Ford Mustang, the original pony car, celebrates its 45th birthday this year. Giugiaro fastback concept shows Italian flair.
The iconic Ford Mustang celebrates its 45th birthday this year. Ford's pony car has been through several evolutionary generations but kept its allure as the company's steady seller. Few realize that without the Chevrolet Corvair the Mustang might never have been born. Chevrolet introduced a sporty Monza version of their radical new Corvair in the spring of 1960. The Monza proved that a new class of cars it created--affordable, economical sporty coupes had a huge market. Ford saw a market for a separate marque dedicated to this sweet spot. The lowly Falcon offered up its platform and, just like the Monza, Ford's Mustang was introduced in the spring of 1964.
Ford executives originally settled on calling the new car "Cougar," but changed its name from "cat" to "horse" and adopted a running Mustang logo.
The Ford Mustang enjoyed the most successful auto introduction in history, selling over a million copies in its first 18 months. General Motors introduced its answers, the Camaro and Firebird for the 1967 model year and has played catch-up ever since. AMC introduced its Rambler based Javelin and fastback Marlin, while Plymouth scrambled to make its Barracuda compeititive but nothing's touched the Mustang for popularity and staying power.
Fattened on its popularity, the Mustang was shopping the "husky" aisle for bodywork before being radically downsized on the Pinto platform for 1974-78, when it was renamed Mustang II. These years are often left unmentioned by Mustang faithful who consider the "two" an unfortunate misstep.
A mid-life crisis brought on by shiny new competitors like the re-introduced Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger has inspired Ford's Mustang to get a little work done for 2010. A tuck here, a nip there, a little fender lipo--it all brings more youthful, sporting looks to an already popular beauty. And it's prettier inside, too--a refreshed interior brings a real upgrade where it counts.
Judging by Ford's continued success with America's favorite sporty coupe, perhaps a horse has more lives than a cat.
For more info see slideshow and links below
Secret history of the Mustang revealed
AMC Marlin: Forgotten pony car
1960: Year of the compact car: Ford Falcon
Comments
nice orange mustang
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