Over ten million units have been built, making the Ford Mustang one of the most important and sought-after sports cars of all time. For more than 50 years, it has embodied the typical American combination of sportiness and suitability for everyday use. In addition to the high-volume vehicles, there were plenty of important special versions "left and right", such as the Shelby variants produced for the car rental company Hertz.
A coffee-table book
Of course, there are already countless books about the first pony car, the trendsetter of the sixties. Donald Farr, publisher of the American magazine "Mustang Monthly" and Tom Loeser, a passionate car photographer, have therefore sought a new approach and tell the story of the cult sports car from the beginning to the present day in the book "Art of the Mustang", based on 29 selected examples:
- Ford Mustang Hardtop (1964 1/2)
- Shelby GT350 School Car (1965)
- Ford Mutang Hardtop 289 (1965)
- Shelby GT350 H (Hertz) (1966)
- Shelby GT351 Drag Car (1966)
- Shelby GT 350 (1967)
- Ford Mustang Trans-Am Coupé (1968)
- Shelby GT350 and GT500 (1968)
- Ford Mustang CJ Fastback (1968 1/2)
- Ford Mustang Boss 429 (1969)
- Ford Mustang Mach 1 SCJ (1969)
- Ford Mustang Boss 302 and Boss 302 (Scheuenfund) (1970)
- Ford Mustang Boss 351 (1971)
- Ford Mustang Grande (1972)
- Ford Mustang Cobra II (1976)
- Ford Mustang GT 350 20th Anniversary (1984)
- Ford Mustang SVO (1986)
- Ford Mustang JBA Dominator (1989)
- Ford Mustang SVT Cobra (1993)
- Ford Mustang Cobra "Hardtop" Convertible (1995)
- Ford Mustang Bullitt GT (2001)
- Ford Mustang SVT Cobra Convertible (2003)
- Ford Mustang Mach 1 (2003)
- Ford Mustang GT/CS (2007)
- Shelby GT 500 (2008)
- Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca (2012)
- Ford Mustang Cobra Jet (2014)
- Shelby GT500 (2014)
- Ford Mustang "50 Year Limited Edition" (2015)
As the list shows, all relevant model periods are represented. Each car is embedded in the story and described in detail by author Donald Farr. Interesting details are also revealed about the photographed example.
Nevertheless, the book is of course more of a photo book than a technical bible. It impresses with its high-quality studio photos, which are supplemented with historical advertising photos, brochures and documents. The only thing missing would be sound samples.
Around six to eight pages can be devoted to each car, the majority of which are taken up by large-format pictures.
Not just for Mustang fans
The book is certainly aimed at Mustang fans, but also at people in general who are interested in American cars - both older and newer.
Anyone looking for detailed technical data or a complete model history will not be happy with the illustrated book "Art of the Mustang" alone. For everyone else, however, it is worth taking a look at the translated book (although a few English expressions probably survived the process unintentionally). Especially as it is offered at a reasonable price of EUR 39.90 (no doubt also thanks to the printing in China) for its size and quality as a bound volume with 240 pages.
Bibliographical information
- Title: Art of the Mustang
- Authors: Tom Loeser / Donald Farr
- Language: German
- Edition: First edition, September 2016
- Publisher: Motorbuch Verlag
- Format: Hardcover, 23 x 30.5 cm
- Scope: 240 pages, 240 color pictures
- ISBN: 978-3-613-03912-4
- Price: 39.90 €
- Buy/order: Online at amazon.de, online at Motorbuch Verlagor at the relevant bookstore
