6 All Time Slowest Mustangs From 0 to 60 MPH

The Mustang nameplate has historically been associated with power and speed. But some of these pony cars over the years have slower acceleration than a Toyota Yaris!

By Verdad Gallardo - May 4, 2023
6 All Time Slowest Mustangs From 0 to 60 MPH
6 All Time Slowest Mustangs From 0 to 60 MPH
6 All Time Slowest Mustangs From 0 to 60 MPH
6 All Time Slowest Mustangs From 0 to 60 MPH
6 All Time Slowest Mustangs From 0 to 60 MPH
6 All Time Slowest Mustangs From 0 to 60 MPH

6. 1982 Ford Mustang GT - 8.2 Seconds

The original Mustang made its triumphant(ish) return as a true muscle car in the late '70s after several years away, having given way to the more compact Mustang II. Unfortunately for fans of the pony car, the 302-ci V8 powering the 1982 version of the Mustang produced a whole 157 horses, which gave the car an underwhelming 0-60 acceleration time of 8.2 seconds. That's slower than most of today's ordinary commuters. Under the power plant, the quintessentially '80s Fox Body style has aged rather gracefully. In fact, its ever-growing following has made it a popular classic among enthusiasts.

Photo: Car and Driver

5. 1978 Ford Mustang King Cobra - 9.3 Seconds

The Mustang II is a polarizing part of the pony car's history, to put it mildly. Many enthusiasts don't even consider it as a part of the Mustang heritage. And most casuals, frankly, don't even know of its existence! Caught in somewhat of a no man's land between an average sedan and a muscle car, pretty much every iteration of the Mustang II left something to be desired in the power department. While the 1978 King Cobra carries the legendary Cobra monicker, it still lands in the list of slowest Mustangs ever, with a lackluster 0 to 60 time of over 9 seconds!

Photo: Carscoops

4. 1980 Ford Mustang Cobra - 10.8 Seconds

Unfortunately, the 1978 model isn't even the slowest Cobra on this list! That title belongs to the 1980 Mustang Cobra. With Ford trying to find its footing back in the muscle car realm, the early offerings of the returning Mustang were not comparable to those sold prior to the implementation of the Clean Air Act in 1975. Powered by a 255-ci V8 producing all but 130 horsepower, this Mustang can achieve a 0 to 60 mph time of nearly 11 seconds, making it the slowest V8-powered Mustang of all time!

3. 1994 Mustang (3.8-liter V6) - 11.2 Seconds

Now that the V8s are out of the way, let's talk about a couple of slow Mustangs with lower cylinder counts. The second slowest Mustang in history is the 1994 V6 variant of the muscle car. Interestingly, the long production run and surprisingly high sales figures mean these 150-horsepower machines can be seen roaming around in abundance. The fact that this relatively recent version of the Mustang has a 0 to 60 time that is easily bested by some of the least powerful cars you can think of has us scratching out heads on a daily basis.

2. 1974 Mustang II (2.3-liter l4) - 12.2 Seconds

And that brings us right back to the Mustang II. Specifically, the 2.3-liter four-cylinder variant offered for the 1974 model was sold with a grand total of 88 horsepower, which helped propel the small coupe to 60 mph in 12.2 seconds from a stand-still.

1. 1964 1/2 Mustang (170 ci 6-Cylinder) - 16.8 Seconds

Sitting firmly atop the throne of the slowest Mustangs in history is, and likely forever will be, the 1964 1/5 6-cylinder offering of what would go on to become the most iconic name in the American auto industry. This early Mustang came with a 101-horsepower mill that gave it a 0 to 60 time that's so slow that it's practically not even worth measuring. 

>>Join the conversation about the slowest Mustangs ever right here in the Mustang Source Forum!

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