The unmistakable Ford Mustang has been with us for over 50 years and in that time it has gone through many big changes without ever losing that unique charm. It is a quintessentially American car, however its sixth generation was marketed and sold globally so let’s take a look at how the Mustang has evolved to bring us this new modern version.
Introduced as a 1965 model, Ford made history by creating a brand new ‘pony car’ class which, unlike other muscle car classes, is still going strong today thanks to the ‘Stang’. There was huge demand for this car and one million were sold in the first two years. It had sleek looks and an affordable price tag that appealed to buyers of the time who immediately developed a real passion for this new breed of muscle car.
In the early days models included the Boss 429 performance car, Mach 1 and Boss 302 which today are all considered highly desirable. Even more so are the Shelby’s from 1970 onwards which took the Mustang to a whole new level.
To keep production costs down, designs were based on Ford’s own Falcon which also shares much of its engineering with the Mustang. The hood was lengthened and the roof lowered, with an airplane-like cockpit sitting further back on the chassis. Ford also added a running horse to the grille and split the taillights into thirds to finish off the new look.
Fast forward to 2015 and the company celebrated the Mustang’s 50th anniversary by introducing, among others, the fantastic, contemporary GT Fastback Coupe. This sixth-generation automobile is a nod to its past, with a traditional leather interior, whilst making great leaps into the future with its styling and one big change – independent rear suspension. This replaces the solid rear axle of previous Mustangs and the decision has left fans divided in their opinions. The ride is solid, quick and enjoyable, perhaps even more fun than the original while still turning heads as it drives by.
Whether you prefer the iconic classic from the 1960’s or the current models, we can all agree that the Ford Mustang is an exceptionally good car.
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