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| 1962 Prototype | |||||||||||
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| In 1961, the head of Ford Motor Co wanted to build a light, compact car that sat four people, with an interior that was sporty, including bucket seats, and a floor mounted shifter. The package had to price out at under $ 2500. That car turned out to be the Mustang. It took Ford only 18 months, form concept to production, to roll out the first of these cars on March 9, 1964. Even though many of the parts were barrowed from the Falcon, no one ever confused the two cars on the road. | |||||||||||
| 1963 Prototype | |||||||||||
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| Advertising was heavy, with runs on all three major networks the night before the release. The public flocked to showrooms to see the car, and 22,000 were sold the first day. By the end of the first cycle Ford sold over 400,000 Mustangs. There were two choices in 1964; hardtop and convertible. Engine choices were the 170 ci six cylinder, and a 260 ci and 289 ci V8. Later that year the 289 was equipped with a 4 bbl carburetor and solid lifters, pushing the car to 270 horsepower. Transmission came in manual 3 or 4 speed, or automatic. The distinctive styling stayed unchanged until the 1967 model. Changes to the body, though still recognizable as a Mustang, were completely redesigned, including widening the car to hld a 320 hp, 390 ci V8. The interior added luxury car amenities like tilt steering, and overhead console. | |||||||||||
| 1969 brought on the next series of radical changes, including the Boss marque, which came with high performance 302 ci and 429 ci V8 as standards. The Boss was design to compete in the Sprts Car Club of America series. The six cylinder was now an option. The roof changed from the 2=2 fastbook to the newer sleeker SportsRoof model. | |||||||||||
| First Mustang | |||||||||||
| 67 Mustang | |||||||||||
| 69 SportsRoof | |||||||||||
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| The Mach I was also introduced, with only one choice of engine. It featured special interior trim, special carpet, and high back bucket seats. On the exterior, the Mach 1 featured a low-gloss black hood, non-functional hood scoop (except models equipped with the 428 Cobra Jet engine which had a "new for 69" shaker scoop), hood pins, dual racing mirrors,special side stripe, pop-open gas cap, and dual exhaust ending in chrome, quad outlets. In 1974, the "Big" Mustang was gone, probably due to government pressures for polution and mileage. The Boss series of engines had been dropped a few years prior. But the legend lives on, and a few years back Ford redesigned the car to a retro look that arkens back to the glory days. | |||||||||||
