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Jada Brookes
looks back at the Ford Mustang when it
was first introduced to the car market in 1964 to how
it has evolved into the latest model fifty
years later.
Mustang
Ford
T
he year of 1964 did not only see
Tops of the
Pops
first aired on BBC, the construction of
the Channel Tunnel agreed between Britain
and France, andThe Beatles’ first film,
A Hard Day’s
Night
released, but also the introduction of a new
American automotive concept: the Ford Mustang.
Ford described their new ‘pony car’ as a compact
design combined with eight engine and transmission
choices, spacious two-plus-two bucket seats and
an interior that combined family practicality with
sports appeal. Available in hardtop and convertible,
the Ford Mustang was given three personalities:
economical, high-performance and high style
luxury that would make it ‘truly unlike any other
production car ever to come off an American
assembly line’. With low initial cost, coupled with
high-style, easy and precise handling, excellent
ride, a host of options and a choice between high-
performance and compact-car economy, this‘sports
car like coupé’ was designed to ‘span several major
segments of the new car market’. It also rivalled
the likes of the Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird,
Chrysler’s revamped Plymouth Barracuda and the
first generation Dodge Challenger, and became an
inspiration to the designs of coupés such as the
Toyota Celica and Ford Capri.
bite
cars
Smoke them if you can