High Demand, Low Supply: Why Isn’t Ford Reproducing the Iconic 1960s Mustang?

The main thing is, they don’t have the molds or dies for those old cars. Modern cars are designed and built using molds, and as far as I know, those dies get sold off or repurposed when a model is discontinued. You can’t just ask Ford to make another early 2000s Mustang — let alone one from the 1960s. That’s just not happening.

Then there’s the emissions issue. Muscle cars from the ’60s were basically just regular cars, and most of them wouldn’t even come close to passing today’s emissions tests. Back then, manufacturers didn’t care (or at least cared a lot less) about emissions. Now, they’re forced to care and make their cars more environmentally friendly. That kind of thing just wasn’t possible with ’60s technology.

Think about it — carburetors were simple and easy to work with, but they weren’t precise. And those old engines? Definitely not eco-friendly. Ford would run into major legal trouble long before they even thought about making a brand-new 1960s Mustang. Plus, they probably don’t have the original molds or parts for those classic V8s anymore. Okay, maybe they do and could remake them, but it wouldn’t make sense. They’ve got newer, better technology, and they’re not going to go backward, even if there’s demand. So yeah, old-school Mustangs? Not coming back.

Also, there’s the safety issue. Cars back then weren’t built to the same safety standards we have today. Basically, you’d have to redesign a bunch of stuff to make them road legal—especially in the US—and that’s not easy. Most manufacturers don’t want to put in the extra effort, and usually they don’t think it’s worth it. That’s why they just don’t bother.

Take classic muscle cars, for example. They’ve got thin pillars and minimal dashboards. Trying to squeeze airbags and other modern safety features into those designs would be tough, and if someone insisted on it, it would mean a full redesign—which, again, is no small task. Most manufacturers don’t think it’s necessary, so they just skip it. In their minds, once a product is discontinued, that’s it—it’s gone for good. No second chances.

Even if they could make it, the price would be ridiculous. Just look at replicas like the Revology Mustang — it costs as much as a Lamborghini. Don’t get me wrong, if I had the dough, I’d buy one in a heartbeat. But for Ford to make another one? Not gonna happen. Would you drop $200K on a Mustang just because it’s a classic model? Yeah, didn’t think so.

Manufacturers know that once they discontinue a product, it’s done. They move on, and that’s that. So, no, you’re not getting a classic Mustang straight from Dearborn. The only ones being made will come from aftermarket shops — for a fantastic price, of course. Ford just doesn’t see it as profitable anymore, and the headaches that would come with it aren’t worth it. It’s way easier and cheaper to keep cranking out new models. Besides, not everyone even wants a brand-new classic car from Ford or anyone else — most people are fine with the modern stuff and most of us also don't want to use old cars; newer ones will make more sense and won't be a hassle.

That’s actually why there aren’t any new classic cars—manufacturers just don’t think it’s worth making them. Once they decide to discontinue a car, they shut everything down, from engineering to assembly. Restarting production after that would be super expensive, and it’s just not worth it for them. They’d rather focus on new models, which are more profitable and already have the infrastructure in place.