Fifty years ago, the Ford Motor Company debuted its iconic Mustang at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. To mark the occasion, the car company cut up one of its new cars into three pieces and reassembled it on the top of the Empire State Building. In honor of the anniversary, the company has decided to re-create its original celebratory stunt...only this time with a more modern version. A prototype of the 2015 Mustang will be cut into even more pieces than the original 1964 car and will be ferried to the top of the second-largest building in the city. The newest model will be on display to visitors on April 16 and 17.
Here, a Ford emplyee works on the 1963 prototype for what would eventually be called the Mustang II.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
The 1965 Ford Mustang fastback on display outside the Ford Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair during its debut on April 17, 1964.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
During the same World's Fair, the 1965 Ford Mustang hardtop was displayed inside the Ford Pavilion.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
An advertisement providing a soft introduction of the Mustang to the far-flung public in 1965.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
The Mustang was positioned three different ways at its launch: as a practical car for young families, as a European-style sports car, and as a glamorous touring car. This 1965 ad is focused on the more luxurious touring car aspect and highlights the Tiffany Award for American Design Excellence that was presented to Ford following its launch.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
A blue 1966 Ford Mustang GT Fastback.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
"Take the Mustang Pledge" is one of the few formalized slogans used for the car, which is shown in a 1967 ad employing rebellious imagery.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
A still from Bullitt starring Steve McQueen, 1968.
Everett Collection
Welcome to the swingin' '60s! This full spread ad from 1969 highlights the very muscular, redesigned ‘69 Mustang with a matching, bikini-clad girl, urging potential customers that "if you haven't got a past yet, get a Mustang. Now."
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
A brown 1976 Ford Mustang II hatchback.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
Farrah Fawcett poses on a 1976 Ford Mustang Cobra II in the TV series Charlie's Angels.
Everett Collection
An orange 1979 Ford Mustang Cobra.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
James Belushi drives a Mustang while starring in K-9 in 1989.
Everett Collection
Kick-Ass stars Aaron Johnson and Christopher Mintz-Plasse pose in costume in front of a fire-red Mustang in 2010.
Everett Collection
In a return of the great car culture films of the 1960s and '70s, Aaron Paul and Scott Mescudi star in Need for Speed, which hit the theaters at the end of 2013.
Melinda Sue Gordon/DreamWorks
