The Mustang has also set two sales records. It was the world’s best-selling sports car last year, with 102,090 cars sold worldwide, according to figures from IHS Markit. In fact, the American car is reaching farther abroad than ever before; Mustang sales in Germany increased 33 per cent, Poland had a nearly 50 per cent increase, and in France, they nearly doubled.
Not only that, but it’s been the best-selling sports coupe in the world for five straight years. Not bad for the vision of then-Ford division general manager Lee Iacocca for an affordable, sporty coupe and convertible that was originally based on the economy Ford Falcon. But it’s come a long way since 1964, through six generations that included some high-horsepower, big-block versions, through the late 1970s with the very iffy and underpowered Mustang II, and eventually back to its roots as an affordable, capable sports coupe.
Today, Ford offers a variety of Mustang models, from the EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder Fastback to the V8-powered GT – in both coupes and convertibles – the Bullitt, Shelby GT350, Shelby GT350R and Shelby GT500, with a bunch of power options for each. And for the first time in its history, the Mustang now has an electric version, the Mach-E. Yes, we know that’s tenuous to say the least, but, still…
Happy birthday, Mustang! We hope you have many more to come.
*Images courtesy of Ford
