Bizarre Mustang Panoramic Roof Patent Makes Pony Car Look Its Age
Ford’s Mustang is over 50-years-old, but does it really need to be fighting pattern baldness like most of us that age?
If you ever want to see some wild and wacky stuff, spend some time perusing the thousands of automotive patents out there in the world. Ford, perhaps more than any other manufacturer, has patented some pretty crazy tech. Things like a built in bike rack and spill-proof cup holders for the Mustang, for starters. But while we’re all for panoramic/glass roofs on vehicles, this latest Mustang patent that popped up on Google Patents looks, well, a little strange. But then again, perhaps Ford is just trying to make the Mustang’s looks more accurately reflect its age?
At least, that’s the first thing we thought when we looked at these images. The windshield glass extends far beyond where the roof of any other Mustang starts. But that, unfortunately, makes the car look like it’s balding. While this is the sort of thing that affects a lot of 50-plus year-olds, we’re not so sure it works in this case. The look is more reminiscent of those flying cars with bubble tops we saw back in the ’50s and ’60s, on TV and at custom car shows.
The point of the patent, however, goes beyond just making the Mustang look like it has male pattern baldness. There’s actually a pair of roof rails in place for strength. A front and rear member join forces to provide added strength. Which is important if you ever find yourself the wrong way up on some back road. These beams and bows are designed to evenly distribute the force of impact across the roofline and entire body. Which obviously makes them inherently safer for occupants.
The patent also mentions that this design could be used in a variety of vehicles, not just the Mustang. That includes not just vehicles with panoramic roofs as seen here, but also traditional fixed metal ones. Of course, glass roof Mustangs remain popular among fans. But whether or not this is a good look to bring back that idea, well, we’re not so sure. After all, it’s enough that most of us are fighting the battles of aging. Does our Mustang have to, also?
Photos: Google Patents
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