The pony car is a class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964. It describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image. A small variety of cars, the most popular kind of automobile. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ...

Origins of the breed

The pony car (and of course the Mustang itself) had its beginnings at Ford Motor Company in the late 1950s following the demise of the original, two-seat Ford Thunderbird. While the Thunderbird's transformation into a larger, four-seat personal luxury car, starting with the 1958 model year, proved to be successful in sales terms, dealers and buyers alike lamented the loss of the two-seat 'Bird, which served as an image leader for the company and a traffic-builder in showrooms, attracting buyers who would ultimately purchase more mundane automobiles. For several years Ford explored various plans for reviving some equivalent of the early Thunderbird. The Ford Motor Company (often referred to simply as Ford; sometimes nicknamed FoMoCo), NYSE: F is a multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles. ... // Events and trends This map shows two essential global spheres during the Cold War in 1959. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ford Thunderbird The Ford Thunderbird is a car manufactured in the USA by the Ford Motor Company. ... Ford Thunderbird In the United States, a personal luxury car was a specific automobile market segment. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The model year of a product is a number used to describe approximately when a product was produced. ...

An added impetus came from Chevrolet, with the popularity of the Corvair Monza late in 1960. The initial Corvair had been positioned as an economy car, but it was much more successful with the plusher trim and sportier image of the Monza model, which sold around 144,000 in 1961. Ford responded with sportier Futura and Futura Sprint versions of its Ford Falcon, and Chrysler Corporation with the Plymouth Valiant Signet and Dodge Dart GT. Chevrolet, often nicknamed Chevy, is a brand of automobile, now part of General Motors. ... The Chevrolet Corvair was a rear-engined automobile produced by General Motors from 1960 to 1969. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Ford Falcon is a car which has been manufactured by Ford since 1960. ... The Chrysler Corporation (NYSE: DCX) is a formerly United States-based automobile manufacturer. ... The Plymouth Valiant was an automobile manufactured by the Plymouth division of Chrysler Corporation in the United States from 1960 to 1976. ... The Dodge Dart was an automobile built by the Dodge Motors Division of the Chrysler Corporation, then headquartered in Highland Park, Michigan. ...

Some executives, however, principally Ford's Lee Iacocca, believed that sporty versions of mundane compact cars only scratched the surface of the potential market. During this period there was a strong influx of young buyers with disposable income and a taste for vehicles with a younger image than a standard sedan, and Iacocca's marketing studies revealed that if a unique-looking sporty car could be offered at an affordable price, it would find many buyers. Ford's response to this demand was the Mustang, launched on April 17, 1964, which proved to be an enormous success, selling 680,000 cars in its first extended model year. Lee Iacocca Lee Iacocca (born October 12, 1924 in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American industrialist. ... The Rambler American introduced in the late 1950s was an early compact car. ... A Ford Taurus, a recognizable sedan. ... April 17 is the 107th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (108th in leap years). ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ...

Defining the class

The Mustang provided the template for the new class of automobiles. Although it was based on the platform of the Falcon, it had a unique body (offered as a hardtop coupe and a convertible) with distinctive, "long hood, short deck" proportions. In basic form it was mechanically mundane, with a 170 cu. in. (2.8L) six-cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission. It carried an attractive base price of $2,368, and had an extensive option list offering a range of V8 engines, Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission or four-speed manual, radios, air conditioning, power steering, and other accessories. A V8 Mustang with all available options would cost about 60% more than a basic Six, which made it an extremely profitable model for Ford. The word platform is used in several different contexts including various topics: In rail transport, a railway platform is an area at a train station to alight from/embark on trains or trams. ... A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. ... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupé (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ... Saab 900 Convertible Convertible can also refer to a convertible (security) A convertible is an automobile with a folding or retracting roof. ... Fords first straight-6 engine was introduced in the 1941 Ford. ... This is an article about manual transmission in general; for guidance on how to drive with a manual transmission, see Manual transmission driving technique. ... The Windsor engine is a 90-degree small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. ... Cruise-O-Matic was the registered tradename for Ford Motor Company automatic transmissions, first introduced in 1958. ... An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the car or truck moves, thus freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually. ... Note: in the broadest sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. ... Power steering is a system for reducing the steering effort on cars by using an external power source to assist in turning the wheels. ...

The requirements were therefore set:

• Attractive, sporty styling
• Affordable base price
• Extensive options, including six-cylinder and V8 engines
• Aggressive, youth-oriented marketing and advertising.

While most of the pony cars offered more powerful engines and performance packages, enough to qualify some as muscle cars, a substantial number were sold with six-cylinder engines or mundane, "cooking" V8s, with the high-performance models largely limited to drag racing, road racing, or racing homologation purposes. The straight-6 (also inline 6, I-6, or I6) is an internal combustion engine with six cylinders aligned in a single row. ... The Liberty V8 aircraft engine clearly shows the configuration :See also V8 (beverage) A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders. ... It has been suggested that Product marketing be merged into this article or section. ... Generally speaking, advertising is the promotion of goods, services, companies and ideas, usually by an identified sponsor. ... Muscle car is a term for high-performance automobiles, principally referring to American models produced between 1964 to 1971. ... A Top Fuel dragster, the ultimate in drag racing. ... Road racing can be a term involving road running, road bicycle races, or automobile races. ... Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologos for agree, which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority. ...

Pony car competitors

Despite the immediate success of the Mustang, many (including some within Ford) feared that the bubble would soon burst, and other manufacturers were surprisingly slow to respond. The first competitor was the Plymouth Barracuda, which actually went on sale on April 1, 1964, about two weeks before the Mustang. The Barracuda was not a direct response to the Mustang, which had not yet debuted (although Chrysler was certainly aware of the upcoming model), but a low-cost way to expand the sporty appeal of the Valiant. Chrysler's precarious financial situation meant that the Barracuda was compromised, with insufficient distinction from the Valiant and styling that drew mixed reactions; its sales were a fraction of the Mustang's. The NIgger Killer was a twenty-door compact/midsize penis manufactured by the Dick Sucking Perfessionals(DSP) division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1964 through 1974. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ...

Initially General Motors believed that the restyled 1965 Corvair would be an adequate challenger for the Mustang, but when it became clear that the Corvair itself was doomed, the more conventional Chevrolet Camaro was introduced, going on sale for the 1967 model year, at the time the Mustang was entering its second generation. They were presently joined by the Camaro-based Pontiac Firebird, the Mercury Cougar, and, in 1968, the AMC Javelin. Dodge joined the party belatedly with the 1970 Dodge Challenger, an enlarged version of the Barracuda. You may be looking for the arena found in Vancouver, see GM place General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is a United States-based automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Vauxhall. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... Modified 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The model year of a product is a number used to describe approximately when a product was produced. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... 1973 AMC Javelin AMX Pierre Cardin edition The AMC Javelin was a sporty coupe_type automobile in the pony car class built by American Motors Corporation between 1968 and 1974. ... Dodge is a brand name of automobiles and light to heavy-duty trucks, marketed by the German-based DaimlerChrysler AG from 1928 to the present. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 1974 Dodge Challenger 2006 Dodge Challenger concept Dodge Challenger was the name of two different automobile models marketed by the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation in the 1970s. ...

The pony car was primarily an American phenomenon, but in 1969 Ford created a highly successful European equivalent in the Ford Capri. Sharing most of its underpinnings and its four- and six-cylinder engines with a mundane model (the Ford Cortina), it had a combination of style and image very much in the spirit of the Mustang. The European Ford Capri (sold in the U.S. as a Mercury Capri through 1978 at Lincoln-Mercury dealerships) was last imported for the 1978 model year, and the nameplate was placed on a rebadged Fox-body Mustang until it survived through 1987. 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... World map showing Europe Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiogeographic one. ... Ford Capri Mk III 1. ... The Ford Cortina was a midsize car sold by Ford of Britain. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

While sales were strong throughout the end of the 1960s, the greater value of the pony cars was in bringing buyers, particularly the crucial youth market, into the fold. In 1970 Car and Driver reported that while very few pony car drivers bought a second pony car, around 50% moved on to purchase another car of the same make. Nevertheless, even by 1969 sales were beginning to slide, dropping to 9% of the total market from a peak of 13% in 1967. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... Cover of Car and Driver from age of psychedelic lettering Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. ...

Expansion and decline

As with most automobile redesigns, each subsequent generation of the pony cars grew somewhat larger, heavier, costlier, and more plush. Big-block engines joined the option list, and both performance and comfort options proliferated. The 1973 Mustang, for example, was 8.5 inches (215.9 mm) longer, 5.9 inches (150 mm) wider, and over 600 lb (272 kg) heavier than the original edition. The Dodge Challenger, meanwhile, was only slightly smaller and lighter than Dodge's intermediate cars. The added bulk left the standard six and V8 engines sorely pressed, while the introduction of powerful big-blocks underscored the limitations of the pony cars' suspension, brakes, and tires. A big-block engine is a North American V8 in a family of engines which generally have greater than 6 litres (360 cubic inches) of displacement; factory engine sizes reached a peak of 8. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... A mid-size car, frequently referred to as an intermediate, is an automobile with a size between that of a compact and a full-size or standard-size car. ... Suspension may refer to: suspension (chemistry) suspension bridge suspension (music) suspension (vehicle) (system of shock absorbers and supports that connect a vehicle to its wheels) suspension (civil engineering) (system that connects a structure to its foundation, for example in earthquake protection) suspension (topology) suspension (body modification) suspension bondage suspension (figure... A brake is a device for slowing or stopping the motion of a machine, and to keep it from starting to move. ... Firestone tire A tire (U.S. spelling) or tyre (UK spelling) is a roughly toroidal piece of material placed on the circumference of a wheel, either for the purpose of cushioning or to protect the wheel from wear and tear. ...

By 1970 buyers were moving away from the pony cars, either toward smaller compact cars (domestic or imported) or toward larger, more luxurious models. Performance of the hottest pony cars began to erode as a result of emissions controls and the added weight of required safety features. The 1973 Arab Oil Embargo left the bulky pony cars out of step with the marketplace. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Rambler American introduced in the late 1950s was an early compact car. ... This power plant in New Mexico releases sulfur dioxide and particulate matter into the air. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... This article or section should be merged with 1973 energy crisis On October 16th, 1973, as part of the political strategy that included the Yom Kippur War, OPEC cut production of oil, and placed an embargo on shipments of crude oil to the West, with the Netherlands, specifically targetted. ...

The Challenger, Barracuda, and Javelin were cancelled after 1974, and the Camaro and Firebird nearly died at the same time, although they received last-minute stays of execution. The Cougar became an upsale personal luxury twin to the Ford Thunderbird, while the Mustang was reinvented as a luxury compact based on the Ford Pinto. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... The Ford Pinto was a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. ...

Later developments

Despite mediocre performance, the GM pony cars experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late 1970s that insured their survival. The Mustang was redesigned with a renewed sporty image in 1977, prompting Mercury to reenter the pony car market with a Mercury Capri twin based on the new Mustang. Chrysler, beset by financial problems, did not revive the pony car, nor did American Motors Corporation, although Chrysler did offer other front-wheel drive performance models with a similar spirit. The Mustang remained strong, although in the 1980s Ford gave serious consideration to replacing it with a front-drive model (which eventually appeared as the Ford Probe instead). Emissions and fuel economy concerns led many of the latter-day pony cars to offer four-cylinder engines (sometimes with turbocharging), although they were never as popular as six-cylinder and V8 models. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... The name Mercury Capri has been used for several different cars over the years. ... Logo American Motors Corporation (AMC) was an American automobile company, formed in 1954 by the merger of Nash Motors and Hudson. ... Front wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern automobiles, where the engine drives the front wheels. ... The 1980s decade refers to the years from 1980 to 1989, inclusive. ... The Ford Probe was a car produced by Ford between 1989 and 1997, with a redesign in 1993. ... Turbocharger cutaway A turbocharger is an exhaust gas driven compressor used in internal-combustion engines to increase the power output of the engine by increasing the mass of oxygen entering the engine. ...

Declining sales and the popularity of light trucks and sport utility vehicles led to the demise of the Camaro and Firebird after 2002. As of late 2005 only the original pony car, the Mustang, is still in production, although its popularity following its 2005 redesign means that the Camaro will apparently return for the 2009 model year and Dodge's Challenger could return as soon as 2007. A sport utility vehicle (SUV) or off-roader, known in some countries as a four wheel drive, (often abbreviated to 4WD or 4x4 - pronounced four-by-four) or soft roaders, is a type of passenger vehicle which combines the load-hauling and passenger-carrying capacity of a large station wagon... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) will be a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The dilemma facing automakers in offering pony cars (or their spiritual equivalent) today is that few have suitable platforms that are affordable enough to be viable. Unlike the mid-1960s, the large majority of modern compact cars are front-wheel drive, with four- and six-cylinder engines, and the widespread use of monocoque construction makes engineering a specialized body an expensive proposition. Some would argue that the true modern equivalent of the pony car is the sporty compact, such as the performance models of the Honda Civic and Dodge Neon, although enthusiasts of the traditional, rear-drive, V8-powered cars are skeptical of such comparisons. Monocoque (French for single shell) or unibody is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... The Honda Civic is an automobile manufactured by Honda. ... The Neon (also called the Dodge SX 2. ...

Pony cars of the 1964-1974 are highly prized collectibles today, especially the high-performance models.