Mustang History - A Fan’s Perspective
There are times, in rare instances, that a fad turns a corner and becomes something more. The Beatles are a good example of this phenomenon. They invaded U.S. soil with their long hair and rock music. Many parents hoped that they were a fad that would eventually fade away, but instead, the Beatles went on to influence music for decades. The Beatles became a cultural icon and set the pace for rock music, as we now know it.
Another cultural icon is the Ford Mustang. One of the very first muscle cars, the Mustang set the tone for performance and handling and gave car makers new goals to reach if they wanted to compete. When the Ford Mustang was unveiled April 1964, other car manufacturers were sent on a mad dash to create their own versions of high performance cars just to keep up with the Mustang. However, the Pony car was in a class by itself - and still is. What the Beatles did for rock music, the Ford Mustang did for cars. The Mustang set a standard by which all other muscle cars would be compared.
From the moment that the Ford Mustang rolled off the production line, it was America’s sweetheart. The Ford Mustang launch is considered one of the most successful product launches in automotive history. The unveiling created considerable excitement among the American pubic.
So much so that within the first 18 months more than one million units were sold. Of course, with so much excitement about a car that is as American as baseball and apple pie, there are bound to be legends surrounding it. Tales of men sleeping in their Mustangs at the dealership for several days while waiting for their checks to clear are just a taste of the stories that surround this American classic.
Ford’s marketing campaign was not only genius for its day, but it was also one of the most profitable in history. The day before unveiling the Mustang, Ford ran Mustang commercials on the three major networks, ABC, NBC, and CBS, at 9:30 p.m. This created the buzz about the car that would eventually lead to a buying frenzy. The following day, April 17, 1964, the Ford Mustang was unveiled at the World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows, New York.
It was unveiled at the Ford Pavilion and was introduced by Henry Ford II when he introduced Walt Disney’s Magic Skyway ride. On the ride, the guests rode in Ford vehicles as they rode through history. Moreover, the frenzy began.
Early Mustangs were available with four engine options. One was the 289 cubic inch High Performance V 8. That bad boy kicked it with 271 horses. As word got out, dealerships were overwhelmed with people who wanted to be among the groundbreakers who owned a Ford Mustang.
History was made as a Wimbledon White convertible rolled off the production line and became the very first Mustang. It had a 260 cubic inch V 8. The now historic VIN was 5F08F100001. The car toured the United States, acting as a promotional tool for Ford until an airline captain from Canada, Stanley Tucker, acquired it.
Mustang 5F08F100001 spent some time in Canada with captain Tucker, but then in 1966 the executive director of the Henry Ford Museum, Donald Shelly, requested acquisition of it. Shelly stated in a letter that it was believed that the Ford Mustang would become a milestone car in the automotive industry. It was believed, he stated, that other car makers would use the Ford Mustang as a standard of measure and it would set the tone for other high performance, high power cars. They were right.
Falcon McCluer is a staff writer for FordMustangHistory a blog for the fans of the 40 plus year old American Legend. Learn more about the history of Ford Mustang at the blog that contains unique writing mixed in with classic video of the Mustang. He’s been a fan since age 14 when his brother bought his first car a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 with a 390 cubic inch engine.
Keep an eye on the history of the Ford Mustang through its exciting, varied history and explore the site for true Mustang enthusiasts. For all things Mustang, from concept to contemporary visit Ford Mustang History
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