Camaro vs. Mustang Style

[Fenderaddict2]

As may of you know I currently own a Mustang, but I'm a fan of both cars. What you may not know is that I'm shallow and am drawn to style as much as substance, which is probably why my dating life was such a mess. Anyway here is my list, year by year, who had the better looking car and why.

1965, Mustang wins, no competition and damn that compound curve at the base of the fastback roof is gorgeous.

1966, Mustang wins, no competition, see above.

1967, Mustang wins, the extended fastback and the batwing fender lines seen from behind are dramatic.

1968, Camaro wins. Used to the Mustang, side marker lights ruin the Mustang's clean lines and the Camaro RS hideaway headlights, colour schemes and stripe options are killer.

1969, Tie. The Boss Mustangs are killer, but so is the Z/28. Forced to pick a winner, I'd go with the Cougar Eliminator. I'm am a fan of the '69 Boss though, and that will prove to be a factor many, many year later when considering a new car.

1970, Camaro wins. Not just better looking of the two cars, but one of the best looking cars in the world IMHO. Plus the 4 headlights on the Mustang and the Hockey Stick Graphic on the Boss aren’t as cool as the ’69’s

1971 - '73, A Camaro sweep, the Mustang is too big and blocky.

1974, Mustang. "What!?!?!", I hear you scream, yes because GM ruined a stunning car with the new mandated bumpers. This should have been a redesign rather than a refresh. And The Mustang looks good, we just have to ignore the power, fit and finish issues.

1975 - '76, Tie. It comes down to the little detail on a trim by trim basis. Now remember we’re just talking looks here, and I’m still pissed of by what GM did to such a beautiful car.

1977 - '78, Camaro sweep. Ford does nothing to improve on the basic design premise while GM does everything to offset the bumper issue.

1979, Mustang. A bold new approach, while the Camaro gets add on spats.

1980 - '81, Mustang, finally Ford gets evolution. Some nice subtle refinements vs no real change on the Camaro other than cartoon-y graphics

1982, Camaro, big time!. While ’82 is my fave design year for the Fox body ‘stang, GM hits this one out of the park with it’s (for the time) supercar looks.

1983 - '85, Camaro Sweep. Mustang kills the one good thing on the Mustang, the bold grill by tapering it, wheres the Camaro still looks like a much, much more expensive car.

1986, Mustang, An upset due to the cool SVO, and it’s offset hood intake. The stale Mustang suddenly looks as futuristic as the gorgeous Camaro.

1987, Camaro. Mustang screws up with too much plastic cladding.

1988 - '92, Camaro. The car remains clean and stylish, where as the Mustang stumbles along with poor cosmetic upgrades. Camaro is long overdue for a refresh though.

1993, Tie. It’s 1974 all over again. The Camaro is ruined by heavy handed styling upgrades.

1994, Camaro squeezes out the win as the Mustang goes soft, visually that is.

1995 - 97 Tie, Both are styling abominations of tacky upgrades and details. I move first into Japanese and then later German cars.

1998, Camaro, an improved grill, more inline with the body shape evolution pushes the Camaro into the design lead.

1999, Camaro, the grill introduced the previous year is now harmonized with a cleaner overall design devoid of clutter. can’t wait to see what’s next...

2000, Camaro. But why no changes, it’s as if they have given up on the car...

2001 - '02, Camaro, but only just as GM seems to be leaving the car to languish

2003 - '04, Mustang. WTF has happened to the Camaro? Damn you GM!

2005, Mustang. Now that’s more like it!

2006 - 09, Mustang Sweep

2010, Camaro. It’s new, it’s exciting. It turns heads just like the '70 and '82 cars. I start to reconsider an American car. Let’s just ignore the power and chassis dynamic shall we?

2011 - '12, Tie. Now I notice the upgrades made in 2010, and like how the Mustang appears more svelte. I still like the Camaro but can’t get past it’s cartoon proportions and visual to give it the win. Forced to pick a winner, I’d go for the Challenger, although I did return to American cars at this time thanks to a Ford.

2013 - '14. Mustang, The new nose grabs a win for Mustang over Camaro in all but ZL1 and Z/28 trim, and even then, if I’m honest it what the cars offer rather than the looks that really appeals to me.

2015, Mustang, I’m a fan of the new body style, being lower and wider. I like that it’s an evolution rather than a revolution.

2016, The winner remains to be seen, but if GM can keep all the design hallmarks of the stunning ’10 debut in a more sensible size, we could have a new winner here.

Now these are my personal opinions, and you are free to disagree no matter how wrong you may be. Also it’s worth pointing out that I think my Boss could be a far better looking car, but that looks -- unusually at the time -- had nothing to do with me purchasing it.

What's your unbiased take? Blatant Ford or GM Fanboy posts will be ignored.

[CruisingSpeed]

I am a bit of a shallow styling man whore too!
For the most I agree with you. Still for me the Camaro wins overall in styling cues. As you said you turned to Foreign at a time and that was the real truth for then. Mustang obviously wins for 2005, but looking back it really looks like shit given the 2006 camaro concept.

Now in 2015 for me the Mustang is close to topping Camaro, it's alright GM will prevail next year! Hopefully.

[SpeedIsLife]

I'd agree with that..however I would have to say that for 69/70 I would say Mustang sweep. The Boss cars (both 302 and 429) and the Mach 1, especially the Mach 1 SCJ "Shaker" or whatever Ford called it, were the most visually appealing.

71-95 tho...Camaro all day, every day, twice on sunday.

The 95 Cobra R w/ 351 were pretty slick and still command attention today, and the early SN-95 Cobras are still good looking cars today.

[shaffe]

65-1968 Mustang. Not saying the Camaro was ugly, but IMO the Mustang just looked better.

69 TIE This is a tough one. The 1969 Camaro just stands out in my mind as one of the most iconic cars from back in the day. BUT That Mustang tho bad ass.

1970 MUSTANG, Mustang took what I loved about the 69 and made it better.

71-86 I would have to say Camaro. Awkward phase in the life of the Mustang. Jsut not a fan of any mustang from these years, but the four eyed Fox does get a little love but Camaro looked better

87-93 Mustang. got to love them Fox bodies!

94-98 Camaro, Mustang wasn't bad looking just something was off IMO. It was too soft of a design IMO. I like the "sharpness" of the Camaro

99-04 Mustang, I used to love the look of the 99-02 Camaro's when I was 16, but looking back at them now IMO, they just looked like arrowheads. No lines, no soul IMO. WS6 Trans-Am on the other hand looked bad ass

05-09 Mustang obviously

2010-2012 TIE Mustang had way improved on the S197 look. The car needed to have some angles and curves, this helped it but not quite 100% yet. The Camaro was new and hot and head turning at first on the road when they were rare...but they quickly outnumbered Mustangs in my area and being 100% honest I was already growing tired of the design that i saw at the 2006 auto show, and had rammed in my face by transformers.

2013-2014 MUSTANG. Mustang finally nailed what the S197 should have looked like. Gorgeous IMO. 14 Camaro Refresh, hated the tail lights, front end looked better, but Mustang wins this one easily IMO.

2015 Mustang. Seeing the S550 in person I think they nailed the look. I see nothing but Mustang in it. I see a solid mix from the S197 and SN95 cars. IMO It looks like what a mustang would have looked like had the New Edge cars continued to evolve before going retro.

[87GNX]

My fav camaros were the 69 and 70. The next ones were the 3rd gens. Mustangs imo 13-14 are the best looking of all time ever. The 03 cobras next, the 2015s are still weird to me. The front end is hideous, the rear is meh. Hopefully the 6th gen camaro will blow me away. 2014 camaro front end is awesome, the rears are plain looking. 2010-2013 camaros have too bulky of a front imo, rear is sexy.

[HeavyIOM]

Im only gonna say what my opinion is on cars that I was alive for.

89-93: Mustang. Originally I was a fan of the 3rd gen Camaro, but the older I got the more I fell in love with the fox bodies.

94-98: Mustang. Since its Camaro and trans am is not considered I have to say Mustang 100%. A 98 Cobra was the first car I ever fell in love with. My aunt bought one brand new in 98 I was 9 and it was the coolest thing ever. Also I absolutley hate 4th gen Camaros!

99-02 Mustang. My statement above should still cover this.

03-04: Mustang

05-06: Mustang, can GTO be considered? If so GTO wins!

07-09: Mustang!

10-12: Camaro hands down! Had a TF3 Camaro and loved every second of it!

13-14: Mustang, if had two a 2013 race red GT M6, and a 2014 GHIG A6. Both were absolutely beautiful!

15: Mustang, I'm in love with the 6th gen! I'm trying to hold out for gen 6 Camaro, and hoping for a Mach1 edition stang, before trying out the 6th gens.

[Jsafe17]

1969 Camaro is arguably the most iconic muscle car of the entire era.. 1969 was no tie..not even close

[Jsafe17]

1993-1997 Geo storm Camaro was the low mark.... the 1998-2002 nose was the best save for ether Stang or Camaro.
The Ford pinto Mustangs are the low mark for the stang.

[Jsafe17]

1st gen fastback stangs are the high mark for the Ford.

[Muscle Car Memories]

Originally Posted by Jsafe17

1993-1997 Geo storm Camaro was the low mark.... the 1998-2002 nose was the best save for ether Stang or Camaro.
The Ford pinto Mustangs are the low mark for the stang.

The 1965-1966 Ford Mustang was the high mark yes however you got it wrong with the "Pinto Mustang". The Mustang II is actually the 2nd best seller to the 1st gen Mustangs, the Mustang II sold well over 450,000 its 1st year. Totally outsold Camaro's. The Mustang II gets alot of crap but in their day they were very popular.

[2010-1SS-IBM]

Can't say I disagree with too much of the original list (although I do wonder at the sanity of anyone who compares 50 years of cars), except '69 and 2015. I don't see how anyone picks the 2015 Mustang style over anything; it looks plain.

[Muscle Car Memories]

Originally Posted by 2010-1SS-IBM

Can't say I disagree with too much of the original list (although I do wonder at the sanity of anyone who compares 50 years of cars), except '69 and 2015. I don't see how anyone picks the 2015 Mustang style over anything; it looks plain.

I agree, I think Ford went "conservative" when they introduced the new Mustang but I would imagine they will be doing a Mach 1, Boss and numerous others to jazz it up somewhat.

Everyone and his brother knows how the 5.0's run but I gotta admit im very intrigued about the new 4 cyl ecoboost but trade my Camaro for one?, Hell no.

[Jsafe17]

Originally Posted by Muscle Car Memories

The 1965-1966 Ford Mustang was the high mark yes however you got it wrong with the "Pinto Mustang". The Mustang II is actually the 2nd best seller to the 1st gen Mustangs, the Mustang II sold well over 450,000 its 1st year. Totally outsold Camaro's. The Mustang II gets alot of crap but in their day they were very popular.

Yah my opinion was not based on sales figures, what is you take for the low mark for the stang?

[Muscle Car Memories]

Originally Posted by Jsafe17

Yah my opinion was not based on sales figures, what is you take for the low mark for the stang?

IMO the 1974-1978 Mustang II's not based on sales performance because they sold well because of the times we were going through with gasoline etc. But if I base my decision on HP it would have to be the Mustang II's.

Mustang's of all years have always sold well, Ive owned many Mustang's and Camaro's and if we go on sales figures alone the Mustang would be the gold standard but for alot of years the Camaro out horsepowered the Mustang's all day long.

I remember in 1978 the Mustang Cobra II with the 302ci (which was later changed to 5.0) had a whopping 165 from the factory, pathetic. And I cant remember what year it was but Chevy had the base Camaro Iroc Z/28 with the 305 and it came from the factory with 175hp.

Those were some pretty sad days for all manufactures and now we bitch, moan and groan over only having 426hp in our LS3's...