Born to Drive: The 60th Anniversary of the Ford Mustang

Introduced at the New York World’s Fair on April 17, 1964, the Mustang was available for purchase in Ford showrooms across America that same day (such immediacy was simply unheard of back then). More than 400,000 Mustangs were sold in the first year - boldly surpassing the expectation of 100,000 sales.

From an iconic debut in 1964 to the evolution into the electric era with a fully electric Mustang expected in 2029, the Mustang’s journey is incredibly honorable, and not just to car enthusiasts, collectors, and the auto industry - but to the whole entire world.

To celebrate the legendary Ford Mustang's 60th anniversary (technically in 2024, but who puts a limit on a milestone celebration?!), let’s have a look back at this beloved car’s rich history, cultural impact, and lasting influence right here in Detroit and beyond.

Luckily and like most Detroiters, I didn’t have to go very far for firsthand experience, as so many friends and family have stories from dedicating their lives to working at Ford Motor Company.

My grandmother, Emily Prieur, recalls the excitement from her career as a Computer Operations Supervisor at Ford from 1966 to 1996 like it was yesterday. Now retired to a beautiful condo on the beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in Clearwater, Florida, she still speaks so fondly of her time working at Ford - a name she still takes pride in representing every chance she gets.

“Lots of famous people visited, from Presidents like Clinton to celebrities, such as the late Farrah Fawcett, and even astronauts,” she recalled of the many famous visitors who came through the doors to get a glimpse at the many models and versions of the Mustang.

For example, the 1967 Shelby GT500 convertible was so rare, it’s been dubbed a unicorn. Another noteworthy model was the Mach 1 created in 1968 with a 5.0-liter V8 engine.

The Ford Mustang series includes but is not limited to GT, Mach 1, Boss 302/429, Cobra (separate from Shelby Cobra), and Bullitt. Each version of the pony car has its own unique style.

"I found my first Mustang!” exclaimed TerryLynn (Prieur) Schering, my aunt, as she shared a photo of the sleek, two-door sedan - a 1979 six-cylinder Mustang. “Check this out! At the time, the price was outrageous to me, but looking back at it now. Wow, what a deal.”

The base price back then for a brand new, 1979 six-cylinder Mustang was $4,494. Add in a few fun bells and whistles like power steering and air conditioning, along with taxes, and she paid a grand total of $6,169 for that beautiful car.

The sales sheet is so sweetly nostalgic - typed up on a typewriter with Ford branding beautifully displayed: FORD… BETTER IDEAS FOR THE AMERICAN ROAD. Frame-worthy!

“My 2004 Mustang was a 40th anniversary Mustang,” she said. “I remember I bought it in September, and I always stored it in the winter. After 10 years of owning it, I had less than 10,000 miles on it and sold it to a good friend.”

It was still relatively warm for September, so as she took it home from the dealership, she just had to put the top down. “What a thrill!” she said. The first day she drove it to work, everyone gave her the nickname, Mustang Sally, she said with a laugh, recalling how the car was really fast. “Before you knew it, you were going between 80 and 90 miles an hour!”

That 2004 Mustang saw some marvelous milestones as she generously shared the joy of it with friends and family. Dr. Jake Schering of Apex Orthodontics in Canton, MI, shared some classic 2006 scrapbook photos from Homecoming, where he very carefully drove the Mustang with Jenny Whaley, one of the Homecoming Court candidates, riding on the back of it.

My recently retired godfather, Ron Prieur, reminisced of working on the engine line, trim and final, for the 50th Anniversary Mustang. He put the transmission on before it went into the car. That 2015 model featured a 5.0L V8 engine, a six-speed manual transmission, and the body style of a two-door coupe.

A few more 50th Anniversary models included two limited editions, the 2018 Ford Mustang Bullitt and the 2018 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet. In fact, just 68 Cobra Jets were produced to honor the Cobra Jet's 1968 debut - a dedication to staying true to the roots of the pony car.

Celebrate the ‘Stang right here in Detroit with a visit to the Henry Ford Museum, a rolodex of car events like the treasured Woodward Dream Cruise, International Auto Show and Ford’s heritage exhibits called Driving America. Catch views of classic, retro, and modern Mustangs riding right here in Detroit every time you’re out and about. The ever-improving car is still incredibly popular and beloved to date. Happy 60th Anniversary to the Ford Mustang!