Ford introduced the Ford Mustang at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The car was unveiled on April 17, 1964, and immediately became one of the most influential American automobiles of the postwar era. Its low price, long hood, short rear deck, and wide range of options helped create the “pony car” class.
The Mustang was based partly on the compact Ford Falcon, which helped keep development and production costs under control. Buyers could choose from several engines and body styles, allowing the car to serve as an affordable sporty model rather than an expensive specialist vehicle. Ford sold more than 400,000 Mustangs during the first full model year.
The launch date is sometimes confused with the 1965 model designation. Although the car appeared in 1964, Ford marketed it as a 1965 model. The Mustang nameplate has continued through multiple generations, including performance versions such as the Shelby GT350 and modern high-performance variants.