If you grew up reading car magazines or sites, it was always a special occasion when American muscle and pony cars faced off. Even if you were into the import scene, hot rods, or off-roaders, you probably stopped in your tracks when you came across a story pitting a Ford Mustang GT against a Chevrolet Camaro SS or a Dodge Challenger R/T. Sadly, those days are disappearing quicker than the fuel in a Challenger Hellcat’s tank.
Ford, having flirted with killing its pony car long before doing so was cool, has emerged as the most steadfast in its commitment to its contender, the Mustang. Rather than the ritual sacrifice of its gas-fed icon for an EV, Ford expanded the family with the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV, taking things in a new direction without abandoning the old way. The Mustang GT Performance is further proof in the hoof pudding and can trace its roots directly back to the original pony car. There’s a 5.0-liter V-8 up front, rear-wheel drive, a limited-slip differential, and a six-speed manual. Toss in MagneRide adaptive dampers and sticky rubber—what else do you need?
For a long time, the Camaro served as the Mustang’s foil. In some ways that was the Chevy’s destiny. Developed as GM’s rapid response to the new and wildly popular 1965 Mustang, the Camaro first hit the streets for 1967, offering a more muscular appearance and hotter performance than the Mustangs of the day. We wasted
