A celebration of automotive history recently took place at Autoworld in Brussels, Belgium, as enthusiasts gathered to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the iconic Ford Mustang.
With a diverse lineup spanning six decades, from the legendary Shelby featured in “Diamonds Are Forever” to the high-powered seventh generation, the event brought together lovers of this classic car.
The weekslong celebration began with “Sound Night,” which treated attendees to a visually and audibly stunning exhibition of roaring engines, live music, and bright lights under the stars and showroom roof.
This sneak preview gave visitors a taste of the upcoming “Ford Mustang 60 Years: Celebrating the Golden Sixties” exhibit running through June 30.
The excitement continues to build as Autoworld officials anticipate even more Mustangs descending upon Brussels for Coffee & Mustangs on June 16, which coincides with Ford Motor Company’s anniversary.
The event will also pay homage to the automaker’s participation in the prestigious 24-hour endurance race at Le Mans in June.
In addition to these festivities, Autoworld plans to unveil its own specially designed 1966 Mustang promo car with a “very spectacular color scheme.” This unique model will be showcased in various events, including the Fastest Fashion Show.
The Mustang has long been a symbol of optimism and excitement, as evidenced by Ford vice-president Lee Iacocca’s passionate introduction of the first Mustang to the public back in 1964.
The success of this burly new release with high expectations surpassed all predictions, selling 400,000 cars that year and reaching over 1 million units just two years later.
The Mustang quickly became a part of popular culture, with songs like “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett and films such as “Goldfinger” featuring the now-iconic muscle car.
The name “Mustang,” surprisingly, does not stem from the emblematic horse but rather the World War II fighter plane, which helped Ford recover from the disastrous Edsel launch.
The sportiest of all ’60s models, Shelby’s Mustang GT350 and GT500, were designed to serve the most hardcore customers, even being deployed by car renter Hertz as their “Rent-a-Racer” in the 1960s.
Ford also created its own powerful counterpart, the Mach 1.
Both the Shelby GT350 and Rent-a-Racer will be on display at Autoworld.
As the carefree days of ’60s excess came to an end, Mustang sales continued to thrive into the ’70s without losing momentum.
During the oil crisis, Ford introduced a more fuel-efficient variant of the car, the Monroe Handler or “Pony Car,” which helped maintain high demand for this beloved muscle car.
Only eight distinctive models of this particular version exist today and one will be on display at the exhibit.
The third generation of Mustang arrived in 1979, featuring a sleeker design that won back hearts with nostalgic memories and attracted new fans.
The car made appearances in films such as “I am Legend,” further cementing its status as an iconic vehicle.
Cameos like this one helped create a new generation of Mustang enthusiasts, even as the car evolved to include features like Ecoboost technology and electric powertrains.
Two models from Mustang’s seventh generation were showcased at Autoworld’s Preview Night on May 3rd, thanks to Ford Belgium.
The Dark Horse is the most powerful of all Mustangs, boasting an impressive 800 horsepower.
For a chance to see these latest models and experience the roar of engines under showroom lights, attendees could purchase limited tickets for just 25 euros.
As this celebration of automotive history demonstrates, the Ford Mustang continues to hold a special place in the hearts of enthusiasts across generations.
Despite changing times and evolving policies, it seems that the good old muscle car people grew up with is still very much in demand.