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6 Performance Models Ford Needs To Bring Back
Jun. 03, 2020 6:40 PM ET by Jared Rosenholtz Opinion / 9 Comments The Mach 1 is coming back, these should too. Over the years, Ford has built many different performance variants of the Mustang. For the 2021 Ford Mustang, the company has announced that one of its long-gone variants, the Mach 1, will be returning. The Mach 1 name first arrived in 1969 and has not been used since 2004. Not much is known about the upcoming Mustang Mach 1 but Ford typically reserves this name for a track-focused model positioned below the hardcore Shelby models. We assume the Mach 1 will likely take over for the current Mustang Bullitt and this got us thinking... what other performance nameplates does Ford have in its catalog that could make a comeback? After eliminating a few examples that will likely never happen, like a Taurus SHO or Shogun, we came up with six models that we think Ford should put back into its lineup. CarBuzz 1 Mustang Boss 302
First introduced as a 1969 model (just like the Mach 1), the Mustang Boss 302 was last offered in 2013 as the most track-focused, non-Shelby version of the Mustang. The return of the Mach 1 likely precludes the need for a new Boss 302 but we still believe the nameplate is too strong to leave behind forever. Perhaps the Mach 1 will only last for a few model years before the Boss 302 makes its return. Ford Ford Ford 2 Mustang Boss 429
While the Boss 302 received a modern revival, the Mustang Boss 429 has not been offered since 1970. Ford did team up with Classic Restorations to build recreation versions of the car but we'd still like to see a modern interpretation of this amazing Mustang. Sadly, we think a Boss 429 would be a tough ask considering it would need to be powered by a 7.0-liter V8 engine. Ford does build a 7.3-liter V8 for the Super Duty but it would likely be too heavy for a Mustang. The existence of the Shelby GT500 also lessens the need for a halo Boss 429 model. Classic Recreations Ford Ford 3 F-150 Lightning
From 1993 to 1995 and then again from 1999 to 2004, the Special Vehicle Team (SVT) built a performance variant of the Ford F-150 called the SVT Lightning. The original model was powered by a 5.8-liter V8 producing 240 horsepower while the second-generation used a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 with 360 to 380 hp. The SVT Raptor and similar off-road performance pickup trucks have pretty much replaced old-school road-oriented trucks like the Lightning but we think it deserves to make a comeback, and the Shelby GT500's engine would be a prime candidate to power a new Lightning. Ford Ford 4 Ford Focus RS And ST Hatchbacks
The tale of the Ford Focus RS in the United States is an utter tragedy. After Ford finally brought its ultimate performance hot hatchback to the US market, it was discontinued after just one generation as the company killed off all non-trucks and crossovers besides the Mustang and GT supercar. We still get a few ST-branded crossovers like the Edge and Explorer but they are of little comfort while we see Europeans enjoying the new Focus ST and Fiesta ST. Ford may never offer another RS- or ST-branded hot hatch in the US, which is a shame. Ford Ford Ford 5 Ford Escort Cosworth
Back in the 1980s and 1990s, Ford turned to British engine specialists Cosworth when it wanted to develop a fast hot hatch. Models like the Sierra RS Cosworth and Escort Cosworth are legendary, even though they were never offered in the US. We doubt Ford will ever bring back the Sierra or Escort names but we believe a new partnership with Cosworth could produce some excellent results. The RS nameplate has been regularly used since the days of the Cosworth partnership, but the in-house tuned engines have always lacked the magic of their Cossie-tuned counterparts. Matthew Parsons Matthew Parsons Bring A Trailer 6 Shelby Cobra
While there are currently two Mustang models that bear his name, Carroll Shelby's original creation, the Shelby Cobra, has never received a proper successor. Ok, so it wasn't actually a Ford product, and the British brand simply borrowed a Ford V8 and Carroll Even Shelby's expertise, but imagine if Ford partnered with Shelby on a modern-day equivalent. While the Shelby Series 1 never lived up to the original with its Oldsmobile-sourced Aurora V8. A later Series II model offered up to 800 hp but even that failed to gain any traction. The Mustang punches pretty high in the Ford lineup but we feel there is plenty of room between the Shelby GT500 and the flagship Ford GT for another sports car in the $100,000 range. Superformance Superformance Join The Discussion
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Ford Mustang Coupe Ford F-150 Jared Rosenholtz Editor-at-Large After graduating with an MBA, Jared pursued his love of cars by becoming an automotive journalist. An internship with CarBuzz grew into his current position as Editor At Large. Jared now spends most of his time evaluating new vehicles and chasing the latest news stories in the automotive industry. When he’s not attending Cars & Coffee events on the weekend, Jared loves to watch NFL football and cruise around with the top down in his German convertible. Contact Jared @Carsnbites @jar_rosenholtz LoginSign Up Home News Features Car Reviews Car Advice 2021 CarBuzz Awards New Cars Used Cars Future Cars Compare Cars Sell My Car Car Dealerships Buy Here Pay Here Used Car Reviews Popular Tags Cars # Video # TOP # Spy Shots # Reveal # Rumor # Auto Show # Supercar # Tuning # Car Culture # Industry News # Motorsport Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Make Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Car Type SUVs Crossovers Sedans Coupes Trucks Sports Cars Wagons Vans Hatchbacks Convertibles Small Cars Luxury Cars Electric Cars Hybrid Cars Future Cars By Price Up to $15K $15K - $25K $25K - $35K $35K - $45K $45K - $55K $55K - $75K $75K - $100K $100K - $200K $200K - $300K Above $300K Back To Top