Ford Mustang

Ford Mustang - an American pony car produced since 1964, as an American response to the European sports car GT. The first was presented April 17, 1964 in New York. The television broadcast of the premiere was broadcast by three American television stations on April 19 of the same year. The car's production began on March 9 with a white cabriolet with black design elements that drove off the Dearborn, Michigan production line.

In the early 1960s, the only sports car produced in the United States was the Chevrolet Corvette. Its high price has discouraged potential low and middle income customers. Since 1955 Ford Thunderbird has become a luxury car, but not fast and dynamic, and sport cars imported from the United Kingdom sold quite well. At the same time, the first generation of people born just after World War II ("baby-boomers") reached the mid-1960s and sought their first car - a small, yet sporty character. So Ford decided to put into production its sports car.

As soon as it was known that a new car would be built, it needed a name and a distinctive, recognizable symbol. The ideas for the names were different. The car was named T-5, Cougar, Aventura, Allegro, Stiletto, Turin, Torino and even XT-Bird. Some of these names were later used as names for other Ford car models.

The car was meant primarily for young people, so something was needed that symbolized freedom and unhinderedness, and at the same time strength. This symbol became the mustang - wild horse from the prairie of North America. The fact that the leading designer of the car - John Najjar - was a big fan of the P-51 Mustang fighter from the Second World War. At the same time a characteristic Mustang logo was created - a galloping horse against the background of red, white and blue stripes symbolizing the United States and American roots.

In 1962, one of Ford's managers, Donald N. Frey, came up with the idea of creating a completely new car. The idea was supported by Ford's chief executive, Lee Iacocca. In 1962 and 1963, two prototypes emerged that set the road for the ultimate look of the Ford Mustang.