Not trying to start a flame war here, but wasn't the Mustang supposed to be Ford's answer to the Corvette--originally a 2 seater I think--but Ford marketing decided a 4 passenger model would sell better--the public did like it and it sold well--and Shelby did his "magic" to it--and it became real popular then--most early production Mustangs had a 6 cylinder and a 3 speed, basic pkg car. Joe Average couldn't afford a GT-350 from Shelby but might afford or could swing a 289 w/4speed option painted in similar Shelby colors--
GM/Chevy read the trend and in '67 came out with the Camaro/Firebird,--even the basic 6 cylinder, 3 speed, had more power than the Mustang(of course Chevy "knew" 6 cylinders
). Pretty soon even the vaunted Mustang HI-PO 289 was history Chevy's ate them up
Finally came to stuffing bigger and bigger blocks into the respective cars, 289, 289 HI-PO vs 283,302--390 vs 327, 396-- 427,428 vs SS396, SS 454, then the LT series.
Ford had "firsts" in a lot of things but their design team was always playing catch - up when it came to style--the '66 El Camino was far better looking IMO than any Ranchero ever built --the '67 was even better
I don't know the statistics of Ford vs Chevy in sales and marketing from the late '60's-early '70's---but on the street I remember kicking lots of Fords in to the gutter, the Fords just couldn't cut it.---
I've had problems with Fords I've owned-- cars and trucks over the years
I know "bite me" but a Chevy never let me down--hell even the Ford rearend in my car took a dump just before the Fling--
BUT a Cobra(even a replica) needs a Ford to be what it is supposed to represent
