2015 Ford Mustang to scale Empire State

The world scored its first look at the 2015 Mustang via five simultaneous unveilings in December, but Ford is gearing up for an even bigger bash as we approach the 50th anniversary of the first model on April 17.

A range of celebrations are expected for the iconic badge’s half-century, and one element will be a re-enactment of the first-generation’s famous stunt atop New York City’s Empire State Building in 1965.

The use of helicopters to hoist the Mustang convertible to the 86th floor was deemed too risky at the time, so Ford carefully split the car into four sections that would fit in the Empire State Building’s lift, before reassembling the car at the top.

Teased in a single ‘in progress’ image for now, Ford will once again use a white convertible to recreate the stunt – fragmented in a similar fashion to squeeze into the Empire State’s lift. 

According to Ford, the helicopter option is still too risky and no portable crane can reach the 86th floor, so shoehorning the 18cm longer and 10cm wider sixth-generation model into the lift will be a greater achievement than the original.

One advantage the crew has over the previous feat is the use of computer aided design, which no doubt will help with the six-hour reassembly window once transported up the building. 

“We’re thrilled to be visiting the architectural landmark that has been the heart of the Manhattan skyline for 83 years with the newest generation of the car that is the soul of Ford Motor Company,” Ford chief operating officer Mark Fields says.

The original Empire State Mustang was on display for several months, but the new model will only be present at the famous tourist attraction for 54 hours, from April 16-17. The 2015 Ford Mustang goes on sale in the US later this year, before arriving in local showrooms in 2015.

Watch the 2015 Mustang’s Sydney global unveiling video here.

This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn