5 of the Best Ford Muscle Cars (That Don't End in Mustang)

When it comes to pure dominance, Ford had form for its global racing records all over the world. Whether they were taking the scalps of European giants like Enzo Ferrari at Le Mans or winning Dutch Grand Prix's with the help of the legendary Jim Clark, the 60s was undeniably a successful time for Ford racing.

However, much of the prestige Ford had developed for racing was not being replicated in the street scene. That is until the late 60s when the iconic Mustang was unleashed on the blocks of America. Where Ford had been playing catch up before, the Mustang stepped in and allowed the all-American car brand to establish itself as street royalty as well as a global race king.

Although it seems like it at times, the Mustang is not the only Ford Muscle Car to exist. In fact, there is an excellent range of Ford Muscle Cars that perhaps don't quite get the credit they deserve.

That's where this blog comes in! Below are some of the best Ford Muscle Cars that do not bear the iconic Mustang name. Remember to sound off in the comments below on whether you agree with us or not.

Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt

The extreme rarity of this vehicle adds to its general mystique and overall cult status. Only 100 examples of the Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt were manufactured, but it still remains an important piece of Ford Muscle Car lore.

This stripped back and lightweight animal was married to the chunky V8 engine, with unofficial estimates rating the car at close to 900bhp. Perhaps the most interesting fact about the Fairlane Thunderbolt is that it was technically street legal. Although Ford did include a disclaimer inside the glove box.

Ford Torino Cobra

When it comes to Ford muscle cars, the Torino Cobra married attitude and style like almost no other. Upon its release in 1970, 7675 models were built. It continued with minor trim revisions into 1971, where it was one of the fastest cars available.

Joe Oldham road-tested a 71' model for High-Performance Cars Magazine, noting that it ran a quarter mile in 13.7 seconds at 106 mph. With that kind of speed and style, it's an easy entry to this list.

Ford Falcon XB GT

There are many reasons to admire this Australian icon, but let's start with the obvious. This beautiful angry-looking Ford muscle car is like a hybrid of the 70' Torino Cobra and the 73' Mustang fastback.

It is truly one badass machine. The status is only enhanced by its appearance in the cult-movie franchise Mad Max. Even further cementing Ford muscle cars into the hall of fame of legendary vehicles from around the globe.

Ford Talladega

The Ford Talladega is named after the iconic super speedway of the same name, both released in the same year of 1969. Its sleek and stylish appearance makes it one of the better-looking Ford muscle cars on this list.

As well as being named after the 'Dega, its racing heritage also comes from the Fairlane Cobra. The design was adjusted to achieve better aerodynamics, most notably by replacing the inset grille and headlights.

The replacement extended the car's nose by six inches, allowing for a more fluid ride, especially in the wind-tunnel.

Mercury Cougar GT-E

Given this is a list of Ford muscle cars that aren't Mustangs, the Mercury Cougar GT-E might be cheating a bit.

That's because it was based on the already released iconic car, and had the same engine. It differentiated itself with an added 90-hp single four-barrel 427 and then eventually a 335-hp 428 Cobra Jet. Another thing it has going for it is its extreme rarity; only 400 of the Mercury Cougar GT-E exist.

We hope you enjoyed our blog on Ford muscle cars. This is just a quick reminder that you can buy some of the vehicles mentioned above in fantastic art print form, available exclusively on our main website.

You can also catch up with us on social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Remember to sound off in the comments too with your opinions and whether you agree with our list or not.

Until next time, folks.