10-26-07: It’s that time of year again when new holiday movies are hitting the theatres. Sales are starting at major department stores. Most importantly, it’s the time of year when you start seeing holiday shopping gift ideas for your favorite Mustang enthusiasts everywhere you look. And just in time for Christmas two of our veteran Mustang journalists have each finished up brand new book projects. Being an auto journalist is a labor of love as it certainly isn’t about getting rich. These two writers have proven that passion and hard work can result in a master piece.
The The Complete Book of Mustang By Mike Mueller
This lavishly illustrated work conducts readers through the Mustang's forty-plus years of continuous production--a rich and varied history unmatched in the automotive world. An exhaustive review of American high performance, from the first six-cylindered Stang of 1964-1/2 through today's fire-breathing, world-beating Mustang, The Complete Book of Mustang offers an in-depth look at the prototypes and experimental models, the anniversary and pace cars, and the specialty packages for street and competition driving that have made the Mustang a living automotive legend. With extensive details, specs, and photographic coverage, this book is the ultimate resource on Americas pony car.
From the Inside Flap
On Friday, April 17, 1964, Dearborn officials introduced America to an entirely new breed of automobile, a fun machine that brought buyers galloping into their friendly neighborhood Ford dealerships. Demand instantly overwhelmed supply, with the few available showroom teaser cars claimed even before they were unveiled. Of course, the initial hubbub eventually died down, though Mustang sales remained incredibly strong for years to come. The one-millionth Mustang rolled off the line in February 1966, and nearly 300,000 pony cars were still hitting the streets annually in 1968.
A resurgence came in 1979 as the more comfortable Fox-chassis Mustang debuted. Performance and pizzazz quickly rose, evidenced by the return of the GT in 1982 and a convertible rendition in 1983, following hiatuses of 13 and 10 years, respectively. A legacy within a legacy grew as the 5.0-liter HO V-8 gained strength to become one of Detroit’s best performance buys. Two years later, it was replaced by the thoroughly modern 4.6-liter modular V-8 with its overhead-cam layout. An even hotter version of this engine, fitted with dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder, was created for the Special Vehicle Team’s (SVT) Cobra Mustang, which debuted in 1993. Thus armed, the SVT Cobra surpassed 300 horsepower in 1996 and was on the verge of topping 400 horses in 2003, when the Special Vehicle Team marked its 10-year anniversary.
That same year was Ford Motor Company’s 100th, and the Mustang’s own 40th birthday followed in 2004. Fortunately, those little 40th-anniversary badges weren’t the only presents unwrapped by Ford party-goers during the celebration. Unveiling the 2005 Mustang that January was the real icing on the cake, and there is no doubt the legacy will continue rolling on toward the next milestone
The Mustang Dynasty By John Clor (Photo Top Center)
Since it first roared onto the scene in the 1960s, the Ford Mustang has been one of the most iconic American automobiles ever designed. The Mustang Dynasty presents the full story behind every model, from the original 1964 pony car to the heralded 2007 Shelby GT500 and beyond. In addition to 150 photographs, this exclusive package features 15 removable artifacts, including reproductions of a 1965 driver's manual, a 1979 Official Indy Pace Car bumper sticker, a 2003 Mach 1 logo patch, and a wide array of other Mustang treasures. With insider stories, detailed images, and authentic memorabilia, The Mustang Dynasty offers a vibrant tribute to an American classic.
Veteran automotive journalist John M. Clor is a communications manager for the Special Vehicle Team--Ford's high-profile, high-performance vehicle group--and a regular columnist for Mustang Enthusiast magazine.
