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Ford Mustang

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The Ford Mustang is a legendary American automobile.

It has been in continuous production since 1964. This makes it Ford's longest-running nameplate. The Mustang is credited with creating the "pony car" segment. This segment refers to highly styled, sporty coupes and convertibles. The Mustang is famous for its specific proportions. It features a long hood and a short deck. Today, the Mustang is in its seventh generation. It stands as the fifth-best selling Ford car nameplate in history.

Ford used a clever engineering strategy to build the Mustang.

1967 Ford Mustang coupe (2015-07-03) 01
1967 Ford Mustang coupe (2015-07-03) 01

To keep the price affordable, they used many existing parts. The chassis, suspension, and drivetrain components came from the Ford Falcon and Fairlane. This shared componentry made assembly faster for workers. It also helped dealerships because they did not need new spare parts. From 1965 to 2004, the Mustang maintained rear-wheel-drive. It also shared chassis commonality with other Ford models for decades. However, since 2005, the Mustang has used the D2C platform. This platform is unique specifically to the Mustang.

Creating the Mustang involved many different design ideas and names.

1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 SportsRoof 428 Cobra Je t w P 51 Mustang Fighter Red Frt Qtr
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 SportsRoof 428 Cobra Je t w P 51 Mustang Fighter Red Frt Qtr

Designer John Najjar suggested the name because he liked the P-51 Mustang fighter plane. He co-designed the first prototype, the Mustang I, in 1961. Another possibility involves Robert J. Eggert, a market research manager. Eggert was a breeder of quarterhorses. He received a book titled "The Mustangs" as a gift. He suggested the name to be tested by focus groups. The name "Mustang" won by a very wide margin. Interestingly, the name could not be used in Germany at the time. A company called Krupp owned the name there for their trucks. Because of this, German Mustangs were sold as "T-5s" until 1978.

The Mustang's launch was a massive historical event.

Ford Mustang serial number one
Ford Mustang serial number one

Ford originally predicted they would sell 100,000 vehicles every year. They were much more successful than they expected. In its first year, Ford sold over 400,000 units. This made it the most successful vehicle launch since the 1927 Model A. The one-millionth Mustang was sold within just two years of the launch. By August 2018, Ford produced its 10-millionth Mustang. This milestone vehicle was a 2019 Wimbledon White convertible. It featured a V8 engine, just like the very first 1965 model.

Over the years, the Mustang has changed its shape and size.

1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Sportsroof (15384190250) (cropped)
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Sportsroof (15384190250) (cropped)

From 1967 to 1973, the car grew larger and more massive. This allowed Ford to offer big block engines. In 1969, the design became even more aggressive with quad headlamps. However, the 1970 models returned to standard headlamps to tame the look. By the 1970s, the Mustang shifted toward luxury. It became heavier and focused more on comfort than pure speed. The Mustang II, produced from 1974 to 1978, used a longer-wheelbase version of the Ford Pinto. Later, the Mustang shared the Fox platform with 14 other Ford vehicles.

There are many famous versions and nameplates within the Mustang family.

2005 Ford Mustang GT Deluxe Coupe, front right, 07-02-2023
2005 Ford Mustang GT Deluxe Coupe, front right, 07-02-2023

Performance enthusiasts recognize names like the GT, Mach 1, and Boss 302. There is also the Boss 429 and the Cobra. Some models featured "5.0" badging on the fenders. This badge indicated the car had a 4.9 L or 5.0 L V8 engine. The Grandé was another option that focused on a luxurious ride. It used extra sound deadening and simulated wood trim. These different versions allowed the Mustang to appeal to many different types of drivers.

The Mustang's influence reached far beyond the Ford company.

Ford Mustang convertible
Ford Mustang convertible

Its popularity forced other American companies to create their own sporty cars. This led to the creation of the Chevrolet Camaro and the Pontiac Firebird. It also inspired the AMC Javelin and the Dodge Challenger. Even international designs were affected by the Mustang. The Toyota Celica and the Ford Capri were marketed in the U.S. due to this influence. The Mustang did more than just sell cars; it changed how the world designed sporty coupes.

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🖼️ Images & Media (26)
File:1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 SportsRoof 428 Cobra Je t w P 51 Mustang Fighter Red Frt Qtr.jpg
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 SportsRoof 428...
File:Ford Mustang serial number one.jpg
Ford Mustang serial number one.jpg
File:1965 Ford Mustang Fastback (15595256971) (cropped).jpg
1965 Ford Mustang Fastback (15595256971)...
File:1967 Ford Mustang coupe (2015-07-03) 01.jpg
1967 Ford Mustang coupe (2015-07-03) 01.jpg
File:1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Sportsroof (15384190250) (cropped).jpg
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Sportsroof...
File:1973 Ford Mustang (16702425712).jpg
1973 Ford Mustang (16702425712).jpg
File:1974 Ford Mustang Ghia (14389802775) (cropped).jpg
1974 Ford Mustang Ghia (14389802775) (cropped).jpg
File:1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra (cropped).jpg
1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra (cropped).jpg
File:Ford Mustang 1979 at Legendy 2019 in Prague (cropped).jpg
Ford Mustang 1979 at Legendy 2019 in...
File:1985 Ford Mustang GT Hatchback (14209793880) (cropped).jpg
1985 Ford Mustang GT Hatchback...
File:Ford Mustang convertible.jpg
Ford Mustang convertible.jpg
File:94-98 Ford Mustang coupe.jpg
94-98 Ford Mustang coupe.jpg

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