What Makes AVehicle Model Popular For Forty-five Years? The Story Of The Ford Mustang
In 1964, at the World’s Fair in New York, Walt Disney introduced “It’s a Small World.” At the end of the Fair, the attraction was moved to Disneyland where it has operated for over forty-five years other than some downtime for maintenance and refurbishment. Meanwhile, across the pavilion, on April 17, 1964, Ford Motor Company introduced the Ford Mustang, another American tradition that has continued for over forty-five years.
Ford did not expect the Mustang to be so popular. Overnight, over 2500 newspapers presented positive reviews of the vehicle. Sales took off like a rocket. Only Ford’s first Model “A” has ever exceeded initial sales. At Ford dealers across the nation people lined up to pay out $2368 in order to own a ford Mustang. In order to keep prices low, Ford had borrowed parts from other cars already in production, notably the Falcon and Fairlane. The Falcon parts were used the most. The framework as well as the 100 horsepower motor came from this car. Even the first Mustang horn ring had the Falcon symbol molded into its lower edge. Ford set VIN numbers to 1965, although collectors now refer to these first Mustangs as 1964 1/2. A 1964 1/2 Mustang currently has an appraised value of over thirty thousand dollars.
The body of the Mustang has changed throughout the years, yet it is still easy to spot a Mustang. The characteristic grill and side swoop make the vehicle easily recognizable.
The success of the Mustang lead other manufacturers to quickly introduce their own “pony cars.” These vehicles had large hoods and small trunk decks.
Research had shown Ford that cars had become too large for many women drivers by 1960. Remember that this was before power steering was common. Ford’s first answer was the Falcon, the first American compact car. Designers of the Mustang wanted to build a car that had appeal for both men and women. The design did so well that the Falcon production ended in 1970.
In the years after the first introduction of the Mustang, the models became progressively larger. In response to the fans of the original Mustang, Ford introduced the Mustang II in 1984. This Mustang was smaller but heavier than the original Mustang. The additional weight was due to the newly required anti-pollution devices required on vehicles. Due to this weight, the Mustang II was severely underpowered.
The Mustang is now in its fifth Generation. A 2010 model will offer plenty of power, coming equipped with a 4. 6 liter 316 horsepower gasoline engine. Ford has beefed up the suspension and new Mustangs offer more stability than ever. New Mustangs are designed so that they can use regular unleaded gasoline for economical situations, but also can use premium gasoline when additional torque is needed.
If you buy a new Mustang today, the base price is somewhat more than the price of the original. Base price for a 2010 Mustang is approximately twenty-one thousand dollars, and a fully accessorized model may cost as much as thirty-two thousand dollars.
In the forty-five year history of the Mustang, there have been many changes. Even so, the Ford Mustang remains one of the best sellers for Ford.
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