While it's definitely a no-brainer that the Ford Mustang GT is as American as the Big Mac or the Apple Pie, there's also a bit of science that proves how deeply American a car actually is.

Every year, the American University Kogod School of Business releases a study called the Made In America Auto Index that evaluates how American a car actually is. The study also considers parts that are sourced from Canada to be American. For this year's study, the Ford Mustang GT with a manual transmission is the most American car you can buy right now with 88.5-percent American parts content.

The Kogod School of Business does not just determine the proportion of parts that came from domestic suppliers. If this were the case, the actual figure is at 77-percent. Their study also considers factors such as final assembly location, and this is how the Ford Mustang GT got its 88.5-percent result. 

Unfortunately, if you prefer your Mustang GT to be fitted with a 10-speed automatic, your muscle car's patriotism rank drops to tenth place with only 76-percent American parts content. This spot is also shared with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost version of the Mustang and the Ram 1500.

Sitting in second place is the Chevrolet Corvette C8 with 86-percent American parts content, while the Tesla Model 3 ranks third with its 82.5 percent American parts content. 

The Ford Bronco with a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 turbo gasoline engine finishes in fourth with 80.5-percent American parts content, while the Tesla Model Y and Model S, Ford Expedition, and the gasoline-powered versions of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are all tied at fifth, with 80-percent American parts content.

Interestingly, opting for the diesel-fed GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado will see their patriotism rankings drop to 22nd place due to these two pickups' Thailand-sourced diesel engines. 

Last year's overall winner, the Ford Ranger, also saw its ranking drop to 16th place due to its American parts content being reduced from 70-percent to as low as 45-percent.

 

Red Tesla Model S Plaid
Tesla 

The Kogod School of Business also ranks automakers in terms of their American parts content. While the Ford Mustang GT with a manual takes the top spot among cars in general, the most American automaker is Tesla with 81-percent domestic parts content. This is followed by General Motors and Ford, with both manufacturers having 70-percent local parts content.