Mustang's Birthday and the downward slide of humanity

[1937hd45]

Just read that today is the day the Ford Mustang was introduced to the world. For those of us that can remember I think the world was a far better place pre 1964, and makes for a historical cutoff year in World History.

[Shop Rat]

If for no other reason than there was so much less crime and rarely was it in "your neighborhood". Sometime during that period I read about "Needle Park" in New York City in either Look or Life magazine. It was a world away from how I was growing up. I was in college before I knew of anyone that even used pot. And in high school I only knew of one boy that drank.

And there was no such thing as Internet porn of any kind, much less photos of young children being exploited. It is all very sad.

[R W Burgess]

Let me add that I never knew of anyone drinking when I graduated in '65 either. BUT! We did have one member of our senior class who was a father on that day, a lot of behind the scenes talking about that, let me tell you.

Bob, as far as the Mustang, look at the happy side of it today! It's still with us and very much alive. To the point that Chrysler and GM is trying a play catch up again. I love to see the big wheels with a little egg on their face. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Wayne

[Guest]

The day a Ford Falcon got a face lift is a event in history.... I don't think so.

[R W Burgess]

I'll take those Ford profits anyday Tommy. I don't care if it was on a VW bug frame. Oh, they didn't have one did they? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> You know what I mean.

I'm sure there's a large majority of forum members with "fine memories" of their time with, in, or around Mustangs of our past.

Wayne

[ex98thdrill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> The day a Ford Falcon got a face lift is a event in history.... I don't think so </div></div>

Oh my, how to really tick off a Mustang fan, that will do it (my dad and I have 5 of them). But in all honesty you are correct. After Ford used up the Falcon chassis, they went to the Pinto and then on to the Fairmont.

I'm not upset, but I know that when someone who has a '65-'73 Mustang calls one of our Mustang II's a 'Pinto' we'll usually come back and say "NICE FALCON." Over the years I've learned that any diehard early Mustang owner will flip out when you call their car a Falcon. I think that irritates them more than running long fingernails on a blackboard .

Tommy, I have a sense of humor and a sense of reality, and you are right, but boy are those fighting words to some. I know you may not agree on this, but from the purposes of production and sales of a new vehicle, the Mustang was, is and will always be a part of history. Even Lee Iacocca would admit that, and he didn't leave Ford on the best of terms.

[Guest]

Just rattling a few cages!

The Mustang II parked next to a new 250 Nissan Z car would look like a monster.

Hell, a Mavrick, was longer them most big cars now a days.

[Guest imported_Dwight V.]

I like Falcons.

I owned a Pinto.

It's all good!

[Shop Rat]

We like Falcons also. We had a 1963 Falcon hard-top and sold it to a friend that wanted it. Now we have a 1963-1/2 Falcon Sprint convertible that Bill is restoring as our AACA show car. Sprints were the bridge between the standard Falcon and the Mustang.

[Mike Cullen]

During High School, The big bad gearheads went displacement nuts, 389, 396, 402, 427, 383, 426, 440.... but they were in big heavy cars. It was always priceless when us "Coon Drivers" waxed them everytime (unless it was on the open road/flyin mile type thing). In town, light to light, back road town to town and the other ways we amused ourselves in the gray areas of the traffic laws we Falcon and Nova boys sportin a 289, 302, 283 or 327 cleaned up. The big firebreathers were impressive, loud and could really smoke the bias tires of the day. They were also expensive and screamed "pull me over officer!" It's all good.

Maybe we were the precursors to the true tuners of today (not the ricer wannabees).

YUCK! it kind of makes me want to go take a shower!

As well as ragging on the Falcon/Mustang situation, I've found that the Mopar folks of today who are very fond of their Sebrings, Intrepids and Concordes reaally get cranked when you refer to them as overweight K-Cars!

[stock_steve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> ...someone who has a '65-'73 Mustang calls one of our Mustang II's a 'Pinto' we'll usually come back and... </div></div>

Ah, Pinto owners are used to being at the bottom of the food chain--but we still love our cars!

http://members.aol.com/cgearannex/CPR.html

P.S. to Bob - We recently had the occasion to replace one of our car's blonde wood grain trim pieces (that wasn't quite "perfect") with one of the pieces we got from you, and it worked out very nicely--thanks again.

[mrpushbutton]

Here in the big Salt can city (Detroit) we call 'em Rustangs, because that's what they did. nice enough cars, though.

[Terry Bond]

If GM would have done with the revised GTO what Ford did with the Mustant we'd have had a bit hit! Really tho, the Mustang is today's Model A. Its a great entry level car for the beginning antique auto enthusiast. Remember, the Mustang was designed by potential customers. A few years before its intro I can remember getting a survey in the mail (by virtue of my subscription to Hot Rod Magazine) from Ford motor company. They showed pictures of different roof-lines, etc and asked for my opinion on what looked best. I wish I had a copy of that survey today-does anyone else remember it?

Terry

[Guest De Soto Frank]

How dare you sully the memory of my beloved Falcons by associating them with "Mouse-twangs" !!!!

Actually it was a clever adaptation on the part of Ford... they sure got their money's worth out of the Falcon platform & drivetrain... 1960 to 198?

Not bad for a "disposable" car (that's was Ford represented the Falcon as when introduced in '60)...

I had more than my fill of Mustang fanatics when I was running my Falcon (1980's)... they sure didn't want to admit ANY family resemblance !!!

Sort of like the folks who were driving Cadillac Cimarrons(?) - they didn't like to be told/reminded that they were driving rebadged Chevy Celebritys !!!

Well, "Happy Birthday, Mustang"...