The Ford Mustang has put budget horsepower and style in the hands of drivers for nearly 60 years. Still, every once in a while, Ford will make an exceptional pony car that collectors pine over. Here are four legendary special edition Mustangs we’d love to see return for the seventh-generation S650 model, like the Shelby GT350 and the Boss 302. 

The Boss 302 is one of the special edition Mustangs we’d love to see again

The Ford Mustang Boss 302 is a staple in Ford Mustang history and one of the most sinister ‘Stangs ever. However, Ford hasn’t built a Boss 302 since 2013, meaning the Blue Oval is overdue for a Boss reboot. The last Boss 302 carried the legacy of larger-than-life Ford designers like Larry Shinoda, and the 2012 and 2013 models lived up to the name. They packed naturally-aspirated 5.0L Coyote V8s with sharpened handling characteristics and name-appropriate liveries. 

It would be a treat to see the new, seventh-generation Ford Mustang brandish the scalloped stripes and “BOSS 302” lettering. Plus, it stands to reason that an S650 Boss 302 would pack another high-horsepower 5.0L V8 and track-ready credentials. 

What is so special about the GT350?

The Shelby GT350 is a special edition Ford Mustang with a colorful history. It started life as a race-bound version of the 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback from none other than Carroll Shelby. Over 50 years later, the GT350 namesake returned, this time with a secret weapon. The S550-generation GT350 packed a flat-plane crank 5.2L “Voodoo” V8 with a redline of 8,250 rpm. 

That makes the 526-horsepower Shelby GT350 the most powerful naturally aspirated factory Ford Mustang ever, with a soundtrack unlike any other Mustang before. We’d love to see another flat-plane pony car with a Shelby badge for the new generation. 

What is special about a Bullitt Mustang?

The Ford Mustang Bullitt is a movie homage car with three generations of hat tipping to Steve McQueen. The first homage was the SN-95 Bullitt from 2001, followed by the retro-inspired S197 Bullitts from 2008 and 2009. After the S197 Bullitt, Ford produced a post-facelift S550 Ford Mustang Bullitt with a 480-horsepower variation of the Coyote V8. Of course, the special edition Mustangs offered the stunning Dark Highland Green paintwork that the 1968 movie car wore so proudly. 

A subtle, sophisticated, powerful S650 Bullitt Mustang would be a welcome addition to the pony car’s lineup. 

We’d love to see the Mach 1 special edition Mustang come back for the new S650 generation

As it turns out, the Ford Mustang Mach 1 recently returned from a hiatus for the 2021 model year. However, with the automotive changing of the guard between the S550 and S650 generation cars looming, the Mach 1 isn’t long for this world. Instead, the Mach 1 will take its retro graphics, Tremec six-speed manual transmission, and track-day acumen with it when the new generation takes over. Of course, the new Dark Horse promises to fill the special edition track star gap that the Mach 1 leaves in the lineup. 

Still, the Mach 1 doesn’t just look the part; it’s properly fast. Hagerty launched a 10-speed automatic variant to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, beating a Toyota GR Supra 3.0 and Nissan Z Performance. We’d love to see another naturally-aspirated, track-ready Mach 1 and its brilliant retro graphics for the new S650.