Editor's Note: This article was originally written by Mustang Pasture's writer Pete Dunton for the Old Car Memories online magazine - oldcarmemories.com in August 2012.

When the new Fox platform 1979 Mustang was first released, Ford had no idea that it would eventually become one of the most revered American muscle cars of the 1980s. After the performance lows of the Ford Mustang II from 1974 to 1978, the new 1979 Mustang offered new European flair but unfortunately carried on the lackluster performance of its immediate predecessor. The Mustang's hottest motor for 1979 was the 140 horsepower 2-bbl carburetor equipped 5.0 liter (302 CID) V8. Even considering that V8 horsepower output for most cars was way down by 1979 compared to previous years, the Mustang was still outgunned by its main competitors the 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 which had an optional 5.7 liter (350 CID) V8 that produced 175 horsepower and the 1979 Pontiac Trans Am which had an optional 6.6 liter (400 CID) V8 that produced 220 horsepower (that NHRA rated in stock form at 260 horsepower). So it's not hard comprehending that the 1979 Mustang didn't win over the hearts of muscle car fans back in 1979.