10 of the Best Special Edition Ford Mustangs From Past to Present

Mustangs are all over the place. Ford‘s quintessential pony car is one for the people, offering style and smiles at an approachable price. That’s contributed to its monumental popularity—not to mention the massive power it’s available with.

Everyone’s gazed adoringly at a Mustang at some point, and millions have decided to make one their own. But that commonality is a turn-off for those who want something different from the classic muscle machine. They need not worry: Ford and its agents have built numerous special edition Mustangs over the years. These limited edition Ford Mustangs add style, power, and exclusivity to the formula for something familiar, yet delightfully different. Here are 10 awesome Mustang special editions to check out.

When you name your special edition sports car after a racetrack, you’d better come correct. Ford did with the Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca. Building on the Boss 302’s unfiltered 5.0-liter V-8, Laguna Seca edition added race-developed suspension, sizable aerodynamic elements, super-sticky tires, and more aggressive engine management software for 444 hp, along with reduced weight. Living up to its name, this Mustang special edition lapped the famous Monterey race track in 1:41.06—in period, faster than a BMW M3.

Limited edition Ford Mustangs don’t get much more limited than this. Only 300 copies of the Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R were ever built—all in red. That run gave an everyday pony car precision and agility to let it excel on a racetrack. Those reflexes came from a lower ride height and stiffer suspension springs, a faster steering rack, and a gigantic, downforce-generating rear wing. Muscle was enhanced, too, with its 5.4-liter V-8 making 385 hp thanks to a high-flow intake and free-breathing side-exit exhaust. Ford also built a Fox-body Mustang Cobra R in 1993, which weighed in at just about 2,800 pounds, and of which only 107 examples were built, making it one of the rarest Mustangs ever.

Is there any more Californian way to cruise than in a sweet sport coupe with its top back? Maybe being stuck in creeping traffic, but that’s a story for another time. First offered in 1968 as an equipment package tailored for California-based Mustang buyers, Ford has revived the California Special on several model years of Mustang GT. Beyond stripes and wheels, it adds a few bits to make the Mustang more enjoyable. Those include lowered suspension, improved intake, louder exhaust, and re-tuned engine management for a bump in power.

The Mustang’s iconic status was sealed when Steve McQueen tore up the streets of San Francisco in a dark green Mustang GT in Bullitt’s epic chase scene. The 1968 film also gave rise to one of the most beloved special edition Ford Mustangs. That eponymous variant wears lovely Highland Green paint, black wheels and trim, and eschews standard chrome badging for a stealthy yet standout look. Underhood the 5.0-liter V-8 is enhanced with better airflow, and a manual transmission is the only choice. Unfortunately, its lowered suspension means it’s bad at jumping hills in the City by the Bay.

The late, great Lee Iacocca was instrumental in the Mustang’s creation and success, so it’s no surprise he and the car remained intertwined after his retirement from Ford. For proof, look at the Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang, built to celebrate 45 years of the pony car’s production. While based on and styled after the Mustang, it featured extensive custom bodywork, special 20-inch wheels, bespoke silver paint, and up to 400 hp. Only 45 examples of this limited edition Ford Mustang were built at a starting price of $89,950. Despite its special edition status and famous name, the collector car market shied away from this perplexing creation. 

Over 50 years of continuous production make the Mustang one of the longest-lasting automotive nameplates, something Ford takes special pride in. At the 2014 New York auto show, Ford unveiled the Mustang 50th Anniversary Edition to commemorate half a century passing since the Mustang’s 1964 unveiling. This limited edition Mustang model was available in creamy Wimbledon White or pearly Kona Blue, with chrome exterior detailing, and unique louvered rear-quarter windows, all of which harken back to the very first Mustang models. Only 1,964 Mustang 50th Anniversary Editions were ever built.

Retro awesomeness was embodied in the 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1. Harkening back to the 1969 model bearing the same name, this special edition Ford Mustang wore exclusive colors and wheels, along with a prominent shaker hood scoop. That part (made on the same tooling as the 1960s originals) was functional, and fed a 305-hp 4.6-liter V-8, which also had new cams and cylinder heads, a forged crank, and louder exhaust. Bigger brakes were also fitted. The Mustang Mach 1’s interior featured throwback touches, too, like specially stitched seats, an aluminum shifter, and classic font on the gauges.

Built to commemorate World War II triple ace pilot Colonel Bud Anderson, the 2019 Old Crow edition Ford Mustang GT looks like it’s ready for aerial combat.  That’s because it’s painted to match the historic P-51 Mustang fighter planes Colonel Anderson flew in over 100 missions in the European theater. While this Mustang is confined to tarmac, it’s still ready to take down opponents thanks to its Roush Performance supercharger. That blower boosts the 5.0-liter V-8’s output to 710 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque, with a big wing and sticky tires added to help it put power to the ground. 

Is the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500’s 760 hp not enough for you? Check out the Roush Performance Jack Roush Edition. Roush Performance has a long history of modifying Mustangs, and its latest creation, the so-called JRE, is among the most powerful Mustangs ever: Thanks to a giant supercharger, it makes 775 hp and 670 lb-ft of torque. Other go-fast goodies added to this special edition Mustang include GT350 brakes, upgraded suspension and rolling stock, exterior aerodynamic elements, and much more. Tick all the boxes and the JRE maxes out at $112,000—much more than a GT500, but hey, at least you can still get a six-speed manual transmission.

The GT500 has always stood for maximum Mustang, but the KR special edition took things even further. Paying homage to the 1986 original, the 2008 GT500 KR—that is, King of the Road—enhanced the Mustang with stiffer suspension, over 100 carbon-fiber pieces, less intrusive traction control, and a more aggressive engine map for 540 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque from the supercharged 5.4-liter V-8. Only 1,000 examples of this limited edition Mustang were built in 2008, each carrying Caroll Shelby’s signature on a dashboard dedication plate.