‘The Mustang Source’ 2021 Year in Review: The Good, Bad, and Electric!
Thankfully, 2021 was a pretty good year for Mustang fans, not to mention a pivotal one in history.
Once again, 2021 was yet another strange, unique year, particularly in the automotive world. Major supply chain issues like the semiconductor chip shortage, coupled with the ongoing effects of the pandemic, made life difficult for automakers and gearheads alike. Regardless, the Ford Mustang is alive and well, and arguably better than ever, and we enthusiasts haven’t lost one ounce of passion for the iconic pony car, either.
Thus, as we always do, we’re taking a look back at the last year and some of the more notable and prominent news that piqued our interest during that time frame. It’s always worth reflecting on the past as we look forward to the future, which may or may not be bright for Mustang fans, depending on how you look at it.
History Lesson
We got some particularly interesting Mustang history lessons this year, along with a few factoids that were previously not common knowledge. For starters, the story of the very first Mustang ever built – VIN 001 – and how it was mistakenly sold just days before the car’s unveiling is truly fascinating.
Then there was the time Ford considered building a mid-engine Mustang, something that could have changed the course of history and perhaps influenced the Corvette to do so sooner. Plus, we took a look back at the Mustang’s illustrious Trans Am history, too.
Snake-Bitten
Folks that love a good snake will be happy to know that those are still going strong as well, particularly vintage Shelby machines. Prominent examples of Carroll Shelby‘s masterpieces are still commanding big money at auction, including a 427 Cobra owned by Carroll himself, as well as the more modern Shelby Cobra Concept.
Meanwhile, Shelby American revealed its next generation of special Mustangs on the eve of what would have been Carroll’s 98th birthday – the 2022 Shelby GT, Shelby Super Snake, and Shelby GT500 Special Edition.
Modern Day Mustang
Though Ford’s legendary pony car didn’t receive any major changes this year, there was a ton of news surrounding what should be one of the last years for the S550. For starters, the 2022 5.0-liter Coyote V8-powered GT and Mach 1 are going to be losing a little bit of power thanks to more stringent emissions requirements. We also won’t be seeing a convertible version of the S550 GT500, while we bid farewell to the GT350 and Bullitt. Finally, both Shelby models were recalled over some engine issues, and the 2021 Mustang received a price increase across the board.
That’s the bulk of the bad news, however. Otherwise, 2021 was a good year for the Mustang that saw the return of the mighty Mach 1, as well as the introduction of the 2022 GT500 Heritage Edition. And for the second-straight year, the Mustang was the best-selling sports car in the U.S., too.
It’s Electric
While the Ford Mustang Mach-E stirred up loads of controversy due to the fact that, well, it’s an all-electric crossover, the new model did become a hit among mainstream buyers in its first year on sale. As for the Mustang itself, we know that Ford will eventually offer a hybrid and EV variant of the pony car, the question is when?
On the bright side, for those that are intrigued by EVs, the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 shattered the world record for quickest full-bodied EV down the quarter-mile by running an 8.128 at 171.97 mph at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio this past summer, which is pretty darn quick by any standard – ICE or no.
The good news is, 2022 looks like it’s going to be a great one for Mustang fans, too. We expect Ford to pull the covers off the next-generation S650 model, which is expected to go on sale for the 2023 model year. With any luck, it’ll continue to carry the torch for Ford’s most iconic sports car for years to come.
Photos: Ford, Michael Palmer for The Mustang Source
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