Most of my 13th summer was spent riding in the back seat of my best friend's mother's old car, arguing whether Robert Plant was cooler than Roger Daltrey, while Bad Company blared from a portable tape deck.
The car was a battered navy blue 1966 Mustang notchback, and in the unsufferable manner of adolescent girls, we tolerated her mother's presence. Because one thing we did agree on, was that she definitely had a cool car.
A little bit of history...
Way back in 1964 when Ford introduced the Mustang, they created an entirely new breed: the pony car. Built on the Falcon platform, the Mustang, small, economical and with a modicum of practicality, sparked a new type of muscle car, an attainable one, a sports car for the masses. It was the birth of a legend -- the Mustang became an icon and one of the best-selling vehicles in automotive history.
Of all the competing pony cars that followed in its wake, the Mustang was the only one that continued production - uninterrupted, until this day. Undeterred by the fuel crises and emissions restrictions of the 70s and later on, company budget cuts - the Mustang's popularity with legions of fans enabled it to soldier on through the tough years. Models such as the late sixties' Shelby, the 1970 Boss Mustang, the Mach I and later on, the SVT Cobras earned iconic status with collectors.
But the car that cemented its place in history were the humble runabouts, like the six-pot notchback of my distant memories.
History re-invents itself
When Ford decided to resurrect the vintage Mustang in 2005, its debut was met with overwhelming acclaim. Designer Jay Mays blended all of the most recognizeable heritage cues: the King Cobra's size and heft, the long, Boss nose, small rear windows of the Shelby, the Bullitt-esqe fastback, galloping horse on a mesh grille, deep side cutlines, and of course, the signature triple vertical taillights.
It's all there. The Mustang had evolved, but it was obvious from whence it sprang.
For those staunch old-school Mustang aficionados who decry the use of modern materials and gadgetry such as traction control, well, the 'Stang was created as a people's car, and the people have evolved too. Heated seats, cell phone hook ups and driving aids are now found in the humblest econo-box. Despite the nod to modern comfort, this Mustang, like its predecessor, is not a sophisticated car.
The car was a battered navy blue 1966 Mustang notchback, and in the unsufferable manner of adolescent girls, we tolerated her mother's presence. Because one thing we did agree on, was that she definitely had a cool car.
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| It did not take too long for the Mustang to become an icon. |
A little bit of history...
Way back in 1964 when Ford introduced the Mustang, they created an entirely new breed: the pony car. Built on the Falcon platform, the Mustang, small, economical and with a modicum of practicality, sparked a new type of muscle car, an attainable one, a sports car for the masses. It was the birth of a legend -- the Mustang became an icon and one of the best-selling vehicles in automotive history.
Of all the competing pony cars that followed in its wake, the Mustang was the only one that continued production - uninterrupted, until this day. Undeterred by the fuel crises and emissions restrictions of the 70s and later on, company budget cuts - the Mustang's popularity with legions of fans enabled it to soldier on through the tough years. Models such as the late sixties' Shelby, the 1970 Boss Mustang, the Mach I and later on, the SVT Cobras earned iconic status with collectors.
But the car that cemented its place in history were the humble runabouts, like the six-pot notchback of my distant memories.
History re-invents itself
When Ford decided to resurrect the vintage Mustang in 2005, its debut was met with overwhelming acclaim. Designer Jay Mays blended all of the most recognizeable heritage cues: the King Cobra's size and heft, the long, Boss nose, small rear windows of the Shelby, the Bullitt-esqe fastback, galloping horse on a mesh grille, deep side cutlines, and of course, the signature triple vertical taillights.
It's all there. The Mustang had evolved, but it was obvious from whence it sprang.
For those staunch old-school Mustang aficionados who decry the use of modern materials and gadgetry such as traction control, well, the 'Stang was created as a people's car, and the people have evolved too. Heated seats, cell phone hook ups and driving aids are now found in the humblest econo-box. Despite the nod to modern comfort, this Mustang, like its predecessor, is not a sophisticated car.
 |
| The retro lines were inspired by earlier iterations of the Mustang. |