5.0 came roaring back in H.O. guise in the 1982 GT. Between 1983 and 1985, the 5.0 gained a Holley four-barrel carb, tubular exhaust headers, and a roller camshaft.

In 1986, the 5.0 went to fuel injection in all forms, ushering in a new era. By the early 1990s, enthusiasts started to learn the secrets of modifying fuel-injected engines, and an entire industry dedicated to hot rod 5.0 parts was born. In true muscle-car fashion, the 5.0 Mustang had become the everyman performance car of its time.

The pushrod 5.0-liter's last appearance was in the 1995 Mustang GT and Cobra, tuned to 215 and 240 horsepower, respectively, after which the Mustang was updated with an sohc, 4.6-liter V8.

The smallish 4.6 delivered the goods, but in recent years had fallen behind its competition. Torque was the primary factor. The previous 4.6 was powerful, to be sure, and delivered solid track numbers, but finding its sweet spot required a trip up to the high side of the tach.

For 2011, torque is back... and how. Although the new 412-horsepower 5.0-liter doesn't hit the redline until 7,000 r.p.m., you needn't make the engine scream for mercy to find the power. Mash the throttle, and the 5.0 Mustang gives you a kick right now, in the best muscle-car tradition. It almost feels like an even larger engine than it is.