Mustang

OVERVIEW:
Petersen Publishing's Mustang magazine was published by the staff at Hot Rod. It started with feature cars and reprints of articles from its parent magazine. After three annual issues and strong interest in the magazine, it switched to quarterly for three years, then dropped into a bi-monthly schedule starting in 1986.

The publishing realm for Mustang-related magazines was still relatively new when Mustang began in 1980. Larry Dobbs really started the genre of Mustang restoration publications with Mustang Monthly in 1978, and other Mustang-focused publishers would soon add other titles including Fabulous Mustangs and Exotic Fords, Mustang Illustrated, and Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords.

When Mustang went to a quarterly schedule, the first editor was Cam Benty. He was followed by Bruce Caldwell and later Jerry Pitt (from 1990 through 1994).

Content was always focused on modified Mustangs with restoration tips added. As a strong "show how" title, it taught readers how to do things themselves. It was staffed with real Mustang enthusiasts who were hands-on and had personally experienced the techniques and performance technologies that were covered.

The title was changed after the January, 1991 issue to Mustang & Fords when coverage was expanded to include other Ford performance cars. Mr. Pitt orchestrated both the name change and the spin-off of 5.0 Mustang with John Dianna in 1994.

A more detailed history can be found in Jim Smart's Mustang 360 article .

The table of contents, if available, can be seen by clicking on the icon.

PUBLICATION DATA:
The publisher provided net paid circulation data to The Standard Periodical Directory from 1990 through 1992. Annual print production was reported as 260,000.

CONTENT COMPLETENESS:
A total of 46 issues was published from 1980 through January, 1991. Cover images are complete.