New Ford Mustang for Sale and Lease in Fresno, CA

Why the New Ford Mustang Fits Fresno Drivers

Ford Mustang Lineup at a Glance

Finding Your Mustang Match in Fresno

• Daily Driving Focus: If commuting and city use come first, consider trims that emphasize comfort, technology, and balanced power.
• Weekend Performance: If you plan to visit track days, step up to higher-output V8 engine options and performance packages with upgraded brakes and suspension components.
• Year-Round Use: Factor in available driver-assist systems, wheel and tire choices, and interior options that make sense for your typical routes and climate.

Beginning Your New Mustang Search

Considering a Used Ford Mustang or Adding ROUSH Performance Parts? We've Got You Covered

What could be better than experiencing your first time behind the wheel of a new Ford Mustang? Maybe you're looking for the ultimate sporty ride for weekend driving or looking forward to enhancing your driving experience by adding on some of our favorite ROUSH Performance parts. In either case, Lithia Ford of Fresno has the selection of new or used Mustang models and parts to give you the ultimate Ford Mustang experience.

Ford History: Five Decades of Fast Fun with the Ford Mustang

By Larry Printz
Dealer.com

It's rare that a car debuts and its success creates a whole new class of car. The Ford Mustang is that kind of car, creating the pony car class, and giving America killer styling and breathtaking performance at an affordable price. Indeed, many of its performance variants are just as well known, be it a Shelby, Boss, Cobra Jet, Mach 1, KR, SVO, or GT.

Its initial success was so remarkable, no car since has matched its initial sales record; and few come close to matching its impact on the auto industry or American culture. Let's ride through a brief history of America's prized pony.

1964-66
Lee Iacocca, Ford Division's head honcho, wants a "good-looking, little youth car. "The specs: a 108-inch wheelbase, 2,500-pound curb weight and a base price of $2,500. The result was the Mustang. Debuting on April 17, 1964 as a coupe or convertible, a fastback coupe, engine choices range from a 2.8-liter inline six rated at 101 horsepower, to a four-barrel 4.7-liter V8 producing 271 horsepower. The Shelby GT350, with a 306-horsepower V8, is added in 1965.
The good: Ford sells 22,000 Mustangs on the first day; by 1966, 1 million.
The bad: Underneath, it is a modified version of the humdrum Falcon.
The odd: In March 1966, a '66 Mustang is parked on the 86th-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building.
Did you know? The name Cougar is considered, but instead is used for Mercury's version of the Mustang.

1967-70
When redesigned for 1967, the Mustang grows 2 inches longer and 2.7 inches wider. To help offset the weight gain, and tap into the booming market for performance cars, Ford introduces its big-block engines, although the Mustang's wheelbase and the number of body styles remain unchanged. A more luxurious Mercury version, the Cougar, is introduced that same year.
The good: Horsepower grows to 375 by 1970.
The bad: A new Grande model, complete with a vinyl roof, debuts. It is a sign of things to come.
The odd: Road & Track magazine calls it "chunky" and "old-fashioned."
Did you know? The Mustang's success leads to corporate patron Lee Iacocca's promotion. He is named Ford's executive vice president of North American Operations.

1971-73
For its third iteration, the 1971 Mustang grows another 2 inches longer, 3 inches wider and 400 pounds heavier. This porky pony is the largest Mustang ever, so a new 370-horsepower, 429-cubic-inch V8 engine is placed under the hood. This would be the last Mustang to use a Falcon platform. As before, coupe, fastback and convertible models are available.
The good: High performance persisted despite the car's growing girth.
The bad: Shelby models were discontinued, as did the big block engines after 1971.
The odd: Fifty-two red, white and blue "Olympic Sprint" convertibles are built in 1972 for the annual cherry blossom parade in Washington, D.C.
Did you know? The '71 Mustang is developed under former GM executive Bunkie Knudsen, who briefly joins Ford Motor Co. before being forced out by Iacocca.

1974-78
Looking to get back to basics, and haunted by the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, Iacocca has 19 inches of length and 490 pounds in weight removed from the Mustang by switching the car to the Pinto platform. An 83-horsepower, 2.3-liter four-cylinder and a 97-horsepower, 2.8-liter V6 were available. As if the size reduction doesn't prove that this was a horse of a different color, the vehicle is named the Mustang II.
The good: Although unloved today, Iacocca's instincts are correct. Sales triple in 1974 as nearly 386,000 built.
The bad: No convertible is offered.
The odd: Proving that journalists sometimes get it wrong, Motor Trend magazine named this slow horse its "Car of the Year" in 1974.
Did you know? 1974 is the only model year that a V8 engine isn't offered in a Mustang. A 5.0-liter V8 returns for 1975, rated at 122 horsepower.

1979-93
In an effort to make a fresh statement and improve fuel efficiency, Ford unveils a European-influenced, aerodynamic pony car for 1979. Offered as a hatchback and notchback coupe, this Mustang is built on the new Fox platform, which underpins the Ford Fairmont. Horsepower slowly reappears. Four-, six- and eight-cylinder engines are offered with as much as 140 horsepower.
The good: True performance returns with the debut of the Mustang GT in 1982. A convertible model returned in 1983. A turbocharged SVO Mustang debuts in 1984.
The bad: Despite tweaks in performance and style, the car sees few major changes.
The odd: For 1988, Ford almost replaces the Mustang with a Mazda-built Ford Probe. Outraged pony car fans cause the company to abandon the plan, mostly by calling Ford execs every name in the book.
Did you know? In 1979, the Mustang is offered with its first turbocharged engine.

1994-2004
Having narrowly escaped death, a new Mustang appeared for 1994, just in time for the car's 30th anniversary. The car has a slim development budget, so the new Mustang still uses the old Fox platform and mechanicals. Instead, much of the money is spent endowing the car with heritage styling cues from the 1960s. Offered as a coupe and convertible, the hatchback is dropped. A further redesign appears for 1999.
The good: Performance, not fuel economy, was the Mustang's focus as the four-cylinder engine is dropped and the V8's horsepower grows from 240 in 1994 to 390 in 2004.
The bad: The car still uses the aging Fox platform.
The odd: A Bullitt Mustang appears in 2001 in honor of the car that actor Steve McQueen drove in the movie of the same name more than three decades earlier.
Did you know? In 1997, Tommy Kendall wins a record 11 consecutive victories in the Trans Am racing series driving a Mustang Cobra before winning the championship.

2005-2014
Although Ford designers continue to channel 1960s-era Mustangs, the car receives its own platform, rather than using one engineered for an economy car. Buyers can choose either a 210-horsepower V6 or a 300-horsepower V8 in their coupe or convertible. By 2014, even V6 buyers get a fast pony. With horsepower rated at 305, this V6 is one horsepower shy of the 1965 Shelby GT350. At the other extreme was Shelby GT500, powered by an aluminum 5.8-liter supercharged V8. Producing 662 horsepower, the engine is considered the world's most powerful V8 production engine.
The good: An old name returns for 2007: the Shelby GT500, powered by a 500-horsepower 5.4-liter V8. Yum.
The bad: Ford considers the ancient solid rear axle a Mustang tradition.
The odd: The Mustang's sales success leads Chevrolet and Dodge executives to revive the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger.
Did you know? When introduced, the revamped car is so popular that by March 2005, nearly one of every two sports cars sold in the United States are Mustangs.

2015-2016
Ford finally engineers a Mustang good enough to be sold worldwide, with all models gaining a fully independent suspension. Styling is a futuristic takeoff of the classic Mustang look, with coupes getting a European-style double bubble roof. A 3.7-liter double-overhead-cam V6 with 300 horsepower and a 5.0-liter DOHC V8 with 435 horsepower carry over, while a new 2.3-liter EcoBoost DOHC four-cylinder with 310 horsepower slot between the two.
The good: The Shelby GT350 returns for 2016, powered by a new 5.2-liter V8, rated at 526 horsepower, and 429 pound-feet of torque.
The bad: Um, let me think for a minute…
The odd: Because engineers wanted to use an independent rear suspension on all models, the entire platform had to be redesigned.