Mustang Herd Rounds Up for a Big Drive

By Bill McLauchlan

If you were a teenager or older back in 1964 you couldn’t help but notice the fuss surrounding the arrival of Lee Iacocca’s pet project, the new Ford Mustang. It created a buzz of excitement and public interest like no car before or since.

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Ford's Mustang made its public debut at the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Since then, many have owned one, knew someone who did or watched them trounce the competition on road race circuits across the nation.

Me? Well, I’ve never been an owner but had a relative who was. I was lucky enough to witness the famed Comstock Racing Team Mustangs run rampant in Canada and see those run by the Shelby, Bud Moore and other top-notch race teams in the U.S. And I even saw the original Mustang 1 Concept run some demonstration laps at the U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen in 1962.

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The 1962 Mustang 1 Concept started the brand's 50-year saga.

So it’s with some regret that I have to take a pass when the Mustang Club of America (MCA) holds a Mustang anniversary event in less than a month (April 16-20) to commemorate the pony car’s remarkable 50-year run.

Groups from North America, South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand will carry their country flags to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas. The international celebration will be so large that Ford Motor Company and the Mustang Club of America will simultaneously hold it at two locations from April 16 through April 20, 2014. It is open to everyone, not just Mustang owners and MCA members.

“Even though the Ford Mustang has not traditionally been offered globally, the passion for the first pony car is truly international,” said Ronald D. Bramlett, Mustang Club of America, executive director of the Mustang 50th Birthday Celebration. “Enthusiasts from across the globe are planning to attend and share their personal Mustang stories. Some are even shipping their Mustang to the United States to drive their car as part of the milestone event.”

Charlotte Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway will give these enthusiasts an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives. MCA has also organized “Pony Drives” so Mustang owners can travel in organized groups to each venue. Some international owners are planning to drive in those caravans.

Photo: NewspressUSA

“The Ford Mustang has become a symbol of American culture,” said Steven Ling, Ford car marketing manager. “The hunger for this iconic car fueled Ford Motor Company’s decision to offer the 2015 Mustang globally for the first time. We’ll exhibit this new model at the twin events so fans from around the world can see them personally.”

The original pony car has been very popular, with more than nine million sold thus far. Since the Mustang was launched at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, it has become an important part of pop culture with more than 3,000 appearances in film and television, plus hundreds of musical references. The Mustang Club of America has chapters on every continent except Antarctica, with chapters and tens of thousands of members worldwide.

From 1964 to 1973, Ford built almost three million Mustangs at their three U.S. plants. However, few realize that Mustangs were also built at Ford locations in Europe and Latin America. A handful of U.S.-built early Mustangs were even converted to right-hand drive at Ford’s plant in Australia.

The countries being represented at the celebration include: U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, Italy and the U.K.

Details continue to be finalized for the event. Information is continuously updated on a special website, http://www.mustang50thbirthdaycelebration.com/ and at the MCA website, http://www.mustang.org/.

If you own a Mustang, modern or classic, or are just a big fan of the breed, you still have time to take part in the festivities. But better act fast as the event is fast approaching.