Ford Mustang - An American muscle car
The Ford Mustang has been around for over forty years and is still a popular vehicle today. The Ford Mustang was first produced in Michigan and was introduced at the New York World’s Fair in 1964. It was advertised heavily on all three television networks, which started a nationwide craze. The Ford Mustang was the most successful launch in automotive history and prompted many other auto manufacturers to imitate. Two models were produced in 1964—the convertible and the coupe. Both models featured a chrome grille with a running horse, chrome wrap-around bumpers, a long hood and a short rear deck. The interior consisted of two seats in the front and a small back seat. Three taillights on both sides would be a consistent feature on Mustangs for years. This was a sharp looking vehicle! The standard price in 1964 was $2,400; however with many custom interior and exterior options available, you could easily double the value and turn it into a hot rod.
In the first two years of production, nearly 1.5 million Mustangs were produced, breaking previous sales records and setting new ones. General Motors and Chrysler tried to compete with the Corvair Monza and Plymouth Barracuda, respectively, but the competition didn’t even come close. General Motors didn’t offer real competition until they introduced the Chevrolet Camaro and the Pontiac Firebird in 1967. Also in that year, Lincoln-Mercury introduced the Mercury Cougar. This new “breed” of performance cars became known as the “pony car” which was inspired by the original model Ford Mustang.
In 1965, the Ford Mustang Fastback model was introduced as well as the GT. In 1966, there were minor changes, mostly just cosmetic, with increased interior color selections, to name one.
A major change in the Ford Mustang came about in 1969. The new Mustangs were bigger, longer, and heavier. By the early seventies, they were heavier than ever, with several mechanical changes. People demanded that it be changed back to the way it was when it was first introduced. A new model was introduced which was reminiscent of the original model, although it was smaller but heavier than the original. Finally, by 1979 after more restyling, a totally new Ford Mustang was introduced. In 1985 the GT was reintroduced, which began a whole new era of the muscle car.
Although Mustangs have seen changes over the years, it’s still here today with the new models being as popular as ever. The older models are still around as well, with many people rebuilding and restoring them. The Ford Mustang is an American classic, old or new, and will always be a muscle car.