| r as the consumer is concerned, the history of the | | | | re-equipping them to render them more suitable for |
| great Ford Mustang began when it was shown to the | | | | racing. The suspension, wheel and brakes were all |
| public at New York’s World Exhibition. The | | | | modified, and the cars were to become the basis of |
| prototypes had been in existence since 1962, with the | | | | many future models that are even now are much |
| Mustang 1 (T-5) being first introduced to the motor | | | | sought after. |
| racing world at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix where | | | | During the early 1970s the Mustang lost its way a bit |
| Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney drove it for a few laps | | | | and became a bit too big and unwieldy. The original |
| each as a demo. | | | | grace and élan that so attracted early admirers |
| In the early 1960s, Ford desperately needed a new car | | | | was lost, and it became just another car. Part of this |
| to compete with the sporty Chevrolet Corsair Monza, | | | | was due to emissions regulations, but sales dropped |
| and its first attempt, the Falcon Future, failed to | | | | so much that Ford had to rethink its design strategy |
| compete. A brand new car was needed, and the idea | | | | with the Mustang. |
| for the Mustang was born. It was sporty and quick and | | | | The Mustang II was introduced in 1974, and although it |
| a four seater. It was appealing to youngsters, and the | | | | was small and vastly underpowered, it takes its place |
| prototype was well received when shown at the | | | | in the history of the car because it brought to a halt |
| motor racing circuits. | | | | the drop in sales. It sold because of economy in fuel, |
| It went in production in 1964, and was an instant hit. Its | | | | and the 1973 OPEC fuel embargo. People were afraid |
| launch on 17th April, 1964 was the beginning of what | | | | that a gas guzzler would hurt their pockets, and so |
| was to be the most popular car ever in American | | | | temporarily went for the smaller car. However, this did |
| history, and it sold half a million in its first year. Its | | | | not last long, and 1975 brought back the V8 engine to |
| customers included every age and it was equally | | | | the Mustang. However, although it had a 5 liter engine, |
| popular to men and women. | | | | the carburetor was too small and the catalytic |
| Many of its parts were taken from the failed Falcon, | | | | converter combined with that to render it lifeless. |
| and its immediate success had as much to do with the | | | | Then came a period of relative stability although there |
| almost perfect advertising campaign as it had to do | | | | were a few trim changes. Fans must have seen the |
| with looks and speed. The advertising power of the | | | | end coming because the late 1970s saw a slight |
| three major television networks was used extensively, | | | | increase in sales, rather than the drop that model now |
| and with its distinctive mane and tail galloping across | | | | deserved. The Cobra II and King Cobra versions did |
| the red, white and blue of America the ‘Pony | | | | little to spark a return to the glory days for the 1960s, |
| Car’ was the phenomenon of its age, | | | | and Ford made a last ditch attempt to rewrite the |
| representing the flavor of the 1960s more perfectly | | | | Mustang in 1979. The new Mustang was available as a |
| than its designers could ever have dreamt possible. | | | | coupé or fastback with a bit more room inside |
| It was a car of its day that arrived with perfect timing. | | | | than the either the original or the ill fated Mustang II. |
| Later to be called the 1964½, the original | | | | However, the running horse had gone, and the rear |
| Mustang was available as a convertible and as a | | | | lights lost their distinctive three segments: this |
| coupe, both with chrome wrap-around fenders, the | | | | expanded to six, while the side scallop also |
| distinctive chrome grill with running pony, and a | | | | disappeared. It no longer resembled a Mustang! |
| lengthened hood. Although it claimed to have four | | | | Alterations continued to be made, and the California |
| seats, the back seat was a bit small and it also | | | | Highway Patrol found a use for a special coupe model |
| sported three tails lights on each side. It has sold a | | | | as a high speed pursuit vehicle. With its 157 HP V8 |
| million by 1966, although before that the GT and | | | | engine, this car was used by a number of law |
| fastback model had been introduced. | | | | enforcement agent up until 1993, when Ford killed them |
| The car continued to progress, and by the end of the | | | | off. |
| 60s had become longer by four inches, and a lot | | | | The fans were wrong, however, and development |
| heavier than the original, much of this in response to | | | | continued as the Mustang conformed with the coming |
| the development of Chevrolet’s Firebird and | | | | of fuel injection, air bags and other essential |
| Pontiac. It was the Corvette, however, that brought the | | | | improvements, though the original concept had |
| Mustang into the road racing arena. The Mustang was | | | | completely disappeared. In 2005 Ford finally ditched the |
| so popular, especially with the young, that Ford were | | | | ancient Fox platform and introduced that now used for |
| desperate to race it against the Corvette. However, | | | | the Lincoln and the Thunderbird. The newest Mustang |
| only production two seaters were allowed to race, and | | | | has reverted to some of the original features, and it is |
| to enable them to do this at least 100 two seaters had | | | | a miracle that the car has survived so long. |
| be produced by January 1965. | | | | Nobody involved in 1962 development team would |
| This was achieved with the help of Mustang fan and | | | | have believed that the great Ford Mustang would still |
| racer, Carol Shelby, who modified 100 of the 2+2 | | | | be around 45 years later. |
| models into GT 350 models, in the process | | | | |