Ford Mustang Dealers
The Ford Mustang Auto Was Not The First American Pony Muscle Car
Some auto and sports car enthusiasts will insist and swear on their life that the sports car that got it all going in America was the Mustang. After all the Ford Mustang was fast cheap and popular and got the whole “Muscle Car” era going. On top of that they may insist that if there were no mustang there would have never been any Camaro or the other whole host of “Pony Cars” It may well be true that buyer demand in the muscle car market segment had been and was created largely by the Mustang car but actually this had all started long before the Mustang ponycars arrived on the American automotive landscape.
Interest in sporty ,close-coupled compacts that could seat two comfortably as well as four in a pinch goes all the way back to 1956. That was the first year when Studebaker fielded its first “Hawks” – nimble, fast road machines that looked different and performed considerably better than the average family sedan. Then later in 1958, Ford punched out its two-seat Thunderbird out to a four-seat configuration which also introduced a radically new body design that met with overwhelming acceptance. To the response, the dominant American automotive manufacturer replied with the Pontiac Grand Prix in 1962 as well as the stunning four places Buick Riviera the following year.
Similar concepts followed in the wings such as Oldsmobile’s Tornado in 1966. The race was now fully on and underway.
Until Mustang however, four seat “personal” cars had been mainly upper-price luxury models which were not affordable by the masses of car buyers. This was especially true for young men just starting out with their work careers or working part time after school. However it was not only Ford that was eyeing and evaluating of what became the Mustang’s appreciative and enduring target market. Stylists, engineers and the marketing crew were thinking about some car product in the lower-price segment and class a good six years before the Mustang made its entry and debut in 1964. In the end the fly in the ointment of this project to bring a similar automotive product to market was a lack of real corporate interest. Talk about opportunity lost and not seeing the trees from the forest – or in case the highways and interstates from the roads.
Interestingly enough G.M. had missed the boat when it failed to notice the excitement by the general public of its accidental development of an inexpensive “Sports Car” to the American automotive market. It can be said that the first low priced “personal” car was the Chevrolet Corvair. Chevrolet had subtly introduced bucket seats to its Corvair sports coupe in the 1960 model year. Compared to its other lineups in its stable the Corvair sports coupe sold like hotcakes. The expression regarding the sales of Mustangs was they sold like donuts, Corvair sports coupes sold like hotcakes. The offering was a hot product – a real eye popper. These cars were offered in color-keyed interiors, the trademark comfortable vinyl bucket seats and in the 1961 model year the option of a fast four speed gearbox.
The marketing message may have eluded General Motors and their top executives but it sure was not lost on their competitors. Ford and Chrysler, both taking the cue rushed to equip their similar products in a similar way. For the Ford Motor Company it was time to dress up their “compact “car the Ford Falcon. In the case of Chrysler the Valiant line got the treatment.
The Mustang was not the first of the “Pony “muscle cars. Indeed Ford was even the originator of the concept. The concept and market did not originate overnight. While it took time for fruition it was Ford’s fortune of both bringing the product to market. The lessons may have been lost to others but Ford was both focused enough and nimble enough to accomplish the task. In terms of absolute cars sales the Ford Falcon based Mustang cars sold 100,000 units in their first month and a full million cars in their first year. What an auto sales record and accomplishment.
About the Author
Terry Z. Voster
Fortuna California Muscle Cars
Winnipeg Manitoba North End Autobody Dealer
Winnipeg Manitoba Auto Finance Financing
2006 Ford Mustang GT 4.6L V8 Shaker 1000 Only 5K Miles used dealer Great Falls Montana 59405
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Metra 72-5600 Speaker Adapter for Select Ford Vehicles $7.91 Speaker Adapter for Select Ford Vehicles, Connects aftermarket speakers to the factory speaker harness, Quick and easy installation, No cutting needed, Plugs directly into harness, Authorized Internet Dealer, 1-year Manufacturer’s warranty… |
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2000 00 Ford Mustang Uncut Transponder Key $6.98 HIGH SECURITY ‘CHIP KEY’ – By now, most people know their vehicle’s high-tech keys are expensive at the car dealers- Now, you can get high-tech keys from us at a fraction of the cost. How does the high-tech key work? The key contains a tiny embedded electronic chip called a transponder. Each transponder has its own unique code–it’s the key’s ‘fingerprint’. When the key is inserted into the ignit… |
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4 Buttons Key Shell Remote Case for Ford Escort Mustang Focus Mercury No Chips Inside (FCC ID:CWTWB1U331) $3.00 If you are not satisfy with something, please don’t leave us negative or neutral feedback right away. Please contact us via email. We promise to provide 100% fine customer service and try best to make every customer get good mood with fine shopping experience here. make sure your fcc id is |
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Scosche FD1422B 2001-Up Ford Mustang kit with 1.5 CD Storage Pocket $14.95 Scosche is going to keep doing what it’s best at: designing, developing and bringing to market technically superior and reasonably priced car audio products. Scosche Industries attributes its success to several factors, not the least of which is talented, enthusiast people. The emphasis on only producing the finest quality products at reasonable prices, and providing the consumer with easy to use,… |
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Scosche FD1420B 1987-93 Ford Mustang Kit with EQ provision $14.95 Scosche is going to keep doing what it’s best at: designing, developing and bringing to market technically superior and reasonably priced car audio products. Scosche Industries attributes its success to several factors, not the least of which is talented, enthusiast people. The emphasis on only producing the finest quality products at reasonable prices, and providing the consumer with easy to use,… |
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Mustang 1964 1/2-1968 (Muscle Car Color History) $22.95 A vivid photographic history of Americas original ponycar. Page after page of meticulously restored Mustangs including some exceptional, original-condition Mustangs. Excellent examples for finding the right finishing touches for your restoration. The text is full of the Mustangs history, development, successes at the strip and on the track, and other fascinating details from Tom Corcoran, editor o… |
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From biology to Fords: king of Mustangs blames carbon monoxide.: An article from: Alaska Business Monthly $5.95 This digital document is an article from Alaska Business Monthly, published by Alaska Business Publishing Company, Inc. on April 1, 1998. The length of the article is 517 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.C… |
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Mustang Collectibles $12.13 Mustang memorabilia abounds in this all-color look at the collectible treasures used over the years to promote America’s favorite pony car. Filled with promotional models, toys, banners and clocks, drinking glasses, posters, matchbooks and more! Nostalgic Mustang collector’s items are featured in stunning color photos complemented by lively descriptions that tell the unique story behind each colle… |
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Thule K-Summit Low-Profile Passenger Car Snow Chain (Sold in Pairs) Motor through deep powder and ice covered surfaces with the quick installing Thule K-Summit XXL Snow Chains for SUVs and Light Trucks.Product FeaturesMaterial: [chain] steel alloy; [plates] injection-molded plasticNumber Included: 2Carrying Case: Accessories Included: Recommended Use: serious snow excursionsManufacturer Warranty: lifetime… |
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WeatherTech Truck Floor Liner for 1990-2010 FORD MUSTANG $100.99 WeatherTech Truck Floor Liner for 1990-2010 FORD MUSTANG |
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California Special Mustang $103.56 In midFebruary 1968, the California Ford Dealers (Ford Dealer Advertising Fund) began to market a factorybuilt, limitededition Mustang, called the GT/CS, or California Special. The hope was for a targeted production run of 5,000, but actually, 4118 were made, which included 251 units that were remarketed in Denver, Colorado, as High Country Special 68. Production ran for only 5.5 months from midFebruary 1968 to early August 1968. Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 162 Publication Date: 2010/04/28 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.37 inches |
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What Car Dealers Won’t Tell You (2005 Edition) by Ford, Bob Edition REV, 0 $13.99 What Car Dealers Won’t Tell You (2005 Edition) by Ford, Bob |
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Ford Mustang T-Shirt – Tan $15.95 If it’s not a Ford, you don’t drive it, so that means if it doesn’t have a Ford logo on it, you shouldn’t wear it. This Ford Mustang tee featuring “Mustang” printed down the front left with a large custom Mustang logo on the back, will have you putting the pedal to the metal. |
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Ford Racing Mustang Black Painted Wheels $169 Ford Racing Mustang Black Painted Wheels priced from $169. |
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Chilton's Ford Mustang/Cougar 1964-73 Repair Manual $55.55 Covers all models of Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar. |
