Ford Archive Footage Shows a Mid-Engine V4 Mustang Prototype
Ford’s original V4 Mustang prototype was all show, and all go, too.
If you’re like us, and you occasionally enjoy nerding-out to some vintage Ford motorsport trivia, then you’ve probably visited The Henry Ford Flickr page. For motion pictures, however, we’ve stumbled upon this awesome video to share with you.
In the early 1960s Ford actually let their designers and engineers off the leash a little bit in their Research and Engineering Center. From the video, we are told this was the playground where the accountants had little influence and folks behind the pencils and machinery could “…explore new concepts for automotive designs, probe new ideas, and develop very special kinds of research vehicles to prove out new features and new ideas.” The natural result of that is the 1962 V4 Mustang prototype.
A radically different direction
Throughout the video, you’ll learn about why Ford decided on the styling direction, mechanical setup, testing. Surprisingly, the car was cobbled together with a lot of parts already in production. The engine, a lot of drive line components, and even brakes were borrowed from Ford of Europe operations shortening the development of the prototype, and ensuring it was fully functional. Testing at Daytona International Speedway ensured the car drove exactly as it looked.
This led to the all-important public debut. Ford likes to have a big splash with their intros, and the narrator notes: “Stirling Moss greeted the crowd at the premier showing of the Mustang at Watkins Glen, New York on a leisurely lap before the start of the Unites States Grand Prix.”
Forever a prototype
“Why didn’t it go into production?” While it’s a valid question to ask, the V4 Mustang prototype was never meant to be a production model. “Although there are no plans to bring the car into production, you undoubtedly will see some of its features incorporated into other cars we do bring into the market.”
Two years later, the production Mustang we know and love had its own debut, and without a doubt perfectly filled the niche of a sporty coupe.
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