“I just love Fords,” a kid shouted out as he gazed upon the beige 1964½ Mustang on prominent display at The Henry Ford Museum. When asked by his friends why, all he could say was that, “they always look sharp.”
The kid is barely nine years old, and his working knowledge of the automobile still has a long way to go. Yet, here he is, mesmerized by the sporty proportions of the Ford Mustang—his wide and innocent smile, definitely a sign of someone who has found his first and true love. Rushing across the hall, a group of Japanese tourists pose for a quick snapshot beside America’s beloved “pony car”.
Funny, I thought. The kid is forty years too young to understand “Mustang-mania”, a phenomenon that swept America in the 60’s, and the Japanese are definitely on the wrong continent at the time. Still, here they are—people from all walks of life, admiring what is arguably the quintessential symbol of American style and flair, and Ford’s glowing contribution to automotive history.
Flashback to the 1960’s, a decade of change—a time when business was good and originality reigned supreme. It was the era that saw Martin Luther King Jr., fighting for equality, and Andy Worhol’s Campbell’s Soup stacking was artwork. The Beatles ruled the airwaves and the miniskirt, the talk of the town. The perfect setting therefore for the birth of one of America’s rolling legends: the Mustang. The story however isn’t as clear cut as you may think.
The concept of making a relatively affordable long-hooded, short-decked GT wasn’t the idea of Ford. In fact, the idea came from Budd—a company that supplied body stamping and stamping equipment to car manufacturers. In 1962, they came up with the novel idea of the XR400, a two-seater concept, which they marketed to American Motors. They hoped to land a deal where the latter would produce the automobile, while the former would supply the body. Funny, but American Motors decided not to pursue the proposal.
During the same year, Ford unveiled the Mustang Concept—a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive sports car that signaled the company’s renewed interest in performance-oriented automobiles. However, the long-slung, two-seater layout proved to be difficult in both sales and manufacturing aspects. In search for a more practical solution, Ford saw the XR400 as the perfect template. Utilizing an existing platform (the Falcon sedan), engineers added two additional seats to the XR400’s existing two, making the production 1964½ Mustang a true 2+2, ensuring a big success.
The relatively low engineering cost contributed heftily to Ford’s bottom line as Mustangs rolled off the line starting April of that year. However, it was the sheer number of available accessories that really spelled the difference. Everything from the engine (ranging from a 101-bhp inline-6 to a 271-bhp V8) to the interior color, seat fabric and even the radio and shifter location could be changed—the customizability of each Mustang proving to be the biggest hit among its owners.
The introduction of dealer options and accessories coupled with the highly competitive sticker price made sure that the Mustang sold in record time. By April 16, 1965 it has sold 418,512 cars already, making it the most successful selling new car. Twelve months later, Mustang sales reached a remarkable one million units. The pony car’s success isn’t just limited to the automotive public. It was awarded the Tiffany Award for American Design—the only car to be bestowed with the honor.
Increasing pressure from other American automakers, which followed the Mustang’s footsteps, and later on, the Japanese, meant that each new Mustang had to be better than the version it replaced. Sure enough, Ford has made sure that two key ingredients, besides the design, are kept on each generation: simplicity in its powerful drivetrain and the vast availability of options.
Forty years after the first one rolled off the production line, the limited edition Ford Mustang Mach 1 carries the tradition set by the original.
Sitting wide and low, the Mach 1 is aptly named because of the aggressive styling and vulgar macho stance. Though the edgy styling does give away its late 90’s origins, the Mach 1 contains excellent detailing to suit both diehard Mustang loyalists and the Fast and the Furious generation.
The original 1969 production Mach 1 featured simulated side scoops mounted high on the quarter panel, a raked air dam and spoiler, as well as the now legendary ‘shaker scoop’. Of course, the 2004 version has all of these trademarks, while adding 17-inch ‘Heritage’ wheels with low profile rubber as a bonus.
Typical with limited edition models, the Mach 1 isn’t just all show and no go. Underneath the long hood resides the most powerful normally aspired engine fitted to a production Ford today. The 4.6-liter V8 engine features double overhead cams, 32-valves and an exhaust note to die for.
Optimizing the engine’s highly flexible characteristics, Ford engineers reworked the cams, modified the upper air intake (accommodating the ram air system) and added performance exhaust manifolds; all in all producing 310 bhp and 454 Nm of torque—50 bhp and 45 Nm more than the standard V8 Mustang.
Handling all that power is a specially calibrated suspension system with Tokico struts and shocks. The variable-rate suspension offers a firmer ride, but gives better handling and improved response from the front MacPherson struts and semi-independent SRA multi-link rear.
Like its exterior, it’s in the cockpit where the Mustang is starting to look aged. Still, to celebrate its 40th anniversary, cosmetic enhancements have been made, uplifting the otherwise dull cabin. The ‘comfort weave’ black leather seats is once again a salute to the original Mach 1, but the single DIN, 460-watt stereo system with a 6-disc in-dash CD changer guarantees to knock the socks off even the most discerning audiophile.
The rear-wheel drive architecture, front-mounted engine and lack of advanced electronics save traction control, suggest that this isn’t an everyday car; after a blast in it around downtown Detroit, this suggestion will most certainly turn into a fact. The loud, burly exhaust obviously doesn’t help (it could be heard from the interior of our chase car, the Ford Thunderbird) but add to that the low driving position and small windows. The average family sedan this is most definitely not.
That said, the Mach 1 is meant, like its namesake, to be driven hard and fast. Nail the throttle and see the speed pile up on the retro-styled gauges. The notchy gearshift and tricky clutch make for a test in hand-foot coordination, but if done right it will blur all scenery while igniting your soul with the soundtrack of American brawn and muscle.
At the end of the day, as the Mach 1 zooms back from The Henry Ford Museum to the Ford World Headquarters, it’s hard to think that the Mustang is already forty. It has, and will always be Ford’s symbol of their commitment to offer truly stellar products at affordable prices.
The road has never been easy for America’s pony cars—a class of cars considered being too raw and prehistoric when compared to European and Japanese offerings. In fact, the Mustang’s chief rival, the Chevrolet Camaro has already bitten the dust. However, at the rate things are going, the Mustang will not share the Camaro’s fate. Americans certainly don’t care that the 2004 edition still has some parts shared with the first-generation model; it boils down to the fact that the Mustang has lineage, performance and affordability. And above all, it’s quintessentially American.
By Ulysses Ang | Photos By Ulysses Ang
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
