10 Coolest Limited Edition Ford Mustangs

In honor of the 2024 Ford Mustang 60th Anniversary Package, a limited edition built to commemorate six decades of pony car excellence, we thought it would be a good time to look back on some of the coolest limited editions from the Mustang’s illustrious seven-generation-long run. When a vehicle has lived as long as the Mustang, longer than any other continuously running sports car in America, there are plenty of great versions to choose from.

We did our level best to include Mustangs from nearly every generation without resorting to aftermarket tuners like Saleen or Roush, though Shelby gets an exception due to its close production relationship with Ford. To be eligible for this list, a Mustang needs to be built in limited numbers, meaning specialty models like the Shelby GT350 and GT500 aren’t special enough on their own. Here are our picks for the 10 coolest limited edition Mustang models:

1

2021-2023 Ford Mustang Mach 1

The most recent limited edition on this list, the Mach 1, returned for the 2021 model year sixth-generation Mustang, replacing the Shelby GT350 and Bullitt. This Mach 1 had big shoes to fill, replacing a Shelby and a popular movie homage after a 17-year hiatus from the market. Ford knew this car needed to perform, which is why it was the most track-capable 5.0-liter Mustang up until that point.In addition to the extra power, the engine also received performance upgrades from the Shelby GT350, including a revised intake manifold, oil cooler, and an available Handling Package.

You can tell Ford wanted the Mach 1 to feel special compared to a GT, which is why this car got the six-speed Tremec 3160 manual transmission as-standard, not the GT’s Getrag ‘box. A 10-speed automatic transmission was available.

Ford built the Mach 1 for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 model years, and those last two years actually saw a 10 hp and 10 lb-ft decrease to meet emissions requirements, making the 2021 model year more desirable. These cars weren’t numbered, but it’s estimated that around 15,000 were produced over three years.

2

2020-2022 Shelby GT500KR

The Shelby GT500 is often considered the pinnacle of Mustang performance, but in 1968, Carroll Shelby decided to amp up the formula with a more potent model called the KR (King of the Road). The original packed a 428 Cobra Jet engine, while the revival for 2008 and 2009 got a supercharged V8 with 540 hp. Produced by Shelby American, the GT500KR returned in 2020, now producing 900 hp from a 5.2-liter supercharged V8.

The standard GT500 was already one of the most insane cars Ford had ever produced with 760 hp from its Predator V8. This was also the first Mustang to use a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, making it the most track-capable. Shelby’s 900-hp KR upgrade was built to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Shelby American with only 225 units total over three model years.

3

2019-2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt

Named after the 1968 film staring Steve McQueen, the Ford Mustang Bullitt was first offered in the 2001 model year, then again for 2008 and 2009. There were so many Bullitt fans out there, Ford actually brought the model back for a third time in the 2019 and 2020 model years during the sixth-generation run. The limited edition model packed the same 5.0-liter V8 found in the GT, but tuned to make it the quickest non-Shelby at the time.

Customers could get the car in a signature Dark Highland Green, though Shadow Black was also available. The exterior features retro touches, including a cue ball shift knob, 19-inch five-spoke heritage wheels, and a circular faux gas cap. No official production number is known, but Ford is rumored to have produced around 11,500 units over two years.

4

2015-2020 Shelby GT350R Heritage Edition

We said that special Mustang models like the Shelby GT350 could not be on the list, but the GT350R was limited enough to warrant inclusion. The R was far rarer than the regular GT350; in fact, Ford only produced 3,647 of them despite being on sale for six model years, according to Mustang6g Forum. Of those, the Heritage Edition numbered just 281 units, making them a true collectible.

The GT350 is our favorite Mustang of all time, and the GT350R took that excellence to a new extreme.

Powered by a 5.2-liter flat-plane crank Voodoo V8, theGT350R has a unique power band and exhaust note that differs from all other Mustangs.

As a sign that this car was made for enthusiasts, a six-speed manual was the only transmission offered. Opting for the R didn’t increase the power, but it did add stiffer suspension, improved aerodynamics, coolers for the engine oil and transmission/differential fluid, carbon fiber wheels, a carbon wing, stickier tires, and weight reduction with a rear seat delete. The GT350R was over 130 pounds lighter than the GT350, which helped it go quicker around a racetrack.

5

2013 Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition

Ford brought back the Boss 302 nameplate for the 2012 fifth-gen Mustang after a 42-year hiatus. The Boss 302 came with track-ready upgrades like a limited-slip differential, quad exhaust with rear and side exits, stiffer suspension with adjustable shocks, retuned steering, and larger brakes/tires.

One year later, for the 2013 model year, Ford offered an even more special variant called the Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition, named after the famous track in Northern California. Built to commemorate the Boss 302 winning at the 1970 Trans Am series opener at Laguna Seca, this limited edition model stripped the Mustang to its bare essentials. It eliminated the rear seat in favor of an X-brace, stiffened the suspension by 10%, increased spring rates, and added Ford Racing front brake ducts to cool the 14-inch vented rotors.

6

2009 Iacocca 45th Anniversary Edition

While the 60th Anniversary Package is pretty cool, it pales in comparison to the 45th Anniversary. Built and sold exclusively by Galpin Ford, a well-known dealership in California, the 2009 Iacocca 45th Anniversary Edition celebrates the man responsible for creating the Mustang, Lee Iacocca. Only 45 examples were produced based on the fifth-generation Mustang GT. It featured unique bodywork from Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters, a California-based company known for working on concept cars. The result is a smoother-looking Mustang unlike any other.

A 4.6-liter V8 came standard with 320 hp, or you could add a supercharger which upped the power to 400 hp, both mated to a five-speed manual transmission. It also got an upgraded Ford Performance racing handling package to help it put down the power. Inside, the 45th Anniversary Edition stood out with diamond-stitched seats, an “I” logo on the steering wheel, and a special plaque.

7

2000 SVT Cobra R

Before Ford Performance became the globally-unified performance arm for the Blue Oval, SVT (Special Vehicle Team) was responsible for building the fastest Fords for the North American market. Perhaps SVT believed the world was going to end in Y2K because the team brought back the Cobra R as a special edition for the fourth-generation “New Edge” Mustang.

At the time, it was the fastest factory Mustang ever produced. This was essentially a street-legal race car, featuring a rear seat delete, no A/C, Recaro racing seats, side-exit exhausts, improved aerodynamics, stiffer suspension, and bigger brakes. Independent tests bested Ford’s initial performance estimates, hitting 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and completing the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds.

Only 300 units were produced, and Ford would only sell them to buyers who held a competition license.

8

1978 Mustang II King Cobra

This might earn us some hate from the Mustang faithful, but we couldn’t help but include one special model from the infamous Mustang II generation. Thanks to the oil crisis, the second-generation Mustang is remembered as the worst of the bunch, but Ford did try to make it cool in the 1978 model year with a limited edition called the King Cobra.

It did look cool thanks to a cobra snake decal painted on the hood (similar to the Flying Chicken on the Pontiac Trans Am). The Mustang II featured a hatchback design with available T-tops, which epitomized style in the ’70s. Ford only produced 4,313 units with just under half of them getting the four-speed manual transmission. Despite the rarity, the King Cobra is far from coveted, and a great one can be had for under $20,000 today.

9

1969-1970 Boss 429

What’s cooler than a Boss Mustang with a 302 cubic inch small block? How about a Boss Mustang with a big block 429 cubic inch engine? Built for just two years in 1969 and 1970, the Boss 429 is a rare Mustang with only 1,356 built, which is why a good example pulls well into six figures at auction. Unlike some examples on this list, the Boss 429 was never brought back by Ford after its initial run.

Ford had previous success with 427 and 428 cubic inch engines, but wanted a new one based on its 385 V8 for use in NASCAR. To offset the weight from such a large engine, the Boss 429 was fitted with a rear-mounted battery, a 3/4-inch sway bar, and reworked front fenders. The car produced 375 hp, 85 hp more than the Boss 302, with 450 lb-ft of torque. Each car even got a KK (Kar Kraft) number as a special NASCAR identification. Sadly, slow sales and rising gas prices spelled the end for the Boss 429.

10

1966 Shelby GT350-H Rent-A-Racer

If you want to have a bit of extra fun on a family vacation, renting a sports car is a great way to do it. Many rental companies have historically offered Mustangs in the fleet, but they were almost always lesser versions like the V6 or four-cylinder. That’s what made the 1966 Shelby GT350-H so special. Built specifically for Hertz, the GT350-H could be rented by members for just $17 per day or $70 per week. Factoring for inflation, that’s $578 in 2024 dollars.

Shelby American took standard Mustangs and brought them up to GT350 performance by fabricating steel headers and adding a low-restriction muffler. Most of these cars shipped with an automatic transmission, likely so renters wouldn’t burn out the clutch, but a few manual examples were built. While many featured black paint with gold racing stripes as an homage to Hertz, not all of them were painted in this combination.

Only 1,000 were ever produced, making the GT350-H a highly desirable time capsule. Shelby American even partnered with Hertz again in 2022 to bring back this legendary Mustang.