On April 17th, 2014 Ford will proudly mark 50 years of the Mustang. This is a car that my parents grew up with, and I did too. It's touched entire generations of families and it seems that everyone has a favorite 'Stang. What's yours?

50 Years

Ford released the first Mustang on April 17th, 1964 well ahead of the typical production year. Based largely on the Ford Falcon, this was Ford's attempt to get away from passenger cars and make a sports car. The original Mustang went on to break numerous sales records, and start a true automotive dynasty.

The automaker is poised to bring the "Pony Car" to a whole new generation with the introduction of the new 2015 Ford Mustang. Completely redesigned from the wheels up, the 2015 will have features never offered in Mustangs before like an Ecoboost 4 cylinder engine, and keyless start.

To date, there have been six generations of the Ford Mustang and it seems that everyone has their favorite.

  • Generation 1 (1964 - 1973) - This is the original. In 1964 you could buy one of these amazing cars for about $2400, depending on what options you picked (and remember, in those days even the mirrors were optional).
  • Generation 2 (1974 - 1978) - Dubbed the "Mustang II," this model was based on the Ford Pinto subcompact. This generation had the shortest production run of the line.
  • Generation 3 (1979 - 1993) - These are the "Fox Body" Mustangs, so named because they were built on the Ford Fox Platform.
  • Generation 4 (1994 - 2004) - This was the Mustang's first major re-design in fifteen years, codenamed "SN-95" and later the "New Edge" Mustangs. The Generation four Mustangs were wildly successful.
  • Generation 5 (2005 - 2014) - Echoing the style of the late 1960's fastback Mustangs, Ford called this generation "retro-futurism."
  • Generation 6 (2015 - ) - The newest Pony Car has been re-designed from the wheels up with a wider base, and a lower, more aggressive stance.

Everyone has a favorite Mustang. I think the fourth generation Mustangs are incredible (I own one), but would love a GT Gen 5.That's just me though. The fourth gens came out while I was in high school, so I had a poster of the 1994 Mustang on my wall, and I just love how the fifth gens echo the late 60's fastback Mustangs. Beautiful cars.

So as we look back on 50 years of the Ford Mustang I'd love to know what your favorite is?

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