The ‘63 Ford Mustang II Concept Is Headed to the Carlisle Ford Nationals

The world changed when the cover came off the Ford Mustang on April 17th, 1964. The lasting impact of that car looms large, and a lot of that hinges on its now-iconic look. Anyone fascinated by the Mustang's distinctive shape is likely curious about the concepts that influenced it, and luckily, a few Mustang prototypes have been documented and still survive. They rarely come out to shows or events to be appreciated by the public, however, so it's a big deal when one goes on display, no matter how briefly, and the 1963 Mustang II Concept you see here is about to have another day in the sun.

Lee Iacocca had a hunch about how the Mustang would be received, and fostered the creation of the Mustang II Concept in the hopes it would energize the public about the direction Ford expected to go with future projects. Its elongated proportions hinted at the Mustang's design trajectory into the late '60s and early '70s, and added some visual excitement to create some buzz about Ford's new pony.

Ford Heritage Vault

It was used for a few events in 1964 before fading into the background. The car even served some time as a test mule, where engineers tried various design changes before implementing them into production cars. That was an interesting choice, considering the Mustang II Concept has a steel body that is five inches longer than the production first-generation Mustang and is also three inches shorter between the roofline and the rocker panels. Surprisingly, the hand-finished upholstery somehow survived the entire time the car was a utility item.

Ford Heritage VaultFord Heritage VaultA multitude of unique parts can be found both under the hood and in the interior.

The car has stood the test of time and remains a unique and relatively hidden part of the early Mustang story. It's currently housed by the Detroit Historical Society, which means it is more or less hidden away except for special visits. This year, it is making a rare appearance at the Carlisle Ford Nationals, held at Carlisle Fairgrounds in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, from May 31 through June 2. Plan your trip to see this piece of Mustang history soon. After all, who knows when this artifact will come out of hiding next?

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