By Jeffrey V. Smith
No car has captured the imagination of a nation like the Ford Mustang. It is a pillar of the American auto tradition, and the car that made power and style affordable for almost everyone. The Mustang is one of the few commercial products that goes beyond its intended market and enters the very fabric of American popular culture.
More than 500 Mustang owners from Rocky Mountain Mustang clubs will celebrate the car’s cultural status and share their love of the all-American icon when they convene in Steamboat Springs, June 17-20, at the 22nd Annual Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup. Major events are free and open to the public.
Beginnings
Vintage advertisement for the 1964 Mustang
America’s love affair with the Mustang began in 1961 when Lee Iacocca, who was vice president and general manager of Ford Division at the time, had the idea of a practical and affordable sports car with a large engine and seating for four. He was certain that “Baby Boomers,” who were coming to age at the time, would be interested in a new type of car design. Following months of meetings, discussions and market surveys, funding was approved for the Mustang in September 1962. On March 9, 1964, just a year and half after being approved, the first Mustang rolled off the assembly line and was introduced to the public at the New York World’s Fair on April 17, 1964.
To make the Mustang affordable, it shared much of its engineering with the Ford Falcon. Also, parts were shared with 6-cylinder Falcons, four-door Fairlanes and stripped Galaxies. The first Mustangs were even built in the same Dearborn, Mich., plant as the Falcon. With a large number of interior, exterior and drive train options, the Mustang could be ordered any way the buyer wanted. The car’s first print ads referred to the Mustang as “the car to be designed by you.”
Vintage advertisement for the 1964 Mustang
While Ford executives were initially certain there was a segment of American car buyers who would be interested in the new type of car they had designed, they had no idea how popular it would become.
An advertising campaign that climaxed the day before the Mustang was released included simultaneous prime-time commercials on all three major television networks. It worked, because the following day, on April 17, 1964, the public descended upon Ford showrooms, and more than 22,000 Mustangs were sold. By the end of the year, 263,434 Mustangs were sold, and by the car’s first anniversary in 1965, 418,812 were already on the road. Sales numbers far outpaced the 100,000 units Ford expected to sell in the first 12 months of production.
Pony cars
The 1964 Mustang proved to be a template for an entirely new class of car. It became known as a “pony car,” a term coined by an automobile magazine writer based on the Mustang name. Pony cars are a class of American automobiles that are affordable, compact, highly-styled and a performance-oriented image. The cars were also small by Detroit standards, but with a back seat and large trunk, were very different from European-designed sports cars.
Despite the immediate success of the Mustang, other car manufacturers were slow to come out with their own version of a “pony car” because they felt the design was a fad. In the end, the style obviously had lasting power and cars that fit the “pony car” description, including the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Pontiac Firebird, have become iconic American auto brands.
Pop-culture status
Mustang’s long-term popularity propelled the brand into pop-culture history and has made it a household name. Its reputation has also been perpetuated in more than 500 movies. It has been cast alongside the world’s most prominent actors in James Bond films, Apollo 13, Urban Cowboy, Born on the Fourth of July, Bullitt, The Candidate, Cape Fear, Harper, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, The French Connection and Gone in 60 Seconds, among others.
The “Show 'n’ Shine” event is always popular at the Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup in Steamboat Springs. Photo courtesy of Steamboat Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Plenty of songwriters, including Chuck Berry and David Bowie, have also sung the praises of the Mustang. The most famous song about the Mustang is Sir Mack Rice and Wilson Pickett’s 1965 classic Mustang Sally. The popular car has also found its way into music videos featuring, among others, Sheryl Crow and Britney Spears.
Mustang Roundup
Mustang aficionados of all types are invited to Steamboat Springs for the Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup. Activities include a scenic mountain tour, auto cross, Friday night social and welcome party featuring finger food and beverages
Saturday’s Show n’ Shine, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., is a car lovers dream and features more than 450 Ford Mustangs that are on display on Oak Street in downtown Steamboat Springs. As in past years, Steamboat Springs residents will be performing the judging for all car classes and grading them on a five point scale, focusing on cleanliness, craftsmanship and attention to detail. The engine, interior, exterior, wheels and tires, and the overall appearance will be graded.
Call 877-754-2269 or visit www.rmmr.org for more information or to find out how to participate.
