Ford Mustang in pictures. Photo Gallery
The Ford Mustang was a game changer
The iconic Ford Mustang began production in Dearborn, Michigan in 1964 and was first seen by the public on April 17 at New York's World Fair.
The Mustang started the tradition in America of the 'pony car' - sportscar-like coupes with long bonnets and short rears, prompting GM's Camaro, AMC's Javelin and Chrysler's barracuda to follow suit.
Fans of the original 1964 design disliked how the cars became bigger and heavier with each production year, and in 1973, urged Ford to return to the classic style.
Development of the car has spanned five generations. Here's a very brief history...
First (1964-1973)
Original design by David Ash and John Oros.
In September 1964 a Mustang appeared in the James Bond film Goldfinger - its first movie appearance.
Initial sales forecasts were at around 100,000 units sold, but after a year and a half, more than one million Mustangs had been shifted.
1968 introduced the Shelby Mustang - a high performance variant. Power steering, a single carburetor and hydraulic camshaft made this a muscle car for the masses.
Second (1974-1978)
Influenced by strong pollution laws in 1974, a more fuel-efficient Ford Mustang was produced, based on the Ford Pinto subcompact. Its smaller size allowed it to compete with the Toyota Celica and the Ford Capri.
Changes in 1975 included reinstatement of the 302 CID V8 and the availability of an economy option called "MPG Stallion".
The Cobra II was introduced in 1976 and the King Cobra in 1978.
Third (1979-1993)
1979 saw the Mustang based on a larger Fox platform. The interior was restyled to seat four people comfortably and the boot was also made larger.
Body styles across the generation included coupes and hatchbacks, with a convertible offered in 1983.
Soaring fuel prices in the 80s saw Ford start work on a Japanese-designed front-wheel drive Mustang with no V8 option. This was later quashed due to overwhelming public outcry.
Fourth (1994-2004)
The Mustang went through its first major redesign in 15 years in 1994, code named "SN-95". Designed by Patrick Schiavone, the new shape was made up of many features of earlier variants from the 60's.
In 1999 Ford's New Edge styling theme had a hand in the new Mustang design, introducing sharper contours, bigger wheel arches and creases in the body work, but essentially the size and interior stayed the same as the previous model.
Car and Driver named the 2003 GTV Cobra "the best sports car deal of all time" with its Eaton M112 supercharged engine that produced 390 horsepower (291kW).
Fifth (2005-2009)
2005 saw another design change - "S-197", that was influenced by the fastback Mustangs of the 1960's.
The fifth generation Mustang is built at the AutoAlliance plant in Michigan.
See Carsguide's review of the 2010 Ford Mustang
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