RE: New Mustang
Tuesday 7th January 2003
New Mustang
Ford get it right with modern muscle car
Discussion
There is a time and a place for retro design and, IMHO this is it.
When dealing with replacing an icon like the Mustang, it would be foolish to completely disregard the evolution.
This is what happened '73, granted there was more than a little outside influence for it, but since then the 'stang has been slowly rolling down an genetic dead end.
Undoubtedlty the best looking Mustangs of them all were the '63 and '67's, so why not touch base back at this point and move on.
The '67 was thrust back into the public consciousness by "Elanor" and has now ben granted an almost timless persona. It hales from the depths of a period none have dared to plumb in search of retro themes and this to make it all the fresher. It is far more credible as a form than the '50's throwback (please!) T-Bird. These are exampoles of what you should and should not do with retro in extemis.
The Mustang represents one of the very few quinessencially american icons that does not dwell exclusively in the realms if bad taste, glutony or corruption. For this, it should be encouoraged.
The New Mustang looks cool, mean and modern. Every thing it should. It also has the added bonus that, because it has drawn heavily on its own gene pool, when you look at it, it could be nothing else.
I don't know if you can tell, but I like it, alot!
Mouse
>> Edited by danger mouse to add: I knew it would look better as a fast-back, I even said so...look
>> Edited by danger mouse on Tuesday 7th January 14:01
When dealing with replacing an icon like the Mustang, it would be foolish to completely disregard the evolution.
This is what happened '73, granted there was more than a little outside influence for it, but since then the 'stang has been slowly rolling down an genetic dead end.
Undoubtedlty the best looking Mustangs of them all were the '63 and '67's, so why not touch base back at this point and move on.
The '67 was thrust back into the public consciousness by "Elanor" and has now ben granted an almost timless persona. It hales from the depths of a period none have dared to plumb in search of retro themes and this to make it all the fresher. It is far more credible as a form than the '50's throwback (please!) T-Bird. These are exampoles of what you should and should not do with retro in extemis.
The Mustang represents one of the very few quinessencially american icons that does not dwell exclusively in the realms if bad taste, glutony or corruption. For this, it should be encouoraged.
The New Mustang looks cool, mean and modern. Every thing it should. It also has the added bonus that, because it has drawn heavily on its own gene pool, when you look at it, it could be nothing else.
I don't know if you can tell, but I like it, alot!
Mouse
>> Edited by danger mouse to add: I knew it would look better as a fast-back, I even said so...look
>> Edited by danger mouse on Tuesday 7th January 14:01
and it's immediately obvious that it's a Mustang. 
you listening ford none of this FWD focus floorpan crap we want RWD 
Okay - and I usually try not to post too negatively (seriously look at my posts) - but here are a list of things that will probably NOT appear in the final version:
Silver Car:
1. The Rear light treatment. There need to be one pair of white lights for reverse lights.
2. That "Greenhouse Roof" will probably go for safety reasons
3. Those beautiful smooth doors will have doorhandles cobbled in
Red Car:
1. I don't see the "racing style" seats making it (nor the harnesses)
2. I look for the "roll bar" to be redesigned (higher) and the top stowage area enlarged
3. The doors will have doorhandles
That being said, this is a great effort from Ford. This car will also be built on a modified version of the chassis shared by the Jaguar S-type, Lincoln LS and Ford ThunderBird... Nothing like getting your money's worth out of the engineering department
ErnestM
>> Edited by ErnestM on Wednesday 8th January 01:38
Silver Car:
1. The Rear light treatment. There need to be one pair of white lights for reverse lights.
2. That "Greenhouse Roof" will probably go for safety reasons
3. Those beautiful smooth doors will have doorhandles cobbled in
Red Car:
1. I don't see the "racing style" seats making it (nor the harnesses)
2. I look for the "roll bar" to be redesigned (higher) and the top stowage area enlarged
3. The doors will have doorhandles
That being said, this is a great effort from Ford. This car will also be built on a modified version of the chassis shared by the Jaguar S-type, Lincoln LS and Ford ThunderBird... Nothing like getting your money's worth out of the engineering department
ErnestM
>> Edited by ErnestM on Wednesday 8th January 01:38
I read through older stories with the typical griping over SUVs and Yankee teasing and then read that this Mustang is "beautiful." Other than the muscularity of the coupe and the rear lights this is hardly anything special.
Man, I love sarcasm, otherwise I wouldn't put myself through this.
Bless, Britain.
Btw, who designed this Mustang?
Oh, and I am biased. I prefer F-Bodies' design.
Man, I love sarcasm, otherwise I wouldn't put myself through this.
Bless, Britain.
Btw, who designed this Mustang?
Oh, and I am biased. I prefer F-Bodies' design.
Looks nice - copying the only decent Mustang ever (the one everyone likes, the fastback from 67 or thereabouts) is a good idea given the crap they have produced ever since.
I like the integrated strut brace/spare wheel holder too.
Now if only it wasn't going to rattle and squeek like a bastard, and handled decently, Ford (America) might actually be able to produce a decent car for once.
I like the integrated strut brace/spare wheel holder too.
Now if only it wasn't going to rattle and squeek like a bastard, and handled decently, Ford (America) might actually be able to produce a decent car for once.
It's good and bad at the same time. I like the looks because they copied the only Mustangs I've ever cared for. But, the fact that they copied a previous design shows that they have no talent in the design/styling staff and must resort to copying something from years ago. That goes for the new GT40 too. It looks good, but come on Ford, can't you think of something new???
I must totally disagree!
There is nothing completely new.
What ever design you produce, some smartarse will always spot similarities with previous ones.
The talent lies in knowing which ques to pick up on, and knowing how to treat them to produce a new product that looks new.
With the worldwide car sales climate turning the way it is at the moment, and war on the horizon, I think we should be thankful that any of the car giants are being anywhere near as adventurous as they currently are. Especially the pathologically consertive FoMoCo.
I think the front end styiling is reminicent of the Mitsubshi Sigma of all things, but I won't say that too loud.
There is nothing completely new.
What ever design you produce, some smartarse will always spot similarities with previous ones.
The talent lies in knowing which ques to pick up on, and knowing how to treat them to produce a new product that looks new.
With the worldwide car sales climate turning the way it is at the moment, and war on the horizon, I think we should be thankful that any of the car giants are being anywhere near as adventurous as they currently are. Especially the pathologically consertive FoMoCo.
I think the front end styiling is reminicent of the Mitsubshi Sigma of all things, but I won't say that too loud.
double clutch said: It's good and bad at the same time. I like the looks because they copied the only Mustangs I've ever cared for. But, the fact that they copied a previous design shows that they have no talent in the design/styling staff and must resort to copying something from years ago. That goes for the new GT40 too. It looks good, but come on Ford, can't you think of something new???
My point exactly. Any new design should look like a Mustang. But if I wanted a 67/68, I would buy one. The cars look very cool to say the least, but I think Ford was too chicken to experiment even a little bit with the car's looks.
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