1962 FORD MUSTANG CONCEPT 1 PROMOTIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM

The cameras were rolling in 1962 as the designers, engineers and craftsmen at Ford Motor Company created a diminutive, experimental sports car dubbed the Mustang. The mid-engined two-seater was powered by a 1.5-liter V4 engine and it was introduced to the world at the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, New York in October 1962. Ford brought in the great Dan Gurney to pilot this lightweight machine around the upstate New York road racing circuit.  The Ford Mustang is one of the most venerable muscle cars in American history, the story of how the car came to be is an interesting one, many people don’t know that the modern Mustang is a direct descendant of the second Mustang prototype. The first prototype, called the Ford Mustang I, was deemed too extreme for mass-production and after the initial two were made the project was mothballed.  The 1962 Mustang I concept car was created to cause a stir. It was never meant for production.

During the early 1960s a large number of Americans entered their teenage years and their youthful spirits demanded a car with boundless energy. Lee Iacocca, then general manager of Ford Motor Company's Ford Division, grasped the importance of this huge untapped market, and with his talented team of designers and engineers he set out to create a car that satisfied their thrill-seeking desires. From the outset, the Mustang's three biggest selling points -- sporty styling, great performance, and a reasonable price -- were established to reach this young target audience.

One of the two Mustang 1 concepts languished for years in storage although it appeared at times on displays and in museum loans including the Henry Ford Museum. In 1967, Ford executives Morris Carter and Frank Theyleg discovered the remains of the car in a basement and arranged for the Scientific Research Garage to restore the car. Donated to the Henry Ford Museum, it officially became part of the museum collection in 1982, where it still resides.

Very good digital transfer of the original 60 year old film.  NOT A DIGITAL REMASTER.  The original film looks like what a film from the early 1960's should look like.  There are some random 'skips' in the sound and other imperfections, but nothing that takes away from the historical significance of this film.

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