Back in 1964, Americans instantly fell in love with the original pony car. Ford shook the automotive world with its fun, fashionable, affordable sports car, the Mustang, and set the bar high for others who would follow. The Mustang didn't look like anything else on the road. It packed power and handling--attracting racers and enthusiasts alike--and it ignited a passion among Americans for a new generation of automobiles that would last for decades to come.
In a few years, others in Detroit followed Ford's lead. Chevrolet answered with the Camaro in 1967, followed by Dodge in 1970 with the Challenger. You could argue that Plymouth had the Barracuda in 1964 but it wasn't what you’d consider "sporty" until the late '60s. The big three competed with their own versions of the pony car, each with their own twist on the concept. The Mopars, for example, tended to offer big power, while the Mustang and Camaro achieved a nice balance of speed and handling. Every few years sheet metal was updated, resulting in some of the coolest looking vehicles to ever come out of the '60s and '70s.
Fast forward about four decades and Ford revived the pony car with a beautiful Mustang throwback. At this point, both the Camaro and Challenger had (sadly) been discontinued. Ford kept churning out Mustangs in various forms and remained the last thread in the fabric of America's pony car history (unless you count the Chevrolet Corvette). Although its styling suffered during parts of the '70s and '80s, the Mustang was still going fairly strong until Ford gave it a makeover in 2005. A beautifully done, modern rendering of the car's original styling, the new Mustang recaptured the hearts of car lovers young and old, preparing the industry for a pony car rebirth.
For a second time, Chevrolet and Dodge followed in the footsteps of the Blue Oval with their own retro coupes. Although very successful, the new Challenger (introduced in 2008), and the new Camaro (resurrected in 2009), have struggled to keep up with the Mustang. Ford simply had a jump start on the ‘blast from the past’ effect and have left the remaining members of the Detroit 3 playing catch up, just like the first time more than 45 years ago.
You may be thinking by now that this writer is a die-hard Mustang fan, has a Blue Oval belt buckle, doesn’t have any respect for GM or Mopar, and defends the honor and heritage of Ford at the drop of a hat. Actually, I'm a Camaro guy, believe it or not. To be honest, though, I've got to give respect were respect is due. Ford has done something really special with the Mustang. They have given it unforgettable styling (which any gearhead can appreciate), legendary performance and room for upgrades. Once again, Ford has used the Mustang to define its class and set the automotive world on fire. It has played a major role in the survival of the pony car class.