-
Ford executives bring the all-new Mustang to the site of the 1964
World’s Fair, where the original Mustang debuted 50 years ago
-
Hundreds of area Mustang club enthusiasts celebrate the iconic pony
car, with 94 classic Mustangs on display in front of the Unisphere at
Flushing Meadows Park
-
1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang fastback owned by David Davidson is chosen
by Moray Callum, Ford vice president of design, as best in show
Company Website:
http://corporate.ford.com/
NEW YORK -- (Business Wire)
Ford Mustang fans and company executives gathered at Flushing Meadows
Park in Queens, N.Y. today to celebrate 50 years of the iconic sports
car that debuted on the grounds of the 1964 World’s Fair. In addition to
the all-new 2015 Mustang, 94 cars from New York-area Mustang clubs were
brought to the plaza in front of the Unisphere, where Moray Callum, Ford
vice president of design, chose a 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang fastback as
best in show.
“It’s a great feeling to be here at Flushing Meadows 50 years to the day
after Ford unveiled the original Mustang at the 1964 World’s Fair,” said
Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, global product development. “Seeing
the devotion that owners put into caring for these amazing classic
Mustangs reinforces why we put so much passion and effort into making
the all-new 2015 Mustang great.”
Visitors to the World’s Fair on April 17, 1964 were among the first in
the world to see Mustang on display at the Ford Rotunda pavilion. That
same day, Americans stampeded into Ford dealerships to buy a Mustang. By
the end of the day, more than 22,000 Mustangs had been purchased or
ordered, a breathtaking start to one of the greatest product launches in
history.
“Standing where my grandfather, Henry Ford II, stood to reveal Mustang
five decades ago is both humbling and inspiring – especially since we
are launching the next 50 years of Mustang at Ford Motor Company,” said
Ford Vice President Elena Ford, leader of the Global Dealer and Consumer
Experience organization. “Since then, Mustang has become the heart and
soul of Ford Motor Company, and a symbol of my great-great-grandfather
Henry Ford’s vision of putting the world on wheels.”
After walking among the 94 classic Mustangs brought out by club members,
Callum narrowed the selections down to these three:
-
1965 Mustang K-Code convertible, owned by Teresa and Steve Kronred
-
1971 Mustang Mach 1 fastback, owned by Steven Chernow
-
1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang fastback, owned by David Davidson
“Great sports cars are living, breathing machines that reflect both
their drivers and their creators,” said Callum. “Like a living organism,
they must change and adapt or become extinct, and that evolution is on
display today, showing how Mustang has adapted while retaining its
essence.”
Callum chose a blue 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang fastback owned by Davidson
as best in show. Davidson was presented with a unique prize, a Ford
design studio model painted Race Red and used to evaluate exterior
colors. Following the presentation, it was personally autographed by
Elena Ford, Nair and Callum.
“I’ve owned many Mustangs over the years, but I’m just amazed to get
this honor from the Ford design team,” said Davidson. “I’ve owned this
GT500 for three years and it only has 40,000 original miles. It’s
fantastic to drive.”
“Mustang has an incredibly rich heritage, and as we celebrate 50 years
at Ford, we are focused on making the next 50 years even better,” said
Nair.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford
Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 181,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the
company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company
provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more
information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and
video, visit www.media.ford.com.
Contacts:
Ford Motor Company
Angie Kozleski
313.218.8203
akozlesk@ford.com
Francesca
Montini
313.595.4446
fmontini@ford.com
Said
Deep
313.658.0104
sdeep@ford.com
Source: Ford Motor Company
© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.