Ford Mustang–Lee Lacoca’s idea of a car that could win a woman’s heart–has been produced in some of the most iconic year models ever seen released by the Ford Motor Company. Ford Mustang pioneered the Pony Car crusade, and its affection by Americans made obvious through its impressive sales figure led to the rise of competitors.
Ford has produced over 10 million Mustangs since 1969 when its first unit was built, making it one of the bestselling Ford models of recent times. Here, we rank every 90s Ford Mustang model year, as it was the period Mustang exerted its dominance in the Pony car market.
10 1992
We start this list with the 1992 model year as Mustang made little alterations to the model in a bid to keep on with the previous winning formula. Notably, Ford Mustang recorded its lowest sales of the 90s in 1992.
A total of 3,333 Ford Mustang’s special Spring-edition LX 5.0 convertibles were produced by Ford for the 1992 model year. These special Spring-editions were given a befitting Vibrant Red exterior and Oxford White leather interiors while the normal LX models were given color-keyed bodyside moldings along with bumper strips and also a new dome lamp.
9 1991
The 1991 Mustang also has Four-Cylinder engines like the previous model but for improved performance, this one is fitted with two spark plugs for each cylinder and added a massive 15 horsepower to take its total power output to 105 horsepower. In the gear compartment, the Mustang’s automatic transmission got fitted with a shift interlock.
The added spark plugs and the considerable engine tweak were enough upgrades to give this model the necessary increase in rev needed to keep competition at bay. Also notable for this year is the continued impressive Mustang sales.
8 1993
In this model year, the Ford Mustang got some upgrades as it changed to cast hypereutectic pistons for all its 302 cu in 4.9 L engines while the GT got re-rated to 205 hp and 275 ft-lb of torque. Also, on noticing that the individual power window switches located within the quarter panel speaker grilles at the back seat were redundant and seldom used the team had it removed.
Mustang Cobras of 1993 were fitted with a 245-horse modification for its normal engine. It also got an improved stereo across all variants.
7 1990
The 1990 Mustangs came with two engines—the 2.3 liter 4 cylinder engine with 88 horsepower and the 5.0 liter V8 used by the GT and LX 5.0. The V8 is the sicker of the two engines with an output of 300 pound-feet of torque fitted to a 5-speed manual transmission.
It’s shaped like a hatchback and has a rear-wheel drive. The 1990 Ford Mustang has a fuel economy of 22 mpg. This represents a good entry into the 90s for the Mustang and earned it the 7th place on this list.
6 1994
For the 1994 model year, the Ford Mustang came out with a bang. This year marked the beginning of the model’s fourth generation and the Ford Mustang got a new body design courtesy of automobile designer, Patrick Schiavone – he took bits and pieces from older Mustang makes and added them all up to form this new design. Notably, this was also the first time the Ford Mustang was been redesigned in 15 years.
This year's model came fitted with a 3.8 OHV V6 3.8 L engine at 145 bhp, a standard three-point seat belts, and the dual front airbags.
5 1995
The engine remained unchanged in 1995, it had the same 3.8 OHV V6 3.8 L (232 cu in) engine for the base model as it was in the 1994 model. Characteristically, this engine was fitted with a standard 5-speed manual transmission or an optional 4-speed automatic. 1995 was also that last time this engine was featured in Ford Mustang as it made way for the Modular 4.6 L SOCH V8 in the 1996 Mustang GT.
The Mustang GTS, a stripped-down version of the Mustang GT was built as a one-year model for the 1995 model year.
4 1996
The Modular 4.6 L SOHC V8 was introduced in 1996 when Ford finally decided to do away with its 302 CID Windsor V8 engine that has been in use in various models since 1968. This new Modular engine produces 215 hp at 4400 rpm and 285 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm – with this output the new engine effectively matches the output of its predecessor.
The 1996 Mustang’s base model comes with a 150 bhp (110 kW) mated to a standard 5-speed manual transmission or optional 4-speed automatic.
3 1997
The “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” belief was adopted again by the Ford Mustang team for the 1997 model. This year, the model didn’t add too much dramatic modification as compared with the previous year since it’s been outselling its rivals anyway.
For the year model, Ford incorporated higher seats thereby giving the driver a perfect view of the road while the dashboard was fitted in a nicely textured two-toned double bubble layout. All 1997 GT models and base convertibles were given interior color options while the automatic variants have slightly thicker shift levers.
2 1998
Still basking in the euphoria of its superior selling power over its rivals, the Ford Mustang team again kept changes to the 1998 model year at the barest minimum. Base Mustang got the 3.8 L OHV V6 producing 150 hp, the GT got the 4.6 L V8 engine producing 225 hp at 4750 rpm and 290 lb-ft of torque at 3500 while the Cobra got Ford’s modular 4.6L DOHC V8 producing 305 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque.
Other noticeable improvements and additions include a slightly improved power output, air conditioning, power window along with door locks and an improved sound.
1 1999
In 1999, the base Mustang got a V6 producing 190 hp at 5250 rpm and 220 foot-pounds of torque at 3000 rpm while the Mustang GT got a V8 engine that produces 260 hp at 5000 rpm and 302 foot-pounds of torque at 4000 rpm. The best of them all is the SVT Cobra’s engine that produces 320 hp at 6000 rpm while also featuring an independent rear suspension – Mustang’s first in its 35-year history.
The 1999 Mustang model year is the best of them all for the 90s as it got a total upgrade to mark its 35th anniversary and also the best 90s sales year for the model.