Unleashing Legends: The Most Iconic Ford Mustang Race Cars in Motorsports History

Few vehicles have captured the adventurous spirit of America like the classic Ford Mustang. From the big screen to the blacktop, the Mustang has been a hit ever since its debut in 1964, but its performance on the track made this pony car a global phenomenon. The classic Ford Mustang has succeeded in almost every level of motorsports, from its early days dominating endurance racing circuits and quarter-mile drag races to later redefining performance in stock car racing and even drifting. You see, the Ford Mustang is more than just a car; it’s a legend on wheels. 

Since its debut, the Mustang has been a force to be reckoned with in the world of motorsports, carving out a legacy of speed, power, and unyielding performance. From the fierce battles of the Trans-Am Series to the high-octane drama of NASCAR and the relentless endurance races around the globe, the Mustang has repeatedly proven that it’s built for glory—so strap in as we explore the classic Ford Mustang’s role in motorsports over the last 60 years.

1965 Ford Mustang

Just months after the classic Ford Mustang was introduced at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, it competed in the Tour de France Automotive endurance race with modifications, including a race-prepped 289CID V8 (in place of the factory 260CID engine) and some suspension and braking upgrades.

Despite being such a new car, the Mustang swept the top two spots in the Touring class, and they were among only 19 Touring cars to finish the race out of 56 cars that started in this class! As an indication of Ford’s motorsports success on the horizon, these Mustangs finished eighth and ninth overall, just behind a group of legendary endurance racers, the Ferrari 250 GTO and Porsche 904.

Shelby GT350R

To some degree, the Tour de France Automotive Mustangs were a precursor to the Shelby GT350. By the time the Shelby GT350 was revealed on January 27, 1965, the factory 289CID V8 had replaced the 260CID mill, but the Shelby Mustang was tuned to produce 306 hp, a significant boost from the Mustang GT’s 225-hp output and even higher than the ultra-rare, K-code Mustang’s 271 hp. The Shelby GT350 was developed to dominate America’s SCCA circuit, and it did just that, creating a foundation for the Mustang as a motorsports legend with multiple championships and victories in the SCCA B-Production class.

Mustang Boss 302/429

From 1969 to 1970, Ford aimed to create in-house Mustang racecars with the Boss 302 and Boss 429. Developed for the Trans-Am and SCCA, the Boss 302 was a high-performance variant focusing on handling and power, and it won the 1970 Trans-Am Championship with drivers like Parnelli Jones and George Follmer. The Boss 429 featured the 7.0L big-block V8 for larger-displacement series such as NASCAR. The performance and rarity of the Boss 429 make this one of the most valuable and desirable Mustangs of all time.

Mustang Mach 1

While the Shelby and Boss Mustangs were low-volume models built for homologation, the introduction of the Mustang Mach 1 in 1969 brought power to the masses, and its popularity resulted in the discontinuation of the Mustang GT. With four engine options (that maxed out at 335-hp R-Code Cobra Jet), the Mach 1 was popular among drag-racing enthusiasts. This quarter-mile spirit is frequently revived with Ford’s limited-edition Mustang Cobra Jet factory drag car.

1975 Ford Cobra II

The first-gen Mustangs’ impact on motorsports is obvious, but the Mustang II also saw success in racing. One of the innovators in the Mustang II era of motorsports was the 1975 Kemp Cobra II. This Mustang was purpose-built for IMSA racing with numerous performance innovations, including the fuel-injected 351CID V8 laying down 535 hp.

1985 Ford Mustang GTO

Moving into the Fox Body era, the Mustang was still a strong performer in various SCCA and IMSA events, such as the highly modified Mustang that competed in the IMSA GTO class. One of the most recognizable examples of an IMSA GTO Mustang is the one driven by Lyn St. James in 1985. That year, she recorded three race victories, including the first IMSA GT win by a solo woman driver.

Ford Mustang Stock Car

The Ford Mustang entered the most popular motorsports series in the U.S., NASCAR, starting in 2010, competing in what is now known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The Mustang was added to NASCAR’s top-level Cup Series in 2019, and it has achieved two championships in that time (2022 and 2023) and twice won the high-profile Daytona 500 (2021 and 2022). The Mustang also joined the Australian V8 Supercar stock car series and finished first in its debut outing.

2024 Ford Mustang GT3

Ford wrote the latest chapter in the Mustang’s motorsports history with the debut of its Mustang GT3 racecar. Aimed at the higher levels of endurance racing, this track-only Mustang is built to FIA specifications to compete in global racing series like the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The Mustang GT3 debuted at the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona in the GTD Pro class. Not only did the Mustang GT3 inspire the GT4, which is aimed at privateer race teams ranging from amateur to professional, but it also led to the creation of the street-legal 2025 Mustang GTD.

Velocity and the Classic Ford Mustang

Celebrate your own victories behind the wheel of a Velocity Ford Mustang! Each build has been completely reimagined from the ground up starting with a Roadster Shop Spec chassis and power from a Gen III 5.0L Ford Coyote V8. Based on the popular 1967-1968 Ford Mustang body style, this modernized classic Mustang can be built as a Fastback or a Convertible, for classic car enthusiasts who desire open-air driving.