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Ford has been in the automotive industry for over a century and has churned out some of the most iconic cars ever seen. The Blue Oval auto factory continues to churn out everything from the super-fast Ford GT to the F-MAX heavy-duty truck.
However, as the American automaker looks to focus its efforts on electrification, it will discontinue several models in 2023 including the Fiesta, S-Max, and Galaxy. That said, several Ford models have been killed off, whether it was due to poor sales or simply to make way for something better. Some of these discontinued models have cult followings that do nothing but return.
10/10 Ford Probe
Ford worked with Mazda to bring the Probe to life, adopting the Mazda FC Series RX-7’s instrument cluster and pop-up headlight mechanisms for the first-generation Probe. The liftback coupe had a front-wheel drive configuration in two generations, from 1988 to 1997.
The most powerful engine, the Mazda F2T 164-hp 2.2-liter inline-four, was mounted on the second-generation Probe. Initially, Ford wanted the Probe to be the fourth-generation Mustang, but without a V8 and a rear-wheel drive, so the idea did not resonate with fans.
9/10 Ford Fusion
It’s not often you see a stylish midsize sedan with solid performance like the Ford Fusion. Positioned between the Focus and Taurus, the Fusion is available in gasoline, gas-electric, or plug-in hybrid versions. The Fusion isn’t a gas guzzler, and it can handle almost any road condition with its all-wheel-drive configuration.
At the top of its performance regime, the 2017-2019 Fusion is powered by a 2.7-liter EcoBoost turbocharged V6, with an output of 325 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Although Ford killed the Fusion in a bid to focus on its pickups, SUVs, and Mustang, it sold more than 100,000 units in 2020, the final year of production, so it’s safe to say that the appeal and demand for the Fusion is still there.
8/10 Ford Taurus SHO
The Ford Taurus SHO is the performance version of the Taurus, and it was originally intended to be a limited production model, but it lived through four generations, from 1989 to 2019. With its Mercury Sable hood, fog lamps, sports seats, and side cladding, you can immediately tell the difference from the standard Taurus.
The fourth and final generation Taurus SHO gets its kicks from a 3.6-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 that pumps out up to 365 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. After an 11-year hiatus, Ford decided to revive the Taurus SHO for the fourth generation in 2010. This is why it might be a pipe dream to expect another revival in the future.
7/10 Ford Torino
Most Ford Torinos are conventional four-door sedans and two-door hardtops, but there are a few high-performance versions with Cobra-jet engines, and those are the ones we miss the most. Torino is the base of the Ford NASCAR cars, which have a successful racing history.
Although you don’t see many Torinos today, the 1968–1971 Torino GT convertibles, the 1970–1971 Torino Cobras, and the 1969 Torino Talladega have become favorite items for muscle car collectors.
6/10 Ford Escort RS Cosworth
The RS Cosworth is a rally variant of the fifth-generation Ford Escort for the European market. The first version of the Escort RS Cosworth produced competed in the World Rally Championship from 1993 to 1998.
Ford created a second version for road users without the rally enhancements, but with a Garrett T25 turbocharger. The road-going version is suitable for daily driving, with an output of 221 hp and 224 lb-ft of torque. The Escort RS Cosworth is a relatively rare breed, with just over 7,145 units produced.
5/10 Ford Mustang Fox Body
The Fox Body is the third generation Mustang to ride on Ford’s Fox platform. The idea was to build a one-size-fits-all Mustang with the performance of a two-door sports car and the practicality of a four-door family car.
The Fox Body Mustang was not only fast but also fuel efficient, so it was an instant success. The most powerful engine available for the Fox Body Mustang was a 5.0-liter V8 mated to a five-speed manual transmission to produce 210 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque for the 1985 model year. Here’s a render by automotive digital designer Emmanuel Brito that gives the Fox Body Ford Mustang GT a new look.
4/10 Ford Focus RS
The Focus RS may have been killed off in 2018, but it remains a performance icon with a gusty 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The stealthy fight jet Focus RS has the “HP1” designation, which means it’s a serious performance model like the Mustang GT350R.
You just have to be prepared to sacrifice comfort for performance with the Focus RS, which boasts improved grip and better cornering ability, thanks to its all-wheel drive configuration. Staying true to its sportiness, the Focus RS works with a manual transmission only.
3/10 Ford Thunderbird
The Ford Thunderbird debuted as a two-seat convertible in 1955 but was also available in other body configurations including a four-door pillared hardtop sedan, a five-passenger pillared coupe, and a five-seat convertible. The T-Bird offers the performance of a sports car and the comfort of a personal luxury car.
Ford entered NASCAR competitions with the T-Bird, piloting Bobby Allison to 13 first-place finishes. After a five-year hiatus, Ford brought the T-Bird back in 2002 for its eleventh generation, so it’s unlikely to be revived.
2/10 Ford Shelby GT350R
If there’s one Mustang muscle car enthusiasts will never forget, it’s the Ford Shelby GT350R. It was introduced in 2016, to rival the Chevy Camaro Z28 and the Porsche 911 GT3. With its bold, big, bad looks, it’s love at first sight for muscle car enthusiasts.
Powered by a 5.2-liter flat-plane crank V8 engine, 526 horses are sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. The GT350R will launch to 60 mph in less than 4.0 seconds. Sadly, Ford pulled the plug on the GT350R in 2020, after just five years of production.
1/10 Ford Mustang Boss 429
The Boss 429 Mustang is a high-performance variant of the Ford Mustang designed in a bid to fulfill homologation requirements for NASCAR’s Grand National Division racing, making it one of the rarest Mustangs, with 1,359 examples produced . With a big-block V8 race engine, the Boss 429 Mustang is officially rated at 375 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, but you can get up to 500 hp.
By 1970, just one year after its launch, sales of the Boss 429 Mustang began to decline, largely due to higher production costs and gas costs. The Boss 429 Mustang is quite expensive today—$385,000 per Hagerty—which shows that the market is recognizing its true value.
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