“This is an aptly-named tome, as Kennedy’s enthusiasm for the Mustang is as unbridled as the car itself. The author really digs deep into the history of the Mustang — in fact, Ford Motor Company itself — as the book starts with Henry Ford’s birth in 1863 and takes you through his first failures to start an automobile company, right through the success of the Model T and A, World War II and the birth of the Falcon, upon which the Mustang was based.

Many books have captured the early history of the Mustang, the men involved, and the trials and tribulations they faced. Where Mustang Unbridled really shines is that it continues that story right to the current day, with the name, rank and horsepower of all those in charge through S197, S550 and 2024-up S650 of today.

That, in our opinion, makes it truly worth a place on your bookshelf if you are a Mustang historian. Too many books we come across are chock full of large, colorful photos, hackneyed cliches about the car, and precious little substance. I can attest as someone who has written three Mustang/Ford books and six automotive titles overall, that this kind of effort is extraordinarily difficult. That Kennedy has gone to great lengths to get this information makes Mustang Unbridled well worth the purchase price ($32 U.S. from Motorbooks).”

“Robert M. Kennedy’s latest tome arrives with ambitious scope, positioning itself as a cradle-to-present-day history of Ford’s defining performance icon. The book succeeds as a broad, enthusiast-friendly narrative, tracing the Mustang’s evolution from Lee Iacocca’s original vision through successive reinventions shaped as much by regulation and corporate strategy as by horsepower.

Kennedy comes to the subject not as an academic historian but as a technician-turned-enthusiast, formerly an automotive technician with experience contributing to Ford Performance media. That background informs a perspective that is engaging and accessible, and the text moves briskly, avoiding the bogged-down feel that can plague single-marque histories. The inclusion of period context, particularly around fuel crises and ever-changing market demands, adds additional dimensions beyond a simple model-by-model chronology...

As a highly readable and reasonably priced overview, it succeeds, appealing to both newer enthusiasts and seasoned enthusiasts looking for a consolidated take.”

“This book delivers a wide variety of Mustang history, but the real strength is the storytelling – it digs into the culture, the engineering shifts, and the personalities behind each era. The quality of the writing is strong, with a fast, energetic pace that keeps the history from feeling dry.”

“I had to have this book because his first one was so amazing! This book is a deep dive into the intriguing history of the steel steed - the Ford Mustang! It’s beautifully written and illustrated with some very interesting photos. If you’re a fan or know a fan of the pony car, be sure to get this book. It would be a fantastic gift for any muscle car fan! I highly recommend you get it!”

“This is definitely a substantial book, so if you like automotive history, there’s a lot to dig into. It’s not a quick flip-through, but it also doesn’t feel like filler - it’s genuinely loaded with information.”

“I purchased this book after reading Mr. Kennedy’s first book UNBRIDLED that was absolutely amazing! I appreciate this book for being a much smaller manageable book I can carry with me at all times.”

“I thought it might be interesting. And it is. It’s definitely more of a history book than just a book showcasing the various models.”

“If you want to really dig deep and gain an impressive amount of knowledge while being entertained, this is THE book! Not just a collection of cold facts presented as a running history, it’s a testament to passion through thorough research.

I truly enjoyed the human dynamic contained in the book. The author gave this a lot of thought seamlessly blended the engineering and design talk with the people behind it, giving the presentation of the car’s history a very warm and engaging feel.

There’s a lot of work evident in the structure of this book, and Mr. Kennedy has a very unique way of framing the history and bringing everything nicely into focus. He doesn’t waste words and never bores, either. This is a wonderful book that packs a ton of facts, figures, and data, but it also packs the energy to keep pages turning.

A very well-written book with excellent production value. The images and text are sharp, the paper feels good in the hand, and it’s a great size for travel, too!
Definitely a must-have for Mustang fans, and a welcome addition to any car lover’s library.”

“This book is dense – just under 300 pages of prose and 32 more filled with black-and-white and color photos. It leads off with a brief 12-page history of the Ford Motor Company through the introduction of the Mustang concept in 1962, and then dives into the gory details of the rest of the Mustang’s 62 year long story.”

“You can tell the author really knows their stuff! …even if you’re like me and not a huge car person yourself, this book makes a great gift for the car lover in your life!”

“This is not your typical car book, and that’s actually what makes it stand out. Instead of being another glossy photo-heavy coffee table piece, this one goes all in on the history, and it reads more like a story than a catalog.”

“Large amount of history here from Ford and its pony car the ‘Stang. Great insight!”

“Does have a wealth of information of the Mustang through its inception to today. All the trials and tribulations of the Mustang branded car. A good read from cover to cover for any Mustang enthusiast.”

“Even if you’re not a Mustang enthusiast, this is a great book to add to your automobilia collection. Tons of detailed information, a well written story, and plenty of color pictures to look at. Everything Mustang, from the first pony car to modern-day GT. The book itself is a well produced, nice hardcover and good quality paper.”

“Robert M. Kennedy has written a deep and thoughtful history of the car, providing insight into development and production over the years. I especially appreciate his attention to the Mustang’s role in American culture. You don’t always get that in some automotive histories that tend to focus on production… The book is well written and moves along spritely. This isn’t a boring recitation of various models – Kennedy gives us an important cultural view of the Mustang. I would say this is a must read for anyone interested in automotive history. Would make a great gift as well.”

“If you want to know all of the history about the Mustang from design, concept to production it’s all in this fantastic book by Robert M. Kennedy. Great photos and lots of details how the Mustang lineup changed through the years, from a dream to production. Highly recommended. *****”

“This is not a photo-heavy coffee-table textbook, it is a focused hardcover that reads like an engaging narrative… This book is filled with strong context on corporate politics, racing, pop culture, and key figures like Iacocca and Shelby. It includes insightful comparison tests and fresh perspectives, with a nice 32-page photo section in the middle.”

“It is very, very in depth. So in depth that I wasn’t quite prepared to learn as much as I did. It was fascinating to me as a car enthusiast… it is a great gift for any sports car enthusiast or just those curious about the Mustang.”

“I really like the history aspect of the book and learning more about it… If someone is more interested in the history and doesn’t need many photos, I definitely recommend this one.”

“Although its more text-heavy than image-heavy, it does an excellent job of breaking down the different eras of the Mustang, from its introduction in 1964 to 1980s hatchbacks, and even racecars… presented in a compelling historical context.”

“This book is incredibly interesting and has been a fun read…”

“I particularly enjoyed the rant about how in 1985 the Mustang SVO was second to last in a shootout despite beating the “winner” in every single measurable category, as I echo the same sentiments… I really like the way the book is laid out with each “chapter” really being a specific years/range… Overall, I really recommend this book. It’s very interesting to read, and has a ton of facts without feeling like you’re reading a textbook.”

“This book does a great job connecting the Mustang’s evolution to engineering choices, racing, advertising, pop culture, and the people who shaped its direction, including Lee Iacocca, Carroll Shelby, Jack Roush, and others.
From the early prototype to the Shelby and Boss cars, Mustang II, Fox-body, Dark Horse, and GTD, the coverage feels broad and detailed.

Overall, this is a must-read for Mustang fans, Ford enthusiasts, or anyone interested in automotive history.”

“The author’s clear explanation of engineering changes from the sixties to today demonstrates a genuine respect for craftsmanship… This book is thoroughly researched and authoritative, making it a beautiful addition both on a shelf and on a coffee table.”

“This book is an easy read that has a flow to it. Furthermore, it talks about the racing element that was interesting. This book is a must for anybody that has or loves the Ford Mustang. It has pictures that are great to look at, however, the narrative is my favorite part! Great gift idea.”

“Great book!”

“Highly recommend getting your hands on one of these books! It’s a perfect size to carry around and travel with.”

“Kennedy ‘unbridled’ all the ups and downs... this is a must for all classic American muscle car enthusiasts.”

“This is for the ultimate hardcore Mustang fan!”

“Love the coverage that you have given the Steeda vehicles. So many publications before, either didn’t mention Steeda at all, or gave very little information. So thankful to you for shedding some light on these vehicles.”

“Great read for Mustang owners!”

“I appreciated that the author includes plenty of behind-the-scenes stories and historical detail. Dedicated Mustang fans will likely enjoy the depth, but it’s also approachable for readers like me who know the famous names and models without being experts.”

“This is not a lightweight coffee-table skim. It’s a serious historical deep-dive into the Mustang story…

If you love Mustangs or automotive history, this is an excellent addition to the shelf. Five stars.”

“I absolutely love Mustang Unbridled! I have Mr. Kennedy’s original Unbridled book too (the big coffee table one). I love all the pictures in that one, but this new version is not only a lot more affordable, it’s also easier to hold when reading and to take with me. He updated the story in this one to reflect things that have happened since that first one came out. Both versions have so much great information about all seven generations. And the last chapter in this new version really changed a lot! I love how he blends so much historical context around the cars. You feel like you’re actually reliving those time again! 5 stars - highly recommended!”