Has the Ford Mustang Really Gotten More Expensive Over Time? (Base Prices vs Inflation)

It’s no secret that Ford Mustang prices have soared in recent years, but when adjusting for inflation, is that still the case?

For several years now, consumers have watched helplessly as the prices of pretty much everything have risen to new, historic highs. This is particularly true in certain industries, such as automotive, where new and used vehicle prices continue to hover around record territory, stubbornly refusing to provide any relief. Pony car fans are painfully aware of the fact that the sticker price of a new Ford Mustang is quite high as well, and many point to that fact as the reason behind its slower sales as of late.

It is certainly true that a new Ford Mustang costs more now than it ever has, at least, when we’re looking at apples-to-apples models like the EcoBoost and GT, which have been around for more than one generation. However, it’s also important to adjust these same figures for inflation if we want a true look at the cost of anything over time, as that particular factor muddies the situation.

Recently, that’s exactly what the folks at Hagerty did – they compared prices from the 1982-2023 model years for the Ford Mustang GT, specifically, using historic data from the U.S. Labor Bureau of Statistics, along with the lowest MSRPs for those models over time, with each passing generation. Among that group, the lowest inflation-adjusted MSRP for any Ford Mustang GT since the Fox Body generation began was 1982, at $28,655, and the highest happened in 2018, at $46,176.

Prices declined a bit after 2018, but it’s very clear that the S197 and S550 generation Ford Mustang GT was significantly more expensive to procure than models from the 1980s and 1990s. Of course, it’s also worth noting that those later generations have much more to offer in terms of amenities and performance, at least. The values of Fox Body Ford Mustangs have increased quite a lot in the past few years, however, and the newer sixth-generation pony cars are holding their value quite well, too.

This at least means folks who opted to hang on to their cars and keep them in tip-top shape with lower miles can now perhaps even make a little money if they opt to sell, with the Fox proving to be incredibly popular with collectors these days.

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.