* Concept and Design: The Mustang's genesis was a result of market research indicating a desire for a sporty, affordable car. Ford's design team, led by Lee Iacocca, developed several prototypes and concepts, eventually settling on a design that combined sleek styling with practicality. The "pony car" concept, drawing inspiration from European sports cars but with a more Americanized approach, was central to its design philosophy.
* Engineering and Development: The engineering team worked to create a car that was both exciting to drive and affordable to produce. This involved selecting appropriate chassis components, powertrains (engines and transmissions), and interior features. They had to balance performance characteristics with manufacturing costs to meet the target price point.
* Manufacturing Process: Once the design and engineering were finalized, Ford began tooling up its manufacturing plants to produce the Mustang. This involved building new assembly lines, procuring parts from various suppliers, and training workers on the assembly process. Ford leveraged its existing manufacturing infrastructure to streamline production and keep costs low.
* Assembly: The first production Mustangs were assembled on the assembly line, a process involving hundreds of workers adding components and sub-assemblies to the car's chassis. This was a highly standardized and efficient process, allowing Ford to produce large numbers of vehicles quickly.
In short, it wasn't a single person or a single event, but a massive collaborative effort involving hundreds, even thousands of people across various departments at Ford and its supplier network. The first production Mustang rolled off the assembly line at the Ford Dearborn plant in Michigan on March 9, 1964. That specific car marked the culmination of this lengthy process, not its beginning.
