Looking ahead
Ford continues to sell about 150,000 Mustangs annually. And, many view the 1964-1973 models as American automotive icons the equal of the 1955, 1956 and 1957 full-size Chevrolets and the Corvette. Thanks to continued interest in the marque, restoring Mustangs is a popular hobby. Mechanical parts are as close as the corner auto parts store, Ford dealer or wrecking yard with most out-of-production parts available as highly accurate reproductions. Even the very first production Mustang is still around.
Originally purchased new by Stanley Tucker, an airline pilot from St. John's, Newfoundland, Ford Motor Company offered him Mustang number one million in exchange in 1966; he chose a new made-to-order Mustang instead. Number one is currently on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn and a photo of the car can be viewed at their website.
Today, with its supercharged 4.6-liter, 32-valve, four-cam V8 (underrated at 390 hp) the present SVT Cobra Mustang is the fastest, most powerful factory model in the Mustang's history. The all-new 2005 Mustang GT will come standard with a 300 horsepower (223 kW) single overhead-cam 3 valve modular V8. A supercharged 400+ horsepower (300 kW) Cobra is quite likely for 2006.
With the closure of Rouge assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan on May 10, 2004, a plant that built Mustangs from the very beginning, production has been moved to the Auto Alliance plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. The last car off the Dearborn line was a bright red 2004 Mustang GT convertible. On hand for the closing ceremonies was the aforementioned first production Mustang, also built at Dearborn.
Originally purchased new by Stanley Tucker, an airline pilot from St. John's, Newfoundland, Ford Motor Company offered him Mustang number one million in exchange in 1966; he chose a new made-to-order Mustang instead. Number one is currently on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn and a photo of the car can be viewed at their website.
Today, with its supercharged 4.6-liter, 32-valve, four-cam V8 (underrated at 390 hp) the present SVT Cobra Mustang is the fastest, most powerful factory model in the Mustang's history. The all-new 2005 Mustang GT will come standard with a 300 horsepower (223 kW) single overhead-cam 3 valve modular V8. A supercharged 400+ horsepower (300 kW) Cobra is quite likely for 2006.
With the closure of Rouge assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan on May 10, 2004, a plant that built Mustangs from the very beginning, production has been moved to the Auto Alliance plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. The last car off the Dearborn line was a bright red 2004 Mustang GT convertible. On hand for the closing ceremonies was the aforementioned first production Mustang, also built at Dearborn.
posted by CaptMattman at 6:57 AM
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