The Ford Mustang has been a diecast staple since the real car launched in April 1964, and it is still one of the most reproduced cars in the hobby: almost every manufacturer makes some version, in nearly every scale. Here is a walk through the generations collectors care about most, with real pieces from our shelf.
Key Takeaways
On this page
| Generation | Years | Collector highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1964½ to 1973 | Launch coupe, GT Fastback, Cobra Jet, Boss 302, Mach 1, Shelby GT350/GT500 |
| 2nd (Mustang II) | 1974 to 1978 | King Cobra, Cobra II |
| 3rd (Fox body) | 1979 to 1993 | 5.0 GT, SSP police cars, SVT Cobra |
| 4th (SN95) | 1994 to 2004 | SVT Cobra, "Terminator" Cobra, Mach 1 |
| 5th (S197) | 2005 to 2014 | Retro styling, Boss 302 revival, Shelby GT500 |
| 6th (S550) | 2015 to 2023 | Shelby GT350, 760 hp Shelby GT500 |
| 7th (S650) | 2024 to today | Dark Horse |
Ford unveiled the Mustang at the New York World's Fair on April 17, 1964, months before the usual fall launch. The earliest cars were sold as 1965 models, but collectors and historians call them "1964½" because of that early debut. It is the natural first car on any Mustang shelf.
This is the muscle-car peak. The 1968 Cobra Jet used a 428 cubic-inch V8 and won its class at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals. The 1968 GT Fastback became a movie legend in Bullitt. And the 1969 to 1970 Boss 302 was built to homologate Ford for Trans-Am racing.
1:18 scale by Maisto. The drag-strip Mustang, at a very approachable price for 1:18.
$63.39 · Shop Now →
Ford revived the Boss 302 name for 2012 and 2013, and the Shelby GT500 returned for 2020 with 760 horsepower, the most powerful street-legal Ford of its time. Both bring the performance lineage into the modern era.
1:24 scale by Maisto. The revived Boss 302 in orange and black.
$36.24 · Shop Now →
1:18 scale by Maisto. Yellow with black top, the modern flagship.
$56.85 · Shop Now →
More in-stock Fords from our catalog, from 1:64 to premium 1:18.
Ford debuted the Mustang on April 17, 1964, earlier than the usual fall model-year launch. Those early cars were titled as 1965 models, but enthusiasts call them 1964½.
The 1968 Cobra Jet used a 428 cubic-inch V8 built for drag racing and won its class at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals, which makes it a favorite with collectors.
A 1968 Mustang GT Fastback in Highland Green, driven by Steve McQueen in the 1968 film.
Mustangs come in nearly every scale. 1:18 gives the most detail for a smaller collection; 1:24 lets you cover more generations on the same budget; 1:64 lets you collect every variant.
Related Reading
See every Mustang and every other brand we carry in our Diecast & Scale Model Cars collection.
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