By the time Ford unveiled the first mass market sports car in 1964, the last year in which joining the boomers' club was a demographic birthright, a youthful generation of 83 million strong was emerging whom Ford could target as customers.
The first regular production Mustangs rolled off the Dearborn Assembly Plant line in Michigan on March 9, 1964. According to Sam Abuelsamid, Mustang editor at Global Team Ford communications, the initial media preview of the Mustang took place at the New York World's Fair on April 13, and the official on-sale date was April 17, 1964.
MUSTANG: All 50 years and six generations of Mustangs; timeline and photos
2015 MUSTANG: Radically new and retro
Ford originally forecast fewer than 100,000 sales in the first year. Instead, more than 400,000 were sold.
In the ensuing 50 years, more than 9.2 million Mustangs would be produced and sold, most of them originating close to Ford's headquarters in Dearborn, Mich.
I've owned two Mustangs, both used. My first was a Vintage Burgundy, 8-cylinder hardtop that I drove to college in upstate New York. When I moved to California, I bought a black Mustang convertible.
Both cars became associated with my deepest regrets. The first because I traded it in for $200 toward a new powder-blue, feel-the-road-on-your-fanny, no-pep Pinto when the Mustang needed $300 of transmission work. My Mustang soon would be known as a Classic, easily worth $10,000. The convertible turned out to be a Lemon Classic that left me repeatedly stranded from Route 101 to the Santa Cruz Mountains. (I should have known something was afoot when a day after driving the car off the lot, black smoke began pouring out of the tailpipe.)
The original 1965 Ford Mustang convertible in Wimbledon White -- the early version known to many as the 1964 1/2. Mustang went on sale on April 17, 1964 and sold more than 418,000 in the first 12 months. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen The sixth-generation, redesigned 2015 Mustang. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen The 1963 Ford Special Falcon: A prototype of the upcoming Mustang on the Falcon chassis before the name was final. At this time it was referred to as the "Special Falcon" and had Cougar badges, one of names under consideration. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen Company head Henry Ford II with the 1964 1/2 Mustang Ford at the car's unveiling at the New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. on April 17, 1964. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen The 1965 Ford Mustang hardtop on display in the Ford Pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair where the car was introduced April 17, 1964. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1964 Ford Mustang ad from the New York World's Fair. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen Ad photo for the 1965-model Mustang: By June 1964, Mustang has three body styles -- fastback, hardtop and convertible -- with four engine options. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen A 2010 photo of Gail Wise, the first known retail buyer of a Mustang, with her 1965 convertible bought in Chicago. She still owns it and it has been restored. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen Another view of the 1965 Ford Mustang convertible (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350: Carroll Shelby helped establish Mustang's performance credentials by developing the 1965 Mustang Shelby GT350. (Photo: Ford Wieck)View Fullscreen 1966 Mustang GT fastback (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1967 Ford Mustang GT fastback (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1968 Ford Mustang coupe (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302: This model, with a look created by designer Larry Shinoda and a high-output 302-cu.in. V-8, became one of the most iconic Mustangs. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1970 Ford Mustang hardtop: The 1970 Mustang got a revised look with headlamps moved inboard into the grille. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1970 TransAm champ: In 1970 Parnelli Jones and George Follmer drove the Ford Mustang Boss 302 to the SCCA TransAm championship. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1972 Ford Mustang Sprint edition fastback: Ford honored the 1972 U.S. Olympic team with the Sprint and its red, white and blue color scheme (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 fastback: This was the final year for the first-generation Mustang. The Mach 1 fastback offered 302- or 351-cu.in. V-8s. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1974 Ford Mustang II:After growing larger and heavier 1965-1973 to accommodate big V8s, Mustang was rebooted in 1974 for a changing market and rising gas prices. The 1974 Mustang II offered only four-cylinder and V-6 engines and was much lighter. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1976 Ford Mustang II Cobra II: A302-cu.in. V-8 was added to the Mustang II lineup in 1975 and the Cobra II package added for 1976 with body stripes, hood scoop and front and rear spoilers restored some performance image. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1979 Ford Mustang Cobra:Mustang was completely redesigned for the third-generation model in 1979. The quickest 1979 model was the Cobra with a new turbo 2.3-liter inline four-cylinder, a first for Mustang (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1980 Ford Mustang "convertible":The 1980 Mustang hardtop offered a padded roof that gave it the look of a convertible, a body style that had not been available since 1973. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1982 Ford Mustang GT:Performance made a comeback with the return of the Mustang GT with a 5.0-liter, 160 hp. V-8. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1984 Ford Mustang SVO:After establishing the Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) group to run Ford motorsports, SVO developed a high-performance Mustang for 1984 with retuned suspension, bigger brakes and a turbo 2.3-liter, 175 hp. four-cylinder. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1985 Ford Mustang GT Convertible: The ragtop model returned to the Mustang lineup in 1983 and in 1985, the GT received an upgraded 5.0-liter V-8 with output bumped to 210 hp., the first Mustang at that level since the early-1970s (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1987 Ford Mustang GT convertible: The 2007 Mustang was redesigned with flush headlamps and new taillamps. The GT continued with a fuel-injected 5.0-liter V-8. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1989 Ford Mustang convertible was powered by a standard 2.3-liter four-cylinder. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 25th anniversary model 1990 Ford Mustang convertible with and orginal 1965 Mustang convertible. Mustang almost became a front-drive coupe just two years earlier. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1990 Ford Mustang LX: – The 5.0 LX debuted and was available until 1993. Using the same 5.0-liter V8 and upgraded brakes and suspension as the flashier GT, the subtle but fast model became the most popular pony car. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra: – The new Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) debuted its first model in 1993, the 235-hp. SVT Cobra with upgraded brakes and suspension. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1994 Ford Mustang Cobra coupe: The new fourth-generation Mustang was redesigned in 1994 with classic 1960s-model styling cues such as the side scoops, tri-bar taillamps and a pony emblem in the grille. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1996 Ford Mustang GT coupe: The Ford small-block V-8 that had powered Mustang in various forms since 1964 was replaced in 1996 by the new 4.6-liter single-overhead-cam "Modular" V-8. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 1999 Ford Mustang GT convertible: Mustang was restyled in 1999 with straighter lines based on Ford's "New Edge" design language. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 2000 Ford Mustang GT coupe: The 2000 GT continued with a 4.6-liter V-8, boosted to 260 hp. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 2001 Ford Mustang Bullitt GT: Ford introduced the "Bullitt" edition for 2001 that was inspired by the 1968 Mustang GT driven by Steven McQueen in the 1968 film. The was the same Highland Green and got suspension and engine upgrades. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 2002 Ford Mustang GT Premium convertible:The 2002 GT was available with the five-spoke aluminum wheels originally used on the car in the movie "Bullitt." (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 2002 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra: Only 300 of the 2002 Mustang SVT Cobra R models were built. With its rear wing and dome hood, the track special easily distinguishable. It has a 385-hp. DOHC 5.4-liter V-8 and six-speed manual. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 2003 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra: SVT added a supercharger to the 4.6-liter dual-overhead-cam V8 in the Mustang Cobra in 2003, pushing output to 390 hp. (Photo: Ford Wieck)View Fullscreen 2003 Mustang Mach 1: The model returned for that model year with a 305-hp. V-8 engine and the signature ram-air "Shaker" hood scoop (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 2004 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra: For the final model year of the fourth-generation Mustang, the SVT Cobra was available in a special color-shifting paint called Mystichrome. (Photo: Ford Wieck)View Fullscreen 2005 Ford Mustang GT convertible: The fifth-generation Mustang debuted for 2005 with an all-new platform that provided better handling and retro styling inspired by late 1960s Mustangs. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 2006 Ford Mustang with Pony Package powered by a 210-hp., 4.0-liter V-6. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen The 2007 Ford Shelby GT500: In 2007, SVT introduced the most powerful Mustang yet and brought back the Shelby name. The 2007 Shelby GT500 Mustang has a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 producing 500 hp. and 480-lb.-ft. of torque. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen The 2007 Ford Shelby GT500. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)View Fullscreen 2008 Ford Mustang: A 300-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 powered the 2008 Ford Mustang GT. (Photo: Steve Petrovich, Ford)View Fullscreen 2008 Mustang "Bullitt" special edition -- recalling the 1968 Steve McQueen movie and the 1968 Highland Green Mustang used in the famous chase scene on the hills of San Francisco. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 2010 Ford Mustang GT with "Vista Roof": The fifth generation Mustang was redesigned for the 2010 model year with more sculpted haunches and new front and rear fascias. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 2011 Mustang V-6 Coupe with a new standard 3.7-liter V-6 with 305 hp and EPA-rated up to 31 mpg on the highway. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 2012 Mustang Boss 302: For 2012, the Boss 302 returned to the lineup for the first time since 1970. It has a 444-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 and special track-tuned suspension. (Photo: Ford)View Fullscreen 2014 Shelby GT500: Its 662-hp. aluminum 5.8-liter supercharged V-8 is the industry's most powerful production V-8 engine. (Photo: Ford Wieck)View Fullscreen The sixth-generation, redesigned 2015 Mustang. (Photo: Ford)View FullscreenLike this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:ReplayAutoplayShow ThumbnailsShow CaptionsLast SlideNext SlideTop Growth Stocks For 2015
The first time I saw a Mustang up close was as a youngster waiting to board the Ford Magic Skyway Ride at the World's Fair. It made more of an impression than the concept cars on display at the other end of the ride like the Aurora, "station wagon of the future," though not as much as Disney's Audio Animaltronics dinosaurs seen from the ride itself.
The last time I rode in a Mustang was on a Michigan test track during a press junket for the first dealer-installed MiniDisc player in an American car — a 1994 Mustang. Ironically, neither myself nor an editor from a rival magazine could accept Ford's invitation to get behind the wheel. Neither of us had learned to drive a stick-shift. (Where's that Cruise-O-Matic when you need it?)
Mustang owners have a habit of naming their automobiles. A coed I dated at college called her lime-green hardtop "Boone's Farm" after her favorite brand of fruity jug wine. When a fan site asked, "Does your 'Stang have a name?," replies included: Bessie, Jillian, Demona, Daisy, Miranda and Moneypit.
So, what will future generations of Mustangs bring? He! ads-up displays? Touch-screen controls? Self-driving cars? (The latter could prove useful to millions of us fairly soon.) Will Mustang mavens at the end of the road wish to be buried in a hardtop after public viewing in an open convertible?
These and other topics will likely be discussed at twin birthday celebrations April 16 – 20 to mark 50 years of Mustang. Ford describes the event as "so large it will be held at two locations — Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway." It's open to enthusiasts from around the world and will feature a range of activities from car cruises to live bands.
For more information, go to the Mustang 50th Birthday Celebration website or the Mustang Club of America site.
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