Ford Mustang 1967 GT 390 Fastback

Before the Boss 302, before the Mach 1, Ford’s biggest Mustang engine option was the S-code 390 — a 320-horsepower FE-series V-8 wrapped in the same fastback shape that would later chase a Dodge Charger through Bullitt’s iconic streets. It defined the GT 390 as the serious performance choice in the 1967 lineup, a full year before the 428 Cobra Jet took over that title. Here’s what made this specific Mustang configuration so significant.

Check out this screemin’ black on black Mustang 390 GT Fastback!

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Before the Boss 302 or the Mach 1 ever existed, Ford’s answer to “how much engine can we fit in a Mustang” was the S-code 390. It was the biggest, most powerful option a Mustang buyer could check on the order form in 1967, and Ford wrapped it in the same fastback silhouette that would later carry a much more famous green paint job and a Steve McQueen chase scene down the hills of San Francisco. Long before Bullitt made that shape iconic, the 390 GT Fastback was already the Mustang enthusiasts wanted most. What exactly was under the hood, and why does this specific configuration still command the kind of attention it does?

The Biggest Engine Ford Would Sell in a ’67 Mustang

The S-code 390-cubic-inch FE-series V-8 was the largest and most powerful engine available in any 1967 Mustang, rated at roughly 320 horsepower and 427 lb-ft of torque. It replaced the smaller small-block options as the top-tier choice for buyers who wanted real straight-line performance rather than just Mustang styling, and it defined the GT 390 as the serious performance pick in the lineup a full year before the 428 Cobra Jet arrived to take the crown.

The Fastback Body That Became a Movie Icon

The 2-door fastback body style paired with the GT 390 gave the car its most recognizable silhouette — the same shape immortalized a year later when a Highland Green ’68 fastback chased a Dodge Charger through the streets of San Francisco in Bullitt. That connection has made 390-powered fastbacks, in period-correct trim with the right wheels and blacked-out grille, some of the most sought-after Mustangs on the collector market, whether or not a given car has any actual movie history.

Why the S-Code Still Matters to Collectors

Unlike some later high-output Mustangs built in larger numbers, the 390 GT represents the moment Ford figured out that Mustang buyers wanted more than a sporty image — they wanted an engine that could back it up. That combination of rarity, genuine period performance, and the fastback body’s cultural cachet keeps clean, correctly-optioned S-code cars firmly on the wish list of serious Mustang collectors.

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