The stunt, according to Ford, took six weeks of preparation that included cutting the vehicle into six pieces to building a mock elevator that was 36 inches wide, like the ones in the Empire State Building.
NEW YORK- Ford Motor Co. delivered on its promise for the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang.
The Dearborn-based automaker, despite winter weather conditions, successfully placed a 2015 Mustang convertible atop the Empire State Building– essentially reenacting a stunt Ford performed with a prototype Mustang convertible in 1965.
The stunt, according to Ford, took six weeks of preparation that included cutting the vehicle into six pieces to building a mock elevator that was 36 inches wide, like the ones in the Empire State Building.
“We’ve taken the new Mustang to new heights of technology and refinement, so we decided to take it to new heights literally for this celebration,” said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer.
Ford plans to display the 2015 Mustang convertible April 16-17 on the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building in New York to celebrate the vehicle's 50th anniversary.
Ford revealed the first Mustang to the public at the 1964 New York World's Fair on April 17. The next year, Ford sliced a prototype Mustang convertible into three main sections and a windshield to get the vehicle into the original elevators of the Empire State Building (photo below).
In 1965, a prototype Mustang convertible was sliced into three main sections plus windshield so that the sections would fit into those elevators. The 2015 Mustang is nearly seven inches longer and four inches wider than its original predecessor, making the task of transporting it up even more challenging, according to Ford.
Visitors to the Empire State Building observation deck can see the new Mustang convertible for 54 hours from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. April 16-17.
On top of placing the new sixth-generation Mustang atop the 86th floor observation deck, Ford also introduced the 2015 Mustang 50 Year Limited Edition Wednesday at the 2014 New York International Auto Show.
The anniversary edition vehicle, which Ford will only produce 1,964 of, is based on the 2015 Mustang GT fastback with a 5.0-liter V8 engine. It features anniversary badging, individual serial number plates, chrome highlights, louvered rear quarter-windows, cashmere-stitched, leather-wrapped steering wheel and other throwback features and design tributes.
The only options for the 50 Year Limited Edition are the choice of two exclusive colors – Wimbledon White, like Mustang serial No. 0001 that was first sold to Capt. Stanley Tucker in April 1964, or Kona Blue – and a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
2015 Mustang 50 Year Limited Edition (Curtesy image)Over the past five decades, more than 9 million Mustangs have been sold.
The 2015 Mustang is expected to go into production by mid-2014 at Ford's Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan and arrive in U.S. showrooms in the fall. Ford is doing a staggered global release, with the vehicle arriving in global markets, including Europe and Asia, through 2015. U.S. ordering is expected to begin in the summer.
The iconic pony car features a sleeker design with a lower, wider stance and bolder dual grille. It's definitely a Mustang, but features new design cues and technologies -- from LED taillights to integral-link independent rear suspension.