"My first "new" car was a 69 Mustang with the workhorse Ford 390 in it"
Maybe my memory is failing but I did not remember Ford offering the 390ci in a Mustang for 1969. I do remember the 289ci, 428ci (Cobra Jet?) and the Hemi engine, 429ci I think. The 390 engine was a hot offering in 1961. However in 1962 the 406 came out, then in 1963 the 427.
Don't forget the Boss 302! The '70 429 was a Boss engine too. There were some Mach I's that had the 351C as well.
Actually, there was a 390 GT Mustang in '68. I don't remember that model in '69, but I could be wrong. Generally the 390 was the mill for Galaxies, Country Squires and pickups.
Yep the Mustang did have a 390 in 69. It was the last year for it. Mine has the 428 CJ. I don't agree with those libs Tom and Ray about the 69 Mustang. Mine handles just fine. I still drive it every week and still get a smile on my face.
Trust me! It was the 390. I don't think they made too many of them, but it did ship. It was the engine that fell between the 351 and the 427. I got the car around the end of the production year, and it was a "love at first sight" purchase. I had taken my boss -- who was new to the Seattle area -- to the Ford dealer on a Tuesday evening, and saw the car sitting in the lot. By Saturday I had my loan worked out with the credit union and drove the car off that same lot!
Ford did offer the 390 in the '69 Mustang as well as other models that year. That was the last year for the 390 in cars...it continued in trucks. My dad has a 1969 Mach 1 with the 428 Cobra Jet..that dude will move. No match for new Corvettes and The new Mustang Cobras, Shelby 500's and such.