If there’s one area where the Big Three held an undisputed lead in in the postwar era, it’s the art of self-promotion. Sales were strong and consumer confidence was high, and the industry wasn’t about to let the nation’s voracious appetite for anything automotive go underserved. While auto shows, plus television and print advertising, satiated casual observers, promotional films like this clip covering the vintage Mustang I concept—which we tested back in the day—cropped up to give enthusiasts a deeper take on the subject and offer some behind-the-scenes excitement.
-It was filmed in-house at Ford Motor Company, so the cheese factor is predictably high. But those interested in seeing footage of the craftsmen at Troutman & Barnes—the same company that built the Scarabs for Lance Reventlow—welding up a one-off tube chassis or the stylists in the Ford design studio working with fiberglass will be duly rewarded for their time. Stick around, and you’ll see the completed Mustang I concept parading at Watkins Glen with Sir Stirling Moss and then hot-lapping at Daytona while Bill France, Sr., looks on in that “old guy in wool suit despite the fact he’s at a racetrack” fashion so typical of the era. It’s pretty spectacular in its naiveté, and that’s a big part of its charm. Heck, we’d watch it multiple times even if it didn’t have a shout-out to C/D around the 15:30 mark. Enjoy:
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- Archived Test: Our Original 1963 Review of the Ford Mustang I Concept! -
- Baby Book: 13 Developmental Milestones of the Ford Mustang’s Formative Years -
- Car and Driver Tested: The 12 Quickest Cars of the 1960s -
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