The Ford Mustang, a stylish car designed to compete with Chevrolet’s Corvair, was unveiled in 1964 and became an instant sensation. The brainchild of Ford executives Lee Iacocca and Hal Sperlich, the Mustang’s sleek, long-hood design was inspired by Italian sports cars and quickly became a trendsetter.
Built on the reliable foundation of the Ford Falcon, it quickly carved out its own market segment, prompting numerous competitors to follow suit. Despite initial sales projections of 100,000 units, the Mustang shattered expectations with over 680,000 cars sold in its first year.
Its widespread popularity was driven by a combination of stylish design, customizable options, and impressive performance. While the Mustang’s origins can be traced to an experimental mid-engine concept, Iacocca’s vision of a more accessible, sporty car ultimately prevailed.
Although early models were criticized for their modest power, Ford addressed this issue by introducing a more powerful 289 cubic-inch V8 engine in various performance levels: 200 HP, 225 HP or the more powerful K-Code 271 HP version.
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