- April 17 marks World Mustang Day where owners and enthusiasts honour the legacy of this iconic vehicle
- The sixth-generation Mustang was launched in South Africa in 2015 as the first version produced in right-hand drive for global markets.
- Legacy continued in 2024 with introduction of seventh-generation Mustang GT and Dark Horse
- The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD has made history as the first American-brand vehicle to complete a lap of Germany’s renowned Nürburgring Nordschleife in under seven minutes
April 17 marks World Mustang Day, a celebration of one of the most legendary nameplates in automotive history. First unveiled on this day in 1964 at the New York World’s Fair, the Ford Mustang became an instant sensation, redefining the sports car segment and securing its place as an American icon. Each year, Ford enthusiasts come together to honour this legendary vehicle.
It’s an automotive story that began in an unusual way but epitomises Mustang’s unanimous and instant appeal. On 15 April 1964, an American named Gail Wise would, unbeknown to her, make worldwide history by becoming the first Mustang owner. Wise instantly fell in love with a skylight blue convertible Mustang, and with her very first teacher’s pay cheque bought the car two days before the official world premiere.
The Mustang gave rise to the ‘Pony car’ segment, and has inspired generations of passionate drivers ever since.
“The Mustang is one of the most iconic, recognisable and revered cars in the world. The original model was conceived as an affordable coupe combining luxury and performance in a compact sporty design, and these continue to be the defining attributes of the latest seventh-generation Mustang,” says Sunil Sewmohan, Director Product at Ford South Africa.
Over the past six decades Mustang has been an unrivalled success. In the United States, a record 418 812 Mustangs were sold in the first year, it topped the 1 million mark a year later and surpassed 10 million sales in 2018. It has consistently led the sports car segment in the US since launch, and held the accolade of world’s best-selling sports car globally for more than a decade.
Mustang in South Africa
The sixth-generation Mustang was launched in South Africa in 2015. This was made possible being the first generation produced in right-hand drive for global markets. The Mustang range included standard models and limited-edition versions such as the Bullitt, Mach 1 and California Special – making them highly sought-after amongst automotive enthusiasts. More than 4 200 Mustangs have been sold in South Africa to date.
This includes the seventh-generation Mustang GT which was launched in South Africa late last year. It is powered by an advanced fourth-generation 5.0-litre Coyote V8 powertrain. The new model incorporates an edgier yet timeless exterior design along with the most technologically advanced, driver-centric cockpit of any Mustang to date.
The Mustang GT has further solidified its position as a top contender in the sports car segment, earning recognition as a finalist in the 2025 South African Car of the Year Competition.
An exhilarating new addition to the current line-up is the Mustang Dark Horse, which matches sinister looks with a specially-modified 5.0-litre V8 engine. The Dark Horse is an exclusive model that looks mean and purposeful, and delivers the thrill and excitement of a thoroughbred V8 sports car, whether driving it on the road or taking it to the track.
Mustang at the Movies
From its classic fastback silhouette to its unmistakable growl, the Mustang has remained a cultural touchstone, appearing in countless films and television series. It first roared onto the silver screen in 1964 and has since starred in some of Hollywood’s most memorable chase scenes.
One of the earliest box office appearances of the Ford Mustang was in the James Bond classic Goldfinger. In a memorable chase scene, Bond is driven over winding Swiss mountain roads in what became known as the ’64-and-a-half Mustang convertible.
Another early Mustang cameo came in the 1966 motor racing epic Grand Prix. The film’s star, James Garner, drove a 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 through the scenic roads above Monte Carlo following the movie’s opening race sequence.
Perhaps the most iconic Mustang in film history is the 1967 Ford Mustang 390 GT Fastback, made famous by Steve McQueen in Bullitt (1968). Its legendary car chase through the hilly streets of San Francisco cemented the Mustang’s place in Hollywood lore. The Highland Green model even inspired the Mustang Bullitt tribute car, which was released in limited numbers in South Africa in 2019.
More recently, Gone in 60 Seconds featured Nicolas Cage behind the wheel of a gunmetal grey 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500, known as Eleanor. The film sparked a cult following among car enthusiasts and street racers, leading to an entire industry dedicated to recreating Eleanor clones from standard ’67 Mustangs.
Mustang GTD Sets a New Record
With the introduction of the 2025 Mustang GTD as a limited-production, ultra-high-performance vehicle Ford is taking the challenge to the world’s best sports cars.
Designed in collaboration with Multimatic, the Mustang GTD features advanced aerodynamics, a semi-active suspension system, and a rear-mounted 8-speed dual-clutch transaxle for near-perfect weight distribution. Powered by a supercharged 5.2L V8 targeting over 800 horsepower (almost 600kW), it is the most powerful street-legal Mustang ever.
Inside, the GTD offers a driver-focused cabin with Recaro seats, titanium paddle shifters, and premium materials such as Miko suede, leather, and carbon fibre. Advanced driving technology includes Variable Traction Control, track-ready suspension adjustments, and a titanium active valve exhaust system.
The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD made history as the first American-brand vehicle to complete a lap of Germany’s renowned Nürburgring Nordschleife in under seven minutes. Driven by Multimatic Motorsports driver Dirk Müller, the 815-horsepower Mustang GTD achieved an officially certified lap time of 6:57.685. According to the Nürburgring’s official records, this marks the fifth-fastest time ever recorded by a stock production sports car and makes the Mustang GTD only the sixth vehicle in its class to break the seven-minute barrier.
Mustang Delivers on GT3 Promise
The Mustang legacy continues in motorsports, with a comprehensive racing programme developed for the current model in some of the world’s most competitive and iconic events and series. The Mustang GT3 claimed victory in one of the most demanding endurance races in motorsports, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, securing its first global GT3 win in January this year.
Ford has a storied legacy at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Mustang claimed its first 24-hour race victory here in 1967 and now boasts 10 total wins, including iconic events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans where it finished on the podium first time out in 2024.
Today, on World Mustang Day, fans and owners celebrate not just a car, but a cultural phenomenon that has stood the test of time.
Click to view the recent video of the creation of the Mustang GTD supercar.
