The most popular Pony Cars in history
Pony Cars have been collector’s items since the end of their era toward the 1980s. Today, collectors may pay upwards of twenty to even fifty thousand dollars to own an original and completely restored Pony Car. There have, throughout the years, been very popular versions of Pony Cars. The most popular have been featured in race circuits throughout the world. With the Ford Mustang being the most commonly remembered Pony Car of all time, it is not at all surprising that these cars are often featured as racecars and have traveled thousands of miles in order to reach the checkered flag.
The Mustang is today considered to be the most popular of all Pony Cars in history. The Barracuda, Charger, Corvair and Camaro are also popular versions of the Pony Car that have seen their time on the racetrack. In the early 1960s, the Mustang Shelby won many championships around the United States, beating out nearly every other Pony and Muscle Cars on the tracks.
BOSS 429 Mustang
One car that many avid Pony Car fans may remember is the BOSS 429 Mustang, which became the reason that big block racing was forever banned by NASCAR. Many believe that there simply is not another car considered to be in the Pony Car class that could ever compete with the Mustang, built and designed by the Ford Motor Company. The Chevrolet Camaro, although it could compete with its looks, simply could never keep up with the popularity and the power of the Mustang. Many believe that Mustangs were winning drag racing titles in the NHRA while Chevy Camaros were still putting along with pace cars. During the 1960s, Don Nicklson, Jack Rousch and Bob Gildden drove their Mustangs into the winners’ circles more times than many could count. During these years the Mustangs were also flooding showroom floors and selling more than any other Pony Cars combined.
1965 Ford Mustang
Those who claim to be avid Ford fans still feel that the Mustang is and will forever be the most popular of all Pony Cars. Since they are, and have been throughout history, built to last, they have outlived all other Pony Cars in their class as well as most of the cars in the Muscle Car class. When many people think of Pony Cars, Ford Mustangs instantly spring to mind, although the actual first Pony Car to be introduced was the Plymouth Barracuda. Still, Mustangs have ruled the roads for the past fifty years and are likely to be considered the most popular of all Pony Cars ever designed.
Other cars considered to be part of the Pony Car era, although not nearly as popular as the Ford Mustang include the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Corvair and of course the beginning of it all, the Plymouth Barracuda.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda
The Chevrolet Camaro has recently been resurrected as has the Dodge Challenger. Although these two cars are highly popular today among the younger crowd, the Ford Mustang still outranks both in sales and is still considered to be the most popular of all Pony Cars in history.