This year’s 50th Anniversary for the Mustang has turned up some interesting tidbits on the Ford pony car, but the story of the 1964 “Shorty” two-seater might be one of the most intriguing of all.

The car, which is currently making its way around the show circuit, was actually a Mustang that Ford never wanted in the public.



According to Yahoo! Autos, the car was commissioned by Dearborn Steel Tubing, one of Ford’s suppliers. Designer Vince Gardner built the car using fiberglass panels, and the company even managed to enlarge the 260-cubic-inch V8 to 302 cubic inches, which made one of the most powerful Mustangs of its time. When the “Shorty” Mustang started popping up at car shows, Ford immediately sought to have it crushed, prompting Gardner to hide it in a warehouse.

Read the rest on the Mustang Source homepage.

 

Looks like "Shorty" is going to auction:
https://themustangsource.com/prized-...-600000-12283/

 

This kind of behavior is why I'm not a fan of corporate America most of the time. What does Ford think having this car make the circuit as a show car is going to hurt? Is it somehow going to rob them of Mustang sales? No, if anything it more than likely promotes Mustang sales. Is there some fear that the owner could start mass producing two seat Mustangs and competing against Ford? Any attempt would be an endeavor so wrapped up in legal battles that the car would never see the production line, not to mention that a 65 Mustang would in no way pass modern day NHTSA requirements. The very idea that this car needs to be crushed only demonstrates that narrow minded point of view that inhabits modern day corporate offices, regardless of the company. Its a one of a kind two seat Mustang and that's all it will ever be. Why not just let the public enjoy viewing it and reap the benefits of people who get excited enough to buy their own Mustang? I guess that makes too much sense.