There's much to learn about the Mustang from taking a peak at the pony car's history of horsepower.

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Isn't there a difference in how they measure hp now as opposed to the 60's? Now they have to be rated at the flywheel with all accessories and manifolds in place, whereas I believe formerly they could take all that stuff off and measure the hp on a test stand.

 

pretty sure the I6 and smaller v8s in the 60s werent making 250 hp.

170ci - 101hp
200ci - 120
250ci - 155 in '69 and rerated at 88 in '72 (lol)
289ci - 200hp (225 in HiPo)
302ci - 220hp (250 with 4 barrel)

Its a cool infograph but not accurate.

 

I don;t nowabout the rest of them but I'm pretty sure the 289 cobra ran 271 hp

 

A lot of people mistake the 225 HP A code 289 as the Hipo. The 225 hp was the standard GT engine with 4bbl but not the HiPo
The HiPo was the K code and was 271 hp in the Mustang with apx 306 hp in the Shelby Cobra and GT 350 and a bit more in the R models. These are actually pretty rare considering how many mustangs were made in 65, 66 and 67, but very few K codes. Plenty of A Code 225 hp and C Code 210 hp 289s.

 

Starting in 1972, h.p. ratings where S.A.E. net, measured at the rear of the transmission, with all accessories installed and operating.

The original engine in my old 73 Mach 1 was a "M" code 351 Windsor rated at only 164 h.p, for comparison the same 351 Windsor in 1971 was rated @ 240 h.p.

 

Yes this graph should transpose them all into SAE Net or Gross HP ratings. The new 2015 mustang would be easily over 500HP if they used Gross HP ratings.

 

Interesting. I'd also be interested in the Mile Per Gallon throughout the years, to see how that's ebbed and flowed.

 

I know old thread, but I just have to chime in, I have a 14 3.7 with tune and catback , BUT remembering my friend back in 1970(i know along time ago)Who had a 289 cobra 67, fairlane , I know you didnt think they put Cobras in lesser models , but they did, but it was a plain jane and it was soo fast . Anyway those engines were so torqued out, even tho I'm running 30 more HP in mine, I just couldnt see me beating him in the quarter