When it comes to iconic muscle cars, the Mustang occupies the very top of the hierarchy. The very name conjures images of an animal known for its power and speed, and since 1964, Ford's offerings have lived up to that.
Obviously, movies have used this over the years, from merely folks looking cool in a sweet ride to full-scale chase sequences. There's something about a Mustang that sparks on film and adds something special.
A few movies use more modern Mustangs, but the classics are the ones that get the attention. A few are true automotive masterpieces that real car buffs will do anything to own. Some had to be modified to look better on film but can still deliver a terrific experience.
Here are 10 of the coolest Mustangs ever put on film that helped make this car a classic.
10 1991 Ford Mustang GT: Basic Instinct
When this classic thriller is mentioned, most don't think of the cars in it. But Michael Douglas' cop boasts a sweet ride in a 1991 Ford Mustang GT 5.0. With a nice 5.0 V8 getting 225 hp, the car has power and also quite tough.
Douglas proves it in a chase scene with the Mustang following a Lotus in the streets of San Francisco that includes going up stairs and taking some nasty shots. It may meet a harsh fate, but this Mustang is a great ride.
9 1967 Mustang Fastback: Fast And The Furious Tokyo Drift
Tokyo Drift may be considered the least of the F&F movies, but it still boasted a sweet ride. This modified 1967 Mustang Fastback was specially designed with a different block alongside the turbocharged RB26.
The result is an impressive 340 horsepower at 7300 rpm and 264 lb-ft of torque at 5950 rpm to the wheels. Sure, it doesn't really "drift," but when it can roar down the streets of Tokyo in style, it makes the movie shine.
8 1964 Mustang: The Troops of St. Tropez
This is historic as the first Mustang on film. It's more notable as this is no action movie but rather a lighthearted comedy about the French resort town's bumbling head cop. There is an argument if it counts as 1964 or '65, and it's an early Mustang model, lacking the power the company would become known for with a top speed of barely 100 mph.
But it's also a gorgeous machine with the orange coloring setting it apart and, for historical reasons alone, has to be counted.
7 1966 Shelby GT350H: Grand Prix
This underrated movie tells of a year in the famous race through the eyes of four drivers competing for the top prize. James Garner's character rides in a terrific 1966 Shelby GT350H, specially customized for the film.
Director John Frankenheimer enlisted Caroll Shelby himself to help design the car, and the result is outstanding with a 289 High-Performance V8 engine outputting 306 hp. The movie may not be as famous, but this Shelby masterpiece is fantastic.
6 2007 Mustang Shelby GT500: I Am Legend
Any car racing through the streets of a deserted Manhattan would be a sight. But this Will Smith thriller ups the ante by having it be a terrific 2007 Mustang Shelby GT500. With a 5.4-liter V8 packing 500 hp, the car is just the vehicle needed to get around fast and avoid the zombie around the city.
Sure, one can argue how Smith keeps this thing fueled up, but it's still a great ride that got a fantastic on-screen debut before hitting the streets.
5 1971 Mustang Mach 1: Diamonds Are Forever
Most associate James Bond with Aston Martin or BMW. But 007 did try an American car in Sean Connery's last official outing. In Las Vegas, Bond is soon chased by the cops and rides in a 1971 Mustang Mach 1.
Bond has to "borrow" the car fast so it lacks the usual gadgets and we never discover the engine specs. But it shows itself with the memorable stunt of Bond driving it on two wheels to get through a small opening. Leave it to 007 to make this Mustang rock.
4 1968 Shelby GT350: The Thomas Crown Affair
The 1999 remake of the classic heist thriller has Pierce Brosnan as a millionaire who steals just for the thrill of it. He lives it up in style James Bond would envy, including a fabulous customized 1968 Shelby GT350.
It's a brief scene, but the sight of Brosnan and Rene Russo driving through Martinique in this stunning convertible inspired several recreations to make it a real scene-stealing ride.
3 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1: John Wick
Keanu Reeves revived his career with the action hit John Wick. He plays the title character, a seemingly normal guy set upon by a mobster who beats him down, crushes his dog, and steals his car. Too late, the guy finds out he's angered the most feared killer in the underworld.
It's no wonder Wick wants his car back as it's a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1, a gorgeous machine (although the bad guy misidentifies it as a 429), which gets more use in the sequel. Like Wick, this thing is a killer on the road.
2 1967 Shelby GT500: Gone In 60 Seconds
While the original Gone in 60 Seconds was good, the 2000 remake was a bigger hit. The plot is mostly the same as Nicolas Cage is a thief who has to steal fifty cars in 72 hours. Cage rides in style in a specialized 1967 Shelby GT500 nicknamed "Eleanor."
It's used in some spectacular stunts and fits Cage's character well. Models go for a high price at auctions to make this one remake even better than the original.
1 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback: Bullitt
In the annals of the greatest movie car chases, Bullitt remains the biggest. The classic action flick has Steve McQueen embarking on a terrific pursuit through the streets of San Francisco that's influenced every chase sequence since.
McQueen is the essence of cool inside a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback with a 390ci V8. It's the perfect marriage of actor and vehicle and a key reason the surviving car made a huge splash when rediscovered in 2018 as a masterpiece vehicle.
Sources: Jalopnik.com, hagerty.com, torquenews.com, imcdb.org