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It was back in 1964 that the Ford Motor Company launched a brand-new model called the Mustang. The Mustang has turned 60 this year and Ford has not let that milestone go unnoticed without some salute to the past.

One thing Ford has done is produce a special Vermillion red and Ebony black logo as a link back to Mustang’s beginning. Ford wanted to pay tribute to the iconic American car that has been one of the most recognised shapes for as long as most of us have lived.

This 2024 logo takes its design inspiration from the badging and wheel centre caps from the original 1964 show car that debuted at the World Auto Fair that year. The retro-themed badges are red with black stripes with "60 Years" text as a reminder of how long the Mustang has been around.

The 60th anniversary celebration doesn’t end there. Ford has released a special feature that will be available to all 7th-generation Mustang owners.

In April 2024, Ford made a software update available to 7th-gen Mustang owners at no cost. This software enables these owners to change the gauges to a retro gauge cluster styled after the 1960’s model via an OTA (Over-the-Air) update.

The update includes a 1960’s inspired design for the digital gauge cluster, adding a nostalgic touch to the modern car. Ford is also offering a limited 60th Anniversary Package for the 2025 Mustang, featuring special edition details for a select number of cars.

Ford told owners that they just need to turn on the Automatic Software Updates in their Settings menu through their vehicle’s SYNC-4 touchscreen to receive it.

What about the historical competition to the Ford Mustang? Well, the main two rivals have mostly been the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Charger and Challenger.

If we look first at the Chevrolet Camaro, we know that it ceased production in December 2023. General Motors are on record saying that their evaluation of the company's portfolio is being reduced so they can pursue progress towards a fully EV future.

This evaluation may have to be reassessed soon as the EV market has not shown the growth that was first expected.

So, why is Dodge discontinuing the Charger and Challenger? The two main reasons why the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger were discontinued in 2023 are because of the new focuses and new directions for Stellantis.

Stellantis is the parent company of Dodge and it is heavily investing firstly in EV’s (electrified vehicles) and secondly in SUV’s (Sport Utility Vehicles).

That leaves the Ford Mustang as the only surviving V8 powered American muscle car. No performance enhancements were announced for the 60th anniversary, the Mustang GT will continue with its 486HP and 500HP powertrains in the Dark Horse trim.

The Mustang was a sales hit the moment it launched back in 1964 and has proven to be a very popular vehicle in recent years as well. Ford claims it was America’s best-selling sports car last year based on 2023 U.S. new car registrations.

The Ford Mustang is sold in 85 different markets around the world, we think it will continue to be popular for many years to come.

October 2024