One of the most successful cars in American history, the Ford Mustang is ingrained in Americana. The original Mustang was created as an affordable, stylish, and sporty alternative to compact coupes. The Mustang was so wildly successful in its first years that it created a whole new class of automobiles, the pony car. Today, the Mustang is the only pony car that has seen continuous production since debuting. Here's a look at this icon throughout the years.

First Generation (1964-1973) 

The first generation was derived from the Ford Falcon compact car. The goal was to create a practical and stylish alternative for car buyers, and it worked. The Mustang was Ford's most successful debut since the Model T.

The Mustang received a mid-cycle refresh in 1969 that added substantially to the overall size of the car, both in dimensions and weight. However, it was generally believed that Ford lost its step by trying to gear the car more for luxury buyers instead of the sporting crowd.