MODERN CLASSIC? Ford Mustang GT California Special

The all-new Ford Mustang may be on its way to South Africa, but we recently spent 3 months evaluating the 5.0 GT California Special Fastback variant of the outgoing model, mainly to answer 1 question… Is it special enough to become a modern classic?

Words: Hannes Oosthuizen

Images: Justin Pinto

Unveiled in December 2013 (and entering production a year later), the 6th-gen Ford Mustang was the 1st iteration of the Blue Oval’s muscle car to be produced in right-hand-drive guise, which, of course, made it viable for introduction to the South African market. It was a sales success from the word go, also here in South Africa (from late 2015), where it has consistently been the Republic’s favourite sportscar.

• Find a Mustang for sale here.

There are plenty of Mustangs on the road, but it never ceased to amaze me how much attention this Ford test unit commanded from fellow road users during its recent 3-month test (sure, it’s a tastefully detailed and sonorous example – but still). It is one of those rare cars that seems universally loved – it elicits thumbs-ups, joyous waves and pointed fingers that are usually reserved for far more exotic machinery.

Indeed, South Africans seem to love the Mustang; previous limited-edition variants, such as the Bullitt and Mach 1, were snapped up eagerly. This 5.0 GT California Special Fastback, of which only 100 have been imported into South Africa, is likely to be high on the wish list of Mustang fans. At the time of writing this review, 50 new units of the current model were left in stock; 20 of those were California Specials.

But what’s the Ford like to live with, and once you get used to its novelty factor, does it retain appeal?

What we like about the Mustang 5.0 GT California Special

The Looks

The basic design of the 6th-gen Ford Mustang may be about a decade old, but in California Special trim, it turns heads like few other contemporary cars can. Finished in Atlas Blue paintwork and riding on striking grey 5-spoke 19-inch wheels (that remind us much of those fitted to the Bullitt), the California Special also features numerous visual upgrades to distinguish it from “lesser” Mustangs…

These include a broad, blacked-out honeycomb grille with a small red GT/CS logo, a purposeful front splitter, Shelby-inspired side scoops and a prominent rear wing from the GT Performance Package. At the rear, four 4.5-inch exhaust outlets signal the fitment of an Active Valve performance exhaust system.

There are no “shouty” go-faster stripes on this Fastback’s bonnet or roof and an absence of extreme aero addenda… in fact, the California Special looks quite stealthy, but suitably “macho” nonetheless.

For the car's photoshoot, we brought along a stunning example of the 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 - a prize winner at a SentiMETAL Gathering in Lourensford last year. When you see the cars together, the lineage is clear - Ford must be applauded for designing a modern-day car that recognises its history without coming across as overtly retro and tacky.

Inside, the changes (compared with other current-gen Mustangs) are not as obvious, although we did appreciate the heated and ventilated front seats, which are partially upholstered in Miko suede – a synthetic material made from recycled polyester. Red stitching and GT/CS badging on the seats and floor mats are specific to this derivative and the fascia is finished in Carbon Hex aluminium trim. A California Special badge on the dashboard is the final touch.

If you’ve been in a 6th-gen Ford Mustang, then the rest of the California Special’s cabin will be familiar, with decent build quality (seems better made than the earlier Mustangs we tested) and the Sync3 touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The dashboard design has definitely aged in areas, as is to be expected, but comfort levels are good (more on that later!).

The sound

Under that long bonnet sits the familiar naturally-aspirated “Coyote” 5.0-litre V8 that pumps out 330 kW and 529 Nm of torque. Starting the car is always an event – it barks into life quite loudly before settling into a steady idle. I only found out about the Quiet Start or so-called “Good Neighbour” mode after the fact… It limits the exhaust sound upon start-up, something that my neighbours would have appreciated!

The California Special’s motor is mated exclusively with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission and drivers can toggle between several drive modes; they are: Normal, Sport, Track, Drag and Snow/Wet. 

It is important to bear in mind the purpose of the Mustang and, in particular, this California Special’s market positioning. If you’re looking for a sportscar with which to dissect a mountain pass with scalpel-like precision, this is not the car for you. Don’t think of it as a more affordable alternative to models such as the BMW M4 and Jaguar F-Type. It is sufficiently fast, certainly, with a 0-100 kph time of 4.8 seconds and a 250-kph top speed, but delivering precise responses to steering inputs, lively throttle responses and ferocious traction (as the world’s best driving machines do) fall outside of the Mustang’s skill set. 

As the name suggests, this is a car for cruising the strip with the windows down, so that you can revel in the burble that emanates from the quad exhaust tips and positively lap up the envious looks from those who ogle your, um, steed. If you mash the accelerator pedal to the floor, however (provided you’re in the right mode), the Mustang will certainly, well, giddy up… and with a mighty roar too, but the transmission is easily flummoxed. If you leave it to its own devices, the ‘box can take too long to find the right gear.

Having said all that, if you choose to actuate ‘shifts manually, you may end up sending too much power to the rear wheels, and lose traction – it’s tricky when there are so many gears to choose from! Even though the power is developed fairly high up in the rev range, the California Special is nevertheless a car that can easily break traction on pull-away. No, this is a car that takes time to learn to drive fast, and it rewards a smooth driving style that acknowledges the limitations of vehicle weight, traction and gearing. 

If, however, you are interested in a car that looks and sounds great, and offers decent straight-line performance when required, then this Mustang is highly unlikely to disappoint you. 

Cruising Comfort

To reiterate, the Mustang is not the sharpest driving tool, even though it features a limited-slip diff and the firm’s MagneRide continuously adjusting damping system. But, for what it lacks in cornering poise, it makes up with a surprisingly comfortable ride quality on just about any surface you’re likely to encounter.

The fantastic seats help, of course, but the supple ride aids the Mustang’s role as an effective cruiser. We undertook several longer journeys in the test unit, and with 2 occupants (well, and a “compact” 3rd one in the back) on board and a boot full of luggage, the Ford was a very pleasurable mile muncher.

The boot is of a decent size (it has a claimed capacity of 382 litres) and, seeing as the rear seats are pretty much token items (unless used by small kids) you can also stash a few soft bags back there.

Oh, and suffice it to say, the open road flatters the California fuel consumption – around town, you are likely to achieve returns in the region of 18 L/100 km, but if you add some more open-road driving to your journey, you should get it down to around 14 L/100 km. Still, not great, but remember this is a big ol’ V8!

Any Dislikes?

This is one of those cars you either get – or don’t. If the idea of owning a classic American muscle car appeals to you, but you don’t want to forego features such as adaptive cruise control and a potent B&O sound system, you can’t go too wrong with a Mustang, which is a less sophisticated machine (in terms of powertrain tech) than other sportscars – that should bode well for mechanical reliability in the long run.

Plus, if you do intend to cherish your purchase for quite a while, then one of these limited-edition Mustangs could repay you not only in terms of “smiles per mile”, but also financially (to some degree).

If we had to nit-pick, okay, the option of a manual gearbox would have been welcome, seeing as the 10-speed automatic transmission does limit the level of driver involvement such a visceral car could offer. 

Verdict

With a price tag of just over R1.2 million, the 5.0 GT California Special Fastback costs less than R100k more than the standard 5.0 GT Fastback (January 2024)… and we’re confident that the former justifies the extra outlay. Besides the obvious visual enhancements, there is also the matter of exclusivity.

To reiterate, this sportscar is not for everyone, but even the purists on our team (except for Ash) had to agree that there was something deeply charming about a sunset cruise with this Mustang.

• Find a classic Mustang for sale here.

Is the California Special a modern classic? Well, find another naturally-aspirated V8 with rear-wheel drive that looks this good for R1.2 million. It is the very antithesis of the template of a modern sportscar: flawed and wonderful in equal measure. And we (well, most of us) miss it. So, that’s probably a “yes”, then.