The Mustang I Prototype car was charming enough to get the official blessing from Ford’s brass to proceed to a real car. Work started with an existing Ford Falcon chassis and platform. That might sound like lowly beginning, but the little Falcon was doing very well in off-road rally racing.

The shape of the new car would be a flattering imitation of the acclaimed 1959 Lincoln Continental. At first you might saw, “no way.” But if you look at a side-view photo of the ‘59 Continental, you’ll be amazed... it’s a big Mustang!

With the mechanics and basic body shape sorted out (remember, it takes months to make the tooling for body parts), the Ford Marketing group needed to stoke the Ford fans. Stylists took what they knew the real Mustang was going to look at and went “too far.” The Mustang II Show Car had a chopped top, headlight covers, extended front and rear ends, and no bumpers.

It all worked. By the time April 1964 rolled around and the ‘64-1/2 Ford Mustang was debuted to the world, Ford fans were besides themselves and the automotive world would never be the same.