The Ford Mustang debuted
as a simple sports car based on the compact Falcon to lower production costs.
Originally named for the P-51 Mustang fighter plane, but preliminary allusions were
made to the horse. The better recognized horse motiff quickly became the emblem
for the Mustang.
Buyers
loved its price, styling, and myriad of options that gave the buyer an opportunity to
customize their purchase. The buyers reacted by producing sales of over 22,000 its
first day and one million in its first two years. The response turned the
market and people's attention to the pony car.
This pony car class that
the Ford Mustang helped create is the only class of muscle car that still exists
today.
In mid
1964, Ford introduced a sporty 2+2 fastback body style to go along with the hardtop
coupe and convertible. Enthusiasts also cheered the new "K-code" 271bhp 289 cid V8
that finally put some performance to match the Mustang's good looks.
For those that wanted
more, the legendary Carroll Shelby and Ford collaborated to produce the Shelby
GT-350, a Ford Mustang fastback specially tuned by Shelby. The 289 V8 produced 306bhp
in street tune and around 360bhp in special GT-350R race tune. These Shelby's had no
back seat, were only available in white and were fully race ready.
