When Lee Iacocca and his league of designers and engineers conceptualized the first Mustang back in the 1960s, little did they know that their original mid-engine, two-seater roadster will go a long way and undergo several transformations. From the 2-seater, the first Mustangs actually came to be four-seater models with platform-type frames, welded side rails and cross-members. The instant hit hardtop Mustangs were as stiff as their drivers then, who drove their vehicles hard and fast. From the late-60s to the mid-70s, Mustangs rose to prominence as the car of choice of a lot of racers in the Trans Am Series. Even at amateur levels, the Mustang remains a popular track and drag strip racer. As racing competitions became more demanding and other car models began to encroach on its turf, the Mustang evolved in features and designs to adapt to different racer's needs and racing series' requirements. It even won in 2005 the KONI Challenge Series' manufacturers' title.

The Mustang came to be identified with drivers looking for more speed and performance from their cars. Although this was not the original intention of the designers, there was no choice but to live up to the evolution and special edition Ford Mustangs came to existence as a result of changing market demands. The Mach 1 and Boss variants came to answer to the increasing demand for performance cars. Despite the 1970s fuel crisis, Mustang maintained its high-performance status through the Mustang SVO and the SVT Cobra. Their macho drivers would not settle for anything less. It came to a point when other designers and companies outside Ford even specialized in custom-building Mustangs and producing special Mustang performance parts and supplies.

Ford will have the Mustang undergo continuous transformation but Mustang connoisseurs will not allow it do so. Thus, the Mustang will in one model year be much larger but later on reverted to the original size due to constant market clamor. Or it may be the other way around, as when the Mustang smaller, subcompact models were produced to combat the increasing entry of small and sporty coupes imported from abroad.

Throughout all its transformations, however, the Mustang remained the muscle car with the power and dependable features that its league of fans continues to look for. Rugged looks, sporty designs and features, dependable engine and overall performance, all these the Mustang continues to dish out to its ever-evolving markets.

Find the modern Ford Mustang or the ever classic stang at The Mustang Store

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