Mustang Forty Years [Hardcover]

Randy Leffingwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2003

Ford's Mustang, launched on April 17, 1964, became the Official Car of the Baby Boom. It was a fortuitous accident of timing and a brilliant result of product planning. This sleek, stylish automobile launched the "Pony Car" genre with a staggering 417,000 sales in its first year. Through 40 years of tough competition from Chrysler and General Motors, the Mustang has survived and outlasted them all. Dozens of interviews bring insight to the 40-year-old story, the on-going legend, and the Mustang's future., 2003 marks the 100th Anniversary of Ford Motor Company, and 2004 will be the 40th Anniversary of the Mustang., Filled with exciting, brand-new photography ofsignificant Mustang production models from the first 1964-1/2s to the new 2005 concept GT and Convertible., Startling action photography., Includes interviews with designers, engineers, product planners and racers who made the Mustang the legend it is today. If you decide you can have only one Mustang book in your library, this is the one to have.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

RAndy Leffingwell is an MBI best-selling author whose most recent works are Corvette fifty Years, Mustang Forty Years, and John Deere: A History of the Tractor. He resides in Santa Barbara, California.

DAvid Newhardt is one of the best automobile photographers working today and has provided photography for MBI's best selling titles Corvette Fifty Years and Mustang Forty Years. He resides in Pasadena, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; First edition (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760315973
• ISBN-13: 978-0760315972
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 10.9 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,091,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mustang Forty Years, December 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mustang Forty Years (Hardcover)

This is a great book. I was given this book as I have owned a 1966 Mustang GT and now own a Mustang Bullitt. It is very informative on the inception of the Mustang through its current models and even shows the next generation Mustang. It is very well written and has large beautiful photographs. Anyone who likes Mustangs will love this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good, but...., September 25, 2004

By 

EPA316 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mustang Forty Years (Hardcover)

This was a very good book, especially if you prefer the older Mustangs of the 1960's and early 1970's. There are far more pictures of these cars than of the newer ones. Unfortunately for people who prefer the late model cars from the 1980's and newer, there is not as much attention paid to them. The section on the 1985-1993 "Fox" 5.0 Mustangs is only 29 pages long, and they only show pictures of seven different cars. The only 5.0 GT hatchback they show is a black one, not in the best shape; it had scratches and rock chips all over it! Surely they could have found a better one at any Mustang show. The 1994-2003 section is a little better, it is 33 pages long and they have 12 different cars pictured. Bottom line is, there are 148 pages for the 1964-1973 Mustangs, (10 years) but only 62 pages for the 1985-2003 Mustangs. (19 years) I like the old Mustangs too, but it's the new Mustangs that keep the pony galloping! Also consider that today's cars, as they are off the showroom floor, will clobber most (if not all) of the classic cars from the 1960's. When the 45th anniversary comes around in 2009, I hope whoever writes the next big book pays equal attention to all the years.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars So many Mustangs, too few pictures...., December 30, 2004

By 

Michael Brusselers (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mustang Forty Years (Hardcover)

I was disappointed! Lots of pictures, very few cars. I didn't know that in '69-'70 that the only interesting Mustangs were of the Boss 429, or Boss 302 varieties, with the exception of a couple of Mach One's (which outsold both bosses at over ten to one). The '71-'73 Stangs though having 4 distinct grills during the period picture only the two Mach style grills. Pick any period you get too many photographs of too few types of cars. Even then, the case of the Shelby Mexico, a warmed over 302 coupe, they mention the interesting roofline without really showing it. Even the writing was suspect, Mustangs didn't exist in a vacuum. Sales slipped, but it had a lot to do with the market getting saturated by other manufacturers as well as competition from in house from the likes of the Cougar, Capri, and even Maverick. Those high sales of the past were of primarily bread and butter machines, which this book pretty much ignores. Save your money and go to the next Mustang show in your area, you'll see more Mustangs not just the ones that appear to excite the authors.