Ford was the first big-time automaker in America and one of the first popular mass produced lines around the globe. Henry Ford single-handedly ushered in a new era of automobiles with his early releases, but none would go on to identify an era like the release of the Ford Mustang in the 1960s. American muscle was already a genre thanks to Chevy, but Ford took it to a new level.

The Mustang is still one of Ford’s most popular models, with millions sold every year, but the first release in 1964 was something well ahead of its time.

Based on the Ford Falcon, the Mustang was designed to be a “pony car” – a two-door coupe sporty car with a short rear deck and long hood. It has been described using many terms, such as a sports car and roadster, but most Mustang enthusiasts know the brand as simply Ford muscle.

Ford released its Mustang to the public at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. A debate rages on about where Ford got the name for its car – either the fighter jet or the breed of horse. Regardless, the car became a big hit with the public, and when the first production models rolled off the line in late 1964, Ford had an instant classic.

Unlike a lot of the Euro-style cars and other sports cars on the market, Ford still managed to keep their “family” appeal by installing a back seat. So the Mustang was never intended to be a legitimate sports car. It was powerful, however, boasting a 289 (horsepower) small-block V8 and a cutting edge carburetor system.

The 1964 Mustang was available in either a hard top or convertible, with a range of colors including red, white, off-white, grey, and more. Over 263,000 Mustangs were sold in the first year of production, with a fully loaded model available for around $3,000. Ford had managed to appeal to the masses while carving out a niche that has lasted nearly 50 years.

The new style of the pony car was something that Ford owners appreciated. Most cars at the time were only getting larger, and Ford realized it needed to improve and reinvent the Falcon series. The Mustang weighed only 2,500 pounds, was as sleek and stylish as anything on the road, and boasted many comfort-specific features like seating, steering wheel adjustment, and more.

There were also quite a few engine options you could go with when purchasing a Mustang. The 289 was one of the most powerful, but models with smaller, less powerful engines were also selling well.

Ford’s 289 CID V-8 had a four-speed transmission with a Cruise-O-Matic feature. In terms of speed, every Mustang since has been bigger and faster – but for the time, the Mustang 289 was the meanest thing on the road.