First generation (1964–1973)
First conceived by Ford product manager Donald N. Frey and championed by
Ford Division general manager Lee Iacocca, the Mustang prototype was a
two-seat, mid-engine roadster. This would later be remodeled as a four-seat
car penned by David Ash and John Oros in Ford's Lincoln–Mercury Division
design studios, which produced the winning design in an intramural design
contest called by Iacocca. To cut down the development cost and achieve a
suggested retail price of US $2,368.00, the Mustang was based heavily on
familiar, yet simple components. Much of the chassis, suspension, and
drivetrain components were derived from the Ford Falcon and Fairlane. The
car had a unitized platform-type frame, which was taken from the 1964
Falcon, and welded box-section side rails, including welded crossmembers.
The Mustang grew larger and heavier with each passing year, culminating with
the 1971 to 1973 models that were far different compared to the original
1964 model. The automaker was deluged with mail from fans of the original
car who demanded that the Mustang be returned to its original size and
concept.
Second generation (1974–1978)
Pony cars were in disfavor by 1970, buyers preferred cheaper,
fuel-efficient compact cars. The new-for-1974 "Mustang II" model was
drastically smaller than the 1973 cars. On assuming the Ford Motor Company
presidency, in December of 1970, Lee Iacocca ordered a smaller Mustang for
1974, initial plans required basing the 1974 Mustang on the Ford Maverick, a
compact car of like size and power akin to the Falcon's, the Mustang's
original base car. Those plans went undone in favor of a yet smaller 1974
Mustang based on the Ford Pinto, a sub-compact car. Such a Mustang could
better compete with smaller, imported, sports coupés, such as the Japanese
Toyota Celica and the European Ford Capri (then Ford-built in Germany and
Britain, sold in U.S. by Mercury as a captive import car). The introduction
of the smaller Mustang II was well-timed — two months shy of the
first "Energy Crisis", in October of 1973. The first-year sales were 385,993
cars, almost that of the original Mustang's twelve-month sales record of
418,812 cars.
Third generation (1979–1993)
In 1979, the new Mustang was based on the larger Fox platform (initially
developed for the 1978 Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr). The Mustang's
interior was re-styled to comfortably accommodate four people, despite a
smaller rear seat. The 1979 Mustang had a larger trunk (boot) and a larger
motor bay, for better service access. The body styles included a coupé
(Notchback) and a hatchback; a convertible Mustang was offered in 1983. The
offered car-trim levels included: "LX", "GT", "Cobra", "SVO", and the "Cobra
R". The available motors were: 105 hp (78 kW) 2.3 L four-cylinder, 109 hp
(81 kW) 2.8 L Cologne V6 (made by Ford of Europe), and the 140 hp (104 kW)
302 CID (4.9 L), all from the Mustang II cars line. Supplies of the
2.8 L proved inadequate, leading to its mid-1979 replacement, Ford's 85 hp
(63 kW). 3.3 L inline-six cylinder motor, and a new 132 hp (98 kW) 2.3 L
turbo-charged, four-cylinder motor, with V8-like horsepower, was introduced.
A facelift in 1987 brought new engines, including a 4.9 liter V8.
Fourth generation (1994–2004)
In 1994, the Mustang underwent its first major redesign in 15 years. The
design, code named "SN-95" by Ford, was based on an updated version of the
rear-wheel drive Fox platform known as "Fox-4". It featured dramatic new
styling by Patrick Schiavone that incorporated some stylistic elements
similar to those on earlier Mustangs. However, unlike all earlier Mustangs,
a notchback coupé model was unavailable.
The base model came with a 3.8 L V6 engine rated at (1994-1995) 145 hp
(108 kW) or (1996-1998) 150 hp (112 kW), or (1999-2004) 190 hp (142 kW),
while the GT featured the 302 cu in V8, now using the intake manifold from
the Thunderbird, a 60 mm throttle body, and a 215 hp (160 kW) rating. The
Cobra model also returned with its GT-40 equipped 302 cu in engine, now
rated at 260 hp (194 kW). The Mustang was named Motor Trend
magazine's Car of the Year for the third time in 1994. In 1996, the
Ford Modular engine was introduced for the first time for the Mustang.
Fifth generation (2005–present)
At the 2004 North American International Auto Show, Ford introduced a
completely redesigned Mustang which was codenamed "S-197" and based on an
all-new D2C platform for the 2005 model year. Developed under the direction
of Chief Engineer Hau Thai-Tang and exterior styling designer Sid Ramnarace,
the fifth generation Mustang draws inspiration from Mustangs of the 1960s,
notably the 1969-70 models. It was this redesigned aesthetic that inspired
Ford's Senior Vice President of Design, J Mays, to call it "retro-futurism."
The 2005 Mustang's unique retro coupe styling complements its muscle car
status with an approximate weight to power ratio of 11.5:1. The current
Mustangs are manufactured at the AutoAlliance International plant in Flat
Rock, Michigan. The base Mustang, equipped with a 5-speed Tremec T-5 manual
transmission, is powered by a cast iron block 210 hp (157 kW) 4.0 L SOHC
Ford Cologne V6 engine, replacing the 3.8 L pushrod V6. The Mustang GT
features a standard 5-speed manual Tremec TR-3650 transmission with an
aluminum 300 hp (224 kW) 4.6 L 3-valve Modular V8 with variable
camshaft timing.
Special editions and modified
Mustangs
While the original concept for the Mustang did not foresee its evolution
into a performance car, Ford has catered to individuals looking for more
performance. Early variants available direct from the factory included the
Boss 302 Mustang and Mach 1. While high performance vehicles fell out of
favor during the fuel crisis of the 1970s, the tradition was carried forward
in later years with the Ford Mustang SVO and Ford Mustang SVT Cobra. Over
the years, third party vendors and independent car designers have utilized
the Mustang as a starting point for their own designs. Designers such as
Carroll Shelby and companies such as Roush Performance and Saleen have made
a name for themselves by specializing in producing Mustang performance parts
and building custom cars.
Racing
In the late 1960s and into the mid-1970s Boss 302 Mustangs were
prominently used in the Trans Am Series. Boss 429 Mustangs were used for
NASCAR races in 1969 and 1970. Currently, Mustangs are used in a number of
different racing series, including the KONI Challenge Series, where it won
the manufacturers title in 2005. The Mustang remains a popular track and
drag strip car at amateur and professional levels of competition.
Professional drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. of Ford Racing and Falken Tires,
drifts a Ford Mustang in the Formula Drift and D1 Grand Prix series. He was
the number one ranked American drifter in the world in 2006
Awards
The Mustang has been on the Car and Driver Ten Best list five times:
1983, 1987, 1988, 2005, and 2006, and won Motor Trend Car of the Year award
in both 1974 and 1994. Ford Division's entire car line won the Car(s) of the
Year award in 1964, which was the Mustang's first year of production, but a
few weeks before its actual introduction.
The 1965 Mustang also won the Tiffany Gold Medal for excellence in
American design, which was the first automobile to ever do so. In 2005, the
Mustang was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award and won
the Canadian Car of the Year award.
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