Ford Mustang – General History & Overview
Ford Mustang’s history takes us back to 1964, when Ford manufactured its first Mustang, probably not knowing it would be the longest-running Ford nameplate. The current year has witnessed the sixth generation of the Ford Mustang, the fifth most-selling Ford car worldwide.
If we look at the background of the Ford company, we will have gone half a century behind the time when Mustang was manufactured. Henry Ford established this automobile company in 1903. The company initially created cars. However now it has various passenger and commercial cars, trucks, SUVs, and engines in its lineup.
Ford Mustang is an idea that came up with the change in the technology demands and emerged from the “pony cars”. It is something between the sporty coupes and convertibles.
Initially, they had long hoods and small decks that made it easy for people to distinguish them clearly from the other cars.
History of Ford Mustang:
Released in April 1964, the original Mustang came out as a 1965 model in the market. This is a result of Ford making many changes to its Mustang features after August 1964. The models coming out after August 1964 were called 1965 Ford Mustangs’ notchback body styles. Later in the year, fastbacks also joined the Mustang lineup. The sales in the first two years exceeded a million, which was way more (around seven times) than Ford’s total projections.
The pre-August models had 170-CID six, 289-CID V8, and 4.3-L V8, which produced around 271 horsepower. Nonetheless, things changed for the post-August models as they featured as V6 was promoted to 200 ci, and another replacement was 289 with a two-barrel carburetor. 1966 Ford Mustang had only a few minor changes, and 2016 marked the millionth unit manufacturing in the same year.
The Growth of Mustang:
The Ford Mustang needed no certificate to prove how good of a car it had been even right after its debut. However, the real growth that escalated the progress of Ford to even greater heights started right after.
The first significant change appeared in the 1967 Mustang when Ford increased the car’s width, length, and weight to make space and strength for a bigger engine. It was a 6.4-L V8 that surpassed a 289-CID engine with its 335 hp and 440 pound-feet torque. The Mustang manual gives clear instructions about its operation and the changes that surface with each new model.
Both the exterior and interior trim saw significant changes. It even offered a 7-L Cobra Jet V8 drag racing engine that produced 440 lb-ft torque and 335 hp.
Waning Sales:
1969 Mustang yet changed in dimensions with 3.8 inches increase in length and half an inch increment in width. Nonetheless, the wheelbase didn’t encounter any change in its size. Yet again 351-CID V8 engine replaced the previous engine to give away 290 hp. Boss and Mach were the new models. Boss had the capabilities to meet the requirements outlined by Trans-Am production requirements. Its 7-L engine generated a whopping 375 hp. It was a bit downfall as the sales started diminishing, and thus Ford completely restyled the 1970 model. The model that sold a million units in the first two years couldn’t sell half that in the next two.
The Spark in Growth:
The 1971 Mustang was quite different from all its previous versions for having a bulkier body. It featured a new buttressed rear window. The emission laws became stricter. The V6 was enlarged to 250-CID, and the sole big block (the 49-CID) didn’t come with the 1972 model. The 1973 Mustang was 1200 pounds heavier than its 1965 model, which resulted in a continued decrease in annual sales.
The Incredible Rise:
The heavy and bulky Ford Mustang of previous history was no longer a center of attraction. This is precisely what happens when you go on with your “once a successful” approach without caring about changing traditions. But Ford learned from its mistake, and the 1974 model was rather a surprise. It achieved the MotorTrend’s Car of the Year Award in 1974 for a slimmer and subcompact body with a 2.8-L V6 or a 2.3-L four-cylinder engine. The sales shot to the sky with a whopping 3 lac and 84 thousand units sold for the year.
Later, Ford released Fox, and even the 1994 Mustang seemed to be an enlarged version of the Fox. The best updates in newer models are the soft suspensions that offer smoother rides. The 1999 Mustang saw a significant change with the edge-cut styling.
Latest Ford Mustangs:
Thunderbird Mustang is the best thing Ford ever created in the name of Mustangs, and it’s still spellbinding people without any effort. The latest Ford Mustangs hold great importance for their high-powered Eco boost engines. The 2022 Ford Mustang is more stylish with its appropriate bulk and dimensions, all set to enter its seventh generation in 2023.
Industry insiders have predicted that Ford may discontinue producing gas-powered Mustangs by 2028; thus, the seventh generation may possibly be the last of the Mustang lineup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states Purchase the most Mustangs?
Texas, Florida, and Arizona are the top 3
How many seats does the Mustang have?
Most models have seating to accommodate 4, but the GT500 has only seating for 2
Are Mustangs expensive to insure?
YES