Due to its innovative combination of muscle car power and style with the lightweight chassis of a European sports coupe, the Ford Mustang was an instant hit in the United States. American auto fans commonly refer to the ‘Stang as a muscle vehicle, but insiders know it was the catalyst for something much bigger.
It was the first of its kind, and its success began the Pony Car Wars. For the next 60 years, the Ford Mustang was the most popular performance car in the United States. Looking back on the history of this legendary pony car is fascinating because of its remarkable beginnings, but there is one thing that most of us fans have wondered about for quite some time. Where did the original Mustang go?
When the first Ford Mustang arrived at a showroom in Canada, it was purchased by a Canadian airline captain looking for a sporty American automobile to drive for pleasure. Without Ford’s knowledge, he bought the car because of its shiny white exterior and sleek convertible top.
To tell the truth, Ford never planned on selling that car because they anticipated its high value in the future. In an attempt to repurchase it, they approached the man, but the pilot declined. There was no doubt that Captain Tucker understood exactly what he was hanging on to, but Ford was unyielding in his pursuit of the car.
Ten thousand kilometers and the winter of 1965 later, Ford came back to him with a far better offer. They proposed a straightforward swap: Tucker would return their vehicle in exchange for a brand-new 1966 Mustang of his choosing, fully loaded.
This brand-new, expensive vehicle was a 1966 Ford Mustang convertible in Silver Frost with a built-in television set. Of course, as the one-millionth Mustang ever made, it was also a fantastic vehicle in its own right. The original Mustang is currently on display at the Henry Ford Museum, where it will remain for as long as the Ford Motor Company exists.
H/T: americanmusclecarz.com
