there have been special edition Fords that are barely distinguishable from their regular production models, and then there have been those that have enthusiasts wishing they had the spending money to buy one. Of course, the list we have here will focus on the latter. So without further ado, here are the coolest special editions that Ford has ever come out with.
10 F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition
The Harley Davidson Special Edition of the F-150 pickup truck was designed for motorcycle buffs. Through this, they could continue driving the most-sold pickup truck in the country while still maintaining (and showing off) their allegiance to their favorite motorcycle brand.
Furthermore, in the looks department, pickup trucks do not get bolder. With a glossy, bossy dark grey or black exterior, the F-150 Harley Davidson Special Edition sure spoke volumes with its appearance. It definitely didn't hurt that this was also faster than the regular F-150, for whenever you wished to chase down and wave to the motorcyclists with flowy beards going down the interstate.
9 Mustang Roush Performance Edition
Ford came out with an insane 760-hp Mustang Shelby GT500 in the year 2020. However, for some gearheads, even that amount of power didn't quite do it. Thus, the special Jack Roush Edition of the car was born. The 5.2-liter V8 was upgraded to churn out 775 hp. Together with its 670 lb-ft of torque, the spec-ed car rushed down the roads with a blazing tarmac in its wake.
All of that added power came courtesy of the Roush supercharger. With its candy-apple red paint, the Jack Roush Edition of the Mustang sure is a looker.
8 Fairlane 500 R Code
Back in the '60s, Ford's Mustangs and Galaxies weren't the fastest or the most powerful. What Ford's lineup desperately lacked was a powerful street engine that could deliver raw, unadulterated power to the wheels. Hence, Ford installed the 427 R Code engine in the Fairlane.
The 500-hp V8 was never meant to be road-legal, but that is what Ford did when they put it inside the Fairlane. Looking at it, the Fairlane R Code didn't look much like a special edition car, apart from the scoop on the hood, which provided air to the V8.
To nobody's surprise, the car was ridiculously fast and dominated at drag races. The Fairlane R Code remains a collector's dream since there are even fewer remaining than the original 57 that Ford produced.
7 1968 Mustang California Special CS/SC
The Mustang's California Special Edition came to the market in 1968, and soon became one of the most sought-after variants. The exclusivity of this model alone helped Ford enhance the sales of the entire Mustang lineup.
Initially, the 1968 California Special Mustang only came with a V8 engine, mated with other high-tech equipment. This was when the legendary Carroll Shelby stepped in, designing the iconic rear-end with its deck spoiler and the Cougar tail lights that became synonymous with the California Special.
6 Falcon (Mad Max) XC Cobra
This special edition Ford Falcon was never sold on U.S. shores; it was built by Ford in 1978, in their Australian plant, and marketed there, alongside South Africa. What makes this car so popular and recognizable, is its featuring role, front, and center, in the first Mad Max movie. Sure, it didn't come out of Motor City, but it definitely was a through muscle car.
This bright idea came from Ford Australia when they decided not to discard close to 400 bodies of their Falcon coupes. Instead, the engineers decided to outfit those bodies with 5.0 or 5.7-liter V8 engines. Et voila, a special edition car line was made. With its racing stripes and an especially iconic paint job, the Falcon XC Cobra is still a heartthrob for collectors.
5 Mustang McLaren M81
The twilight of the '70s, with the turn of the new decade, sure was a special time for special edition cars. The M81 McLaren Mustang rarely ever needs an introduction. This street-racing beast was built by Ford alongside the American operations office of British carmakers McLaren.
The M81 boasted of a race-tuned suspension, a lighter chassis and body than the average Mustang, and a slew of other modifications. The race-tuned 2.3-liter turbo engine churned out 190 hp, completely revamping the looks of the Ford Mustang.
As sad as it is, the high asking price didn't quite sit well with the market, and after an incredibly-low 10-odd sales, the project was canceled.
4 Bronco Stroppe Baja Edition
The Bronco's Stroppe Baja Edition is to be credited to one man alone—Bill Stroppe. One of the most influential names ever in the development of Ford's racing program, Bill Stroppe racing secured a win each in the Baja 500 and 100 rallies...and they did it all with a custom Ford Bronco.
The Stroppe Baja Edition Bronco paid tribute to that victory in 1971. Each of the spec-ed models outfitted with a slew of off-road upgrades, this special edition Bronco came straight from Bill Stroppe racing, with paintwork that is now iconic with the Bronco's history. To add to the exclusivity of the special edition, they made less than 650 of Stroppe Baja Edition Broncos.
3 Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Mustang
The 45th anniversary of the Mustang came with its most special edition yet. Paying its due respect to Lee Iacocca, the creator of the Mustang, Ford created 45 of these special edition cars with Iacocca's namesake.
Churning out 400 horses, the Iacocca 45th Anniversary Edition came in a beautiful all-silver paint, with custom bodywork and special rims. With such a limited amount of models coming off the assembly line, this special edition Mustang sold very quickly, despite the near-100 grand asking price.
2 Ford SVT Raptor
The Special Edition Ford SVT Raptor was the most capable, off-road-focused package to leave the assembly line from the Ford Motor Company. Never one for superficiality, the SVT Raptor came with a wider track, all-terrain tires, and a suspension that boasted of much greater travel than the average F-150.
The exterior wasn't kidding around, either. The SVT Raptor came with very aggressive bodywork, rendering the truck unconquerable, no matter what terrain you threw at it.
1 2019 Old Crow Ford Mustang GT
Built in the memory of World War II Triple Ace pilot Colonel Bud Anderson, the 2019 'Old Crow' Mustang GT had quite a special livery. With its paint matching the P-51 Mustang fighter planes that Anderson and other war heroes piloted, the Old Crow paid its respects to these unsung soldiers.
This special edition of the Mustang came outfitted with a Roush supercharger as well. Producing 710 horsepower and 610 lb-ft of torque, the Old Crow didn't just pay respects to pilots, it became a plane itself, as the massive supercharged engine would make you feel like you're taking off in a fighter jet.