What makes Mustangs great is the fact that they are not particularly rare. This was Ford's sports car for the masses, and its success lies in the fact that it did exactly that, selling like hot cakes to everyone from street racers to mums and dads who really should have got a sensible sedan. The OG Mustang still holds the record for being the fastest-selling car of all time, arriving in 1964, and selling 680,000 examples in a year. In 2024, the Mustang started its seventh decade in production as America’s best-selling sports car, as well as taking the title of best-selling sports car globally for more than 10 years. As we say, not exactly rare.But of course, there are rare Mustangs that come and go over the years. There are the original 1964 World’s Fair Skyway Mustangs, which were once mounted on tracks to whizz visitors around the Magic Skyway at the Fordexhibit. There are only 12 of those around. Then there is the 1965 Shelby GT350, a rare a desirable bit of kit, that was only produced in 562 units. But there is one Mustang from the muscle car golden era, just before the genre ran out of gas in the '70s due to an oil crisis and emissions regulations, which is one of the rarest of all time. It's also one of the oddest. Here's the story of how less than 100 'Stangs ended up being named after a weather phenomenon. The 1970 Ford Mustang Twister Special Happened By Accident Bring A Trailer Just like the weather, Ford Mustang special editions can be a bit unpredictable and turn up unexpectedly. Around 1970, a racing organization put in an order for a series of 96 built-to-spec cars to be used as pace cars and limited editions. Ford obliged, but soon after the order came in, the organization went out of business, leaving the quota of almost 100 Grabber Orange 1970 Mustangs without an owner. There must have been something about the wild orange paint that reminded a manager at the Kansas City dealer sales district of the inclement weather patterns in the area. In particular, the fact that the state is at the heart of the so-called 'Tornado Alley', with its record-breaking tornadoes and long history of twisters. A Muscle Car Seemed Like A Good Way To Reference Stormy Weather Bring A Trailer If anything evokes the sense of an approaching tornado, it's the sound of a thundering V8 muscle car approaching down the road, right? A clever marketing idea was concocted to move the cars through the dealerships of Kansas, Northwest Arkansas, and Western Missouri. The 96 cars would be offered, one each, at 96 dealers. They would be called the 'Twister Special' and would go on to be one of the rarest Mustangs of all time. You Could Have A 1970 Ford Mustang Twister Special In Any Color As Long As It Was Orange Bring A TrailerThe Mach 1 Twister Specials were numbered consecutively and have a serial number that starts with 118, according to Hot Rod magazine. The cars were delivered with the iconic Grabber Orange paint with a black interior, power steering, functional Shaker hood scoop, and power front disc brakes. On the outside are black mid-level side stripes and the eye-catching “tornado” rear quarter-panel decals. There were two engine choices, however, plus a couple of transmissions too. The Twister Special was fitted with either a 300-horsepower 351-inch Cleveland or a 428-inch V8 engine.Apparently, all the Twister Special Mustangs were intended to be equipped with R-Code 428 Super Cobra Jet engines, says Mecum Auctions, but an engine shortage meant that 48 cars were equipped with Ford’s new 4-barrel 351 Cleveland V-8 engine. Then there was a choice of an automatic or a four-speed manual transmission. There Were Just 24 Units Of Each Engine And Transmission Combo Available Bring A Trailer Half the cars had each engine, and half again were designated with each of the transmission options, meaning that they were ultimately split into 24 of each powertrain combination. The Mach 1 Twister Specials had aluminum lower rocker panels, grille-mounted fog lights, a black honeycomb rear panel, Competition Suspension, and a 3.50 Traction-Lok differential. Inside, the Mach 1 has deluxe bucket seats and molded door panels, with woodgrain trim, and even a quirky three-spoke Rim Blow steering wheel. Despite the mods not being too outrageous, one thing was for sure: the Twister Special Mustang certainly stood out from the crowd. With the Super Cobra Jet (SCJ 428) engine, the Twister Special has a useful 335 horsepower, although some experts say this was closer to 400 horsepower. The torque figure is a monstrous 440 lb-ft. Here's How Much A Twister Special Will Cost You In 2025 Bring A Trailer Despite their rarity, the Twister Special Mustangs from 1970 do come up for sale from time to time at secondhand car auctions. It's hard to get an average price of what to pay, with a lot depending on spec and condition. It is worth remembering that there are some replicas out there, so it is worth doing your research to make sure that you have an original car. For A Rare Mustang, The Twister Special Won't Cost The Earth Bring A Trailer The Twister Specials are an interesting and unusual Mustang from a time when V8s developed a decent slug of power, but that doesn't mean these cars will be commanding mega bucks all day long. Twister Specials that have sold recently tend to go for between $80,000 and $90,000, with a 351 version selling at RM Sotheby's for $82,500. That said, they have had sticker prices of much higher. By comparison, a 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 with a 351 sells for $38,000 (with a Sports Roof) says Hagerty Valuation Tools. A 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 with the 428 Cobra Jet mill sells for $68,800. If you want a special, rare Mustang from the '70s that will stand out at car shows, the Twister Special is sure worth a look. The Twister Special Returned... Three Times Bring A Trailer In 2008, R&A Motorsports in Lee's Summit, Missouri, began taking new Mustang GTs and creating a contemporary version of the Twister Special. These cars also have Grabber Orange paintwork, with the familiar Twister tornado graphic on the side, although it has been moved from the rear quarter to the front fender. The cars also have a three-rib side stripe and are finished with a black chin spoiler and a custom blacked-out grille.The hood gets black graphics and is fitted with a functional Shaker scoop that also features an engraved Twister logo. According to Mecum Auctions, just 22 of these special Mustangs were produced. Prices vary for these cars, but expect to pay anything between $35,000 and $80,000 to get the keys. There was also a Twister II version in the mid '80s (pictured), and also an electric Mustang Mach-E Twister Special created for the Chinese market recently. These cars are naturally also painted in bright orange, similar to the original Mustang Mach 1 Twister, and also benefit from the installation of a matte grey graphic that stretches the length of the hood. With an electric drivetrain, you won't be getting that authentic, thundering V8 sound rumbling over the horizon, however.Source: Hagerty.com; Mecum.com