The Mustang I Prototype car was charming enough to get the official
blessing from Ford’s brass to proceed to a real car. Work started with an
existing Ford Falcon chassis and platform. That might sound like lowly
beginning, but the little Falcon was doing very well in off-road rally racing.
The shape of the new car would be a flattering imitation of the
acclaimed 1959 Lincoln Continental. At first you might saw, “no way.” But if you
look at a side-view photo of the ‘59 Continental, you’ll be amazed... it’s a big
Mustang!
With the mechanics and basic body shape sorted out (remember, it
takes months to make the tooling for body parts), the Ford Marketing group
needed to stoke the Ford fans. Stylists took what they knew the real Mustang was
going to look at and went “too far.” The Mustang II Show Car had a chopped top,
headlight covers, extended front and rear ends, and no bumpers.
It all
worked. By the time April 1964 rolled around and the ‘64-1/2 Ford Mustang was
debuted to the world, Ford fans were besides themselves and the automotive world
would never be the same.
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