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Gallery of Concept Mustangs: Celebrate the Mustang’s 60th Anniversary
Ford Mustang, the best-selling sports coupe in America as of 2023, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. To celebrate, take a look at some of the "Mustangs That Never Were".
This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.
Gallery of Concept Mustangs: Celebrate the Mustang’s 60th Anniversary
Photo credit: Ford
Avanti/Allegro Concept
As the Avventura progressed from its initial sketches to a tangible design model, modifications were made that included replacing the hatchback with a trunk and altering the rear seat to a traditional forward-facing setup. Initially referred to internally as the Avanti, the vehicle was renamed Allegro. This change in name was probably due to Studebaker having launched its Avanti coupe around the same period. Photo credit: Ford
1961 - 62 Two-seater Studies
During the early development stages of the original Mustang, Ford's designers explored several two-seater designs. These concepts were viewed as an economical nod to the early days of the Thunderbird, which had evolved into a larger four-seater by that time. The concept of a two-seat Mustang was revisited multiple times between the initial Mustang 1 concept and the 1992 Mach III. Despite some track-focused Mustangs having their rear seats removed for weight reduction, a strictly two-seat production Mustang has never been made. Photo credit: Ford
1962 Allegro Design Study
In 1962, under the leadership of Gene Bordinat, the design team developed multiple versions of a design study named Allegro. Although the 1965 Mustang that eventually went into production differed significantly in visual details from the Allegro, this design study set the foundational proportions that would characterize most Mustangs for the next fifty years. The notchback coupe design featured the iconic long-hood, short-deck configuration with a compact greenhouse, elements that would emerge from the Rouge factory two years later. Photo credit: Ford
“Bruce Jenner” Design Study
In 1990, Ford designers reviewed several design themes for the successor to the enduring third-generation Mustang. The existing notchback and hatchback styles were set to be consolidated into a singular fastback coupe design. Moving away from the third generation’s departure from traditional design elements, the fourth generation would reintroduce classic features such as the galloping pony in the grille, side scoops, and tri-bar taillamps. However, a gentler design concept known as “Bruce Jenner” was deemed not aggressive enough to carry the Mustang name. Photo credit: Ford
1967 Mach 2 Concept
After the Mustang's record-setting launch in 1964, Ford's design chief Gene Bordinat and the Special Vehicles Group experimented with the Mach 2 concept by reconfiguring its layout. They moved the 289 Hi-Po V8 engine from the front to behind the two seats, considering it as a potential successor to the Shelby Cobra. Despite its mid-engine configuration, the Mach 2 maintained the classic long-hood, short-deck proportions characteristic of a Mustang. However, the Mach 2 concept never progressed beyond the auto show circuit. Photo credit: Ford
1966 Mach 1 Concept
The Mach 1 was unveiled at the 1967 Detroit Auto Show featuring a design more in line with the production Mustangs of that era. Although elements like the low-cut roofline and racing-type fuel cap did not make it into production, the hatchback design was later incorporated into the 1974 Mustang II. Photo credit: Ford
1966 Mach 1 Concept
Photo credit: Ford
1966 Mach 1 Concept
Photo credit: Ford
1967 Allegro II Concept
In 1967, Ford designers revisited an early Mustang design concept from 1962, giving it a fresh form and a new name. They started with the Avanti/Allegro fastback coupe and made significant modifications: the greenhouse was replaced with a speedster-style low-cut windshield and rollbar, flying buttresses were added to the rear deck, and the rear end was completely redesigned. This updated concept was named the Allegro II. Photo credit: Ford
1980 Mustang RSX concept
The RSX, designed by the Italian Ghia design studio, was envisioned as a rally-oriented version of the new third-generation Mustang, which was introduced with the Fox-body platform in 1979. The RSX featured a track that was one inch wider and a wheelbase that was 5.6 inches shorter compared to the standard road-going Mustang. It also boasted additional ride height, essential for handling the off-road segments of European rallies. Photo credit: Ford
1970 Mustang Milano Concept
The Mustang Milano concept was first unveiled at the February 1970 Chicago Auto Show, where it showcased a nearly horizontal rear deck and a sharply extended nose, features that would appear on the 1971 production model. Beyond these elements, however, the Milano bore little resemblance to any production Mustang. In fact, the design that most significantly reflected the Milano's profile was the Falcon XB coupe, which was released in the mid-1970s for the Australian market. Photo credit: Ford
1966 Mustang Station Wagon
In the mid-1960s, Ford designers explored several ideas for a Mustang station wagon, including building at least one functional prototype based on a 1966 coupe. Another design study incorporated features intended for updated models later in the decade. The Mustang wagons that are known were all three-door versions, aligning more with the European "shooting brake" style rather than the typical American family station wagon.
1966 Mustang Station Wagon
Photo credit: Ford
“Rambo” Design Study
This alternative design, nicknamed "Rambo," was considered too radical for production. Photo credit: Ford
1965 Four-door Mustang
When dealing with a product as hugely successful as the Mustang, it's natural to explore ways to expand its appeal. Initially based on the compact Falcon's platform, there was consideration of a four-door Mustang, which would have essentially brought the concept full circle by adding two additional doors to the iconic pony car. However, to the relief of Mustang enthusiasts, this idea was ultimately not pursued. Photo credit: Ford
1992 Mach III Concept
The Mach III concept offered an early glimpse into the new design direction planned for the fourth-generation Mustang. Classic features such as the grille pony badge, side scoops, and tri-bar taillamps were incorporated into the 1994 Mustang. However, elements like the two-seater configuration and the low-cut speedster windshield from the Mach III never made it into the regular production models of the Mustang. Photo credit: Ford
1961 Avventura, Avanti, Allegro Concept
From late 1961 to mid-1962, Ford designers experimented with various design themes for a sporty coupe using the Falcon compact's platform. Each concept was assigned an internal name to facilitate discussion. One fastback design underwent several name changes, starting as Avventura, then to Avanti, and finally settling on Allegro. Initially sketched with a hatchback and a rear-facing second row seat, this design never reached production. However, a version of this fastback profile was later selected as the third body style for the Mustang. Photo credit: Ford