A Million Mustangs!

I’d have to wait until next month for the official “birthday” of the Ford Mustang—it was in April of 1964 that the sporty but affordable convertible seized the attention of the auto marketplace.

Today is an anniversary of sorts, though—it was on this date in 1966 that the ONE MILLIONTH Mustang rolled off the assembly line!

What was originally conceived as the “working man’s Thunderbird”, the first Mustangs sold for about $2,300! The first 22,000 models were snapped up on virtually the first day. This was essentially Lee Iacocca’s car—as the-then general manager of Ford was involved in the design, production and marketing of the Mustang.

Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, every boy wanted either a Mustang or a Chevy Camaro. I loved both cars, but that little horsey in the grille of the Mustang was the clincher. Bucket seats, a floor-mounted stick shift and sleek styling said it all. This was a chick magnet, not that any of us had a chance with anyone older than fifteen.

If you bought a new Mustang back then, it could today be worth more than ten times the original purchase price—if in good shape! Now, THAT’S an investment more solid than any 401K.

Below are a couple of TV commercials for the Mustang. The first is the “preview” spot for that very first model year—and then a 1967 TV ad:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBot2MAewpY



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQRYBhuBwb8


More than 400,000 Mustangs were sold in the first model year-and within 3 years of its introduction, about 500 Mustang Fan Clubs had sprung up. The Mustang appeared on the silver screen in its debut year in the James Bond film “Goldfinger”, the first of virtually hundreds of movies to feature this particular Ford.

Design changes through the 70’s made the Mustang less attractive-until the awful Mustang II’s, a mere shell of the former greatness that defined Mustang. Then came the Mustang GT-also awful. Ford finally came to its senses in 2004—with a completely redesigned model that approximated the terrific original design that turned heads in 1964.

So, here it is, 2010—and I STILL don’t have a Mustang…maybe when the kids get out of college and I am fully into my midlife crisis, I’ll try to recapture my lost youth by tooling down the road with the top down, radio blaring.
I won’t be “cruisin’ for babes” (a) they wouldn’t have me and (b) I don’t have a death wish.
I’ll be driving around, no doubt looking cool as my Mustang and I pick up my prescription at the CVS Drive-Thru Pharmacy.

Not exactly what I had in mind back in the 60’s, but better late than never.


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