Buying & Selling
The Ford Mustang – Birth of an Icon
There is some debate as to what constitutes a “classic car,” so for this instance, we dare to call the Ford Mustang an American icon. After all, an icon is a recognizable image that brings to mind certain associations. If this is the case, the Ford Mustang brings to mind a signature muscle car with more than 40 years of history. Over the course of time, it’s been a Hollywood star, inspired countless items of memorabilia, and lured millions of potential owners.
The idea for the Mustang was first conceived in 1961 and production started in 1964. Because the main goals were affordability and style, the Mustang borrowed components from the Ford Falcon and Ford Fairlane. Starting at a little over $2000, potential buyers could choose between a coupe, hard-top, or convertible, three different engines, various colors, and several standard luxury details.
These factors along with amazing publicity (You can check some of the videos out here )generated a buzz that resulted in 22,000 orders on the day of its release. From that day forward (the exact date was April 17, 1964) the Mustang would set many more world records and amass a huge following. It’s first appearance on movie screens was in the James Bond thriller Gold Finger, and the trend has continued ever since.
With such booming success, it was clear the Mustang was here to stay. Today, any Mustang, whether it’s a First generation or a new and shiny fifth generation model, turns heads. Whatever the magic equation is for the Mustang’s success, it’s hard to deny that it brings to mind many different thoughts. Guys may see a sick muscle car, a valuable collectible, and even a baby/second girlfriend. Ladies, you can’t deny it either. There’s something about a Mustang, hard-top or convertible, that makes it sexy. These associations, whether reality or daydream, make the famed pony car iconic.
Image: © 2009 Ford Motor Company and Wieck Media Services, Inc.
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Sources:
Ford Motor Company
ClassicPonyCars.com
MuscularMustangs.com
