2018 Ford Mustang GT

Number: HDH31-D510

Year: 2023 - 06/08

Collection: HW Stars & Stripes

Born: 2013, Dearborn, MI

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Co.

The sixth generation of the Ford Mustang debuted on December 5, 2013, with same-day media events in Dearborn, Michigan, Los Angeles, California, New York City, New York, Barcelona, Spain, Shanghai, China, and Sydney, Australia. The 2015 Mustang marked the 50th anniversary of continuous Mustang production, which began in March 1964 in advance of the debut of the original Mustang at the 1964 New York World's Fair on April 17, 1964, in Flushing, Queens.

Development of the 2015 Mustang, codenamed "S550", began in 2009 shortly after the updated 2010 model year Mustang went on sale. In December 2010, an exterior design theme proposal by Kemal Curic from Ford's Cologne, Germany design studios was selected by design management. During mid-stage development, Curic's original exterior design proposal was eventually rejected by Ford executives, resulting in rapid design changes.

After reviewing 3 different exterior theme proposals (A, B, and C) in design clinics in September 2012, the final exterior design (Theme A) was approved by Ford management, with the final design freeze occurring in December 2012, 20 months ahead of originally scheduled August 2014 production. The interior design program began in the spring of 2010. By late 2011, a final interior proposal was settled on and was a combination of Themes A & B. In June 2012, the final interior design was frozen.

The first test mules in 2010 model year bodies were spotted earlier in June 2012, and the first S550 prototypes were built five months later in May 2013.