First Generation
Very few cars on the road have the classic history the Ford Mustang enjoys. Even fewer have the longevity. Since the very first model rolled off the assembly line, a certain excitement was attached to this American classic. The Mustang is the very definition of American Muscle Car. We at WindRestrictor® would like to take some time and pay homage to this unforgettable automobile and its legion of fans and faithful owners. Please, take a moment with us to explore the history of the spectacular Ford Mustang!
Named after the WWII P-51 Mustang fighter plane, the original Mustangs rolled out in 1964 but were marked as 1965 models. John Najjar co-designed the original prototype with another Ford designer, Philip T. Clark. Now there is some dispute over how The Ford Mustang got its name. Another story is Robert J. Eggert was a Ford market research manager and a quarterhorse breeder. Some claim the name came from his second career. Funny how every legendary tale has many different versions.
Even earlier, Donald N. Frey was appointed over the T-5 project. The T-5 was a two seat roadster had a German Ford Taunus V4 engine underneath the hood. However, the two seat idea was abandoned due to low sales by similar models. Two more seats were added and trunk space was traded in for cabin room. The style was made more sporty based on vehicles like the Corvette and Jaguar E-Type. Voilà, the Mustang we now know and love was born. Now that the stage was set, how would this car do with the fickle American consumer?
After the '64 1/2 (named such because it was marked as a 65 and came out in the later portion of 1964), an actual '65er was born. In 1964, the car sold a respectable 121,538, out of the gate. In 1965, a whopping 559,451. During 1966 it was even higher, 607,568. Can you say sales boom? This was the highest sales for the Mustang, a record still unbroken to this day. They were firmly placed at the top as the "in" automobile. An honor they at least continually competed for throughout the First Generation. The continually evolving car added innovation after innovation. Back up lights, alternators, a V-8 engine, and larger versions. However, the larger vehicles didn't translate into better vehicles according to the American consumer. Ford gambled to attempt to compete with the luxury vehicles of the day. The bet didn't pay off. A steady decline ensued shortly thereafter.
Second Generation
Considering the oil crisis of the 1970s, now President of Ford Motor Company Lee Iacocca ordered major shrinkage of the Mustang. These new models were somewhat based on the Pinto (my dad drove a pinto, those things were like tanks) and much more compact. This in turn helped it compete favorably with the smaller imports of the day. The new version was dubbed Mustang II. Hatchbacks, T-top roofs, and new trim packages were all part of the then modernized look. The King Cobra and Ghia models were added to further jazz up the line.You'll notice already the tremendous adaptability that Ford engineers had to offer. Sales remained in the 100,000s throughout the era due largely to their incredible ingenuity.
Third Generation
Now starts the longest of all the Ford Generations. The Third Generation of Mustangs lasted an improbable fourteen years. Starting in 1979 and not ending until 1993. Third Gen Mustangs are aka "Fox Mustangs". Fox was a platform created by Ford for many of their midsize and compact models. You can throw Lincoln and Mercury in that mix as well. The most popular model during this generation was the legendary 5.0. Which was forever immortalized in the song, "Ice, Ice Baby." The end of its run ('93) marked the beginning of CD players being factory optional. Vanilla Ice AND CDs? Just when you thought the Mustang couldn't get more legendary! Too cold!
Fourth Generation
From 1994-2004 the Fourth Generation Mustangs were the premier Ford sport cars of the time. During this period the GT was reintroduced improved handling and higher stats in the performance category. Even more vaunted was the Ford Cobra (not to be confused with the King Cobra) , developed by Ford's Special Vehicle Team. The Cobra is still legendary in Mustang circles and around the world for lovers of high-powered pony and American Muscle Cars.
Fifth Generation
The Fifth Generation lasted ten years from 2004 until 2014. Variants include the Shelby Mustang, Boss 302 Mustang, and the Mustang GT/California Special. The Fifth Generation looked like the classics and with a fresh twist known as retro-futurism. Also, known for its rear-wheel-drive platform, these models were evolutionary yet let you look back at a time when American Muscle ruled the roost. This generation sold like hotcakes and reinvigorated a sleepy market that had forgotten how great Mustangs truly are. If you look at the Bullitt Mustang and can't see its appeal, maybe you should think about taxicabs and subways.
Sixth Generation
Lastly, the newest age of Ford Mustangs is the Sixth Generation. The Sixth Generations were first produced in 2014 and are still going strong in 2017. This is the lucky generation that helped welcome the arrival of The Mustang's 50th anniversary. An even that took place in Charlotte, North Carolina and Las Vegas, Nevada. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Ford cranked out another solid addition to its legendary line. With such goodies as fully independent rear suspension and direct injected four cylinder engine, Sixth Generation stands up nicely to past models.
Another Wrap!
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Remember, these posts are written by Paul Mailhes and doesn't necessarily reflect the views of WindRestrictor®! Thanks for reading!
