Autoworld is highlighting the 60th anniversary of the iconic Ford Mustang between 3 May and 30 June with the exhibition ‘Ford Mustang 60 Years. Celebrating the Golden Sixties.’ Besides a temporary exhibition featuring some 15 exclusive Mustangs and many miniatures from Eric Janssen’s collection, there are also a number of events planned. These include an exclusive Preview Night on 3 May, including ‘Sound Night’ and roaring Mustangs, for which separate admission tickets are available. And on 16 June, not coincidentally the anniversary of the Ford Motor Company, hundreds of Mustangs will descend on Brussels for a Mustang & Coffee on the Esplanade in front of Autoworld. In the process, the Ford Mustang’s participation in the 24h of Le Mans will not go unnoticed either. Autoworld will also very soon unveil its own ’66 Ford Mustang promo car that will participate in numerous events, notably the Spa Revival and the Fastest Fashion Show.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to one of the proudest moments of our lives.” It was with this opener that Ford vice-president Lee Iacocca introduced the 1964 Ford Mustang to the public. And Iacocca was right to be proud of the Ford that would become the car of the 1960s, but seven generations on, also one of the longest-produced models of all time. Autoworld is also pleased to showcase the Ford Mustang between 3 May and 30 June to mark 60 years of Ford Mustang.
This special exhibition is organised by Autoworld in cooperation with Ford Belgium and with the support of Adelbert Engler’s Mustang Garage.
Mustang Boom
The Ford Mustang was launched in 1964 with sky-high expectations by ‘the Blue Oval.’ The Ford Mustang, named after the iconic WWII P-51 fighter plane of the same name, would exceed all expectations. The 1966 Ford Mustang that Autoworld will use as a promo car will, in its own way, highlight the link with the P-51. The baby-boom generation fell like a log for the Mustang and converted the optimistic zeitgeist of the time into Mustang orders. Expected sales of 100,000 in 1964 became 400,000. Two years later, the millionth Mustangs were already rolling off the production line. Naturally, a copy of the very first production year will be present at Autoworld.
Icon
The Mustang became an icon in no time, with popular culture lending a hand. ‘Mustang Sally’ was sung by Wilson Pickett, while Martha Reeves And The Vandellas canned the music video for ‘Nowhere To Run’ on the Ford Mustang’s production line. And films like ‘Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez,’ the Mustang’s worldwide film debut, but certainly ‘Bullit,’ ‘Un Homme et Une Femme’ and ‘Goldfinger,’ contributed to the model’s popularity.
Shelby
Along the sporty side, the legendary Carroll Shelby was taken under the wing with the Shelby Mustang GT350 and GT500 managed to serve the most hardcore, sporty customers. The GT500 would later become world-famous as ‘Eleanor’ in the remake of ‘Gone In 60 Seconds.’ ‘Eleanor’ will also be present. In the 1960s, rental company Hertz would deploy a fleet of Shelby GT350s in their ‘Rent-a-Racer’ programme. Many amateur racers took that literally and rented GT350s for the weekend to actually participate in amateur races with them. Both a Shelby GT 350 and a ‘Rent-a-Racer’ will be on display. Ford did still build its own sporty versions, such as the Mach 1, which became immortal via James Bond in ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ and is also being honoured at Autoworld.
Mustang II Monroe Handler
From 1974 came the second generation, which could not possibly match the iconic status of the first generation due to increased competition, emission standards, but above all the outbreak of the oil crisis. Lee Lacocca, meanwhile president of Ford Motor Company, sensed the zeitgeist perfectly and asked for a smaller, more fuel-efficient variant of the Mustang, but without concessions in terms of build quality. Farah Fawcett nevertheless made the Mustang II immensely popular in Charlie’s Angels. A four-cylinder version was even offered. Despite the disappearance of the convertible and less sporty versions, the Mustang remained a sales hit. Perhaps the most distinctive Mustang II was the Monroe Handler, with powerful racing engine and an extra distinctive bodykit. Only eight were built, only one of which had a T-roof. That car too will be on show at Autoworld, thanks to owner Adelbert Engler, the Mustang expert in Belgium and far beyond. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Pace Car
The third generation arrived in 1979 and was produced provided a styling update until 1993. The Mustang grew in size again, with an eye on even more comfort. The fastback style was no longer offered, but the convertible did return after nine years. The Mustang also became the official Pace Car for the famous 1979 Indy 500 race. Ford unfolded plans to offer the Mustang in a front-wheel-drive variant for a next generation, but die-hard Mustang fans protested and stuck to the values that had once made the Mustang so iconic.
Legend
Ford listened intently and with the fourth generation, launched 30 years after the original Mustang and the first major styling update in 15 years, the Mustang returned to a more sporty design. And with the fifth generation in 2005, all the more so. Not coincidentally, it went back to the design of the first generation. The link with the first generation was immediately noticeable and Mustang fans all over the world took the Mustang to their hearts again, while of course new fans were also created, whether or not through cameos in well-known movies like ‘I Am Legend’. Shelby was also consulted again for the more sporty models.
Mach-E
For the sixth generation, launched with the 50th anniversary of the Mustang, Ford continued on that classic momentum and with success. The model became wider and lower which gave it an even sportier look, while innovative engines such as the 2.3-litre Ecoboost four-cylinder alongside the earlier V6 and V8 engines also made the Mustang attractive to a wider audience and in markets that were less open to heavy engines due to increased environmental standards. 2021 also saw the launch of the first electric Mustang, the Mach-E, also a so-called Cross Over, rather than a pure sports car, but with the same iconic styling elements of the first generation.
3 May – Preview Night
Meanwhile, the Mustang is on its seventh generation. Ford Belgium will display two models of the seventh generation during the opening weekend. So be there at the Preview Night on 3 May, the not-to-be-missed appointment at Autoworld for any right-minded Mustang fan. Besides the Mustangs on display and many miniatures, a 60s setting and a DJ will contribute to the Golden Sixties atmosphere. But the stars of the evening will be the Mustangs that will roar their engines during the ‘Sound Night’. Tickets for this separate opening night are freely available and cost €25, but be quick because any right-minded Mustang fanatic is already eager to be there.
Buy tickets for the ‘Preview Night’
16 June – Mustang & Coffee
On 16 June, the anniversary of the Ford Motor Company, hundreds of Mustangs will descend on Brussels for a ‘Mustang & Coffee’ on the Esplanade in front of Autoworld. The participation of the Ford Mustang GT3 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans will not go unnoticed. Be sure to come and take a look! Participation with your Ford Mustang or any other classic car is free, but you must register in advance via the Autoworld website. Again, be quick, as places are limited.
Register for ‘Mustang & Coffee
