Next-gen Ford Mustang Won't Debut Until 2019, Will Inspire Wider Lineup

Next-gen Ford Mustang Won't Debut Until 2019, Will Inspire Wider Lineup

That's a rather uncertain guess about cause, though, because Ford's clearly had platform rationalization and parts-sharing plans for a while. The modular Explorer platform got outed in rumor four years ago and confirmed in January this year. In March, we spotted the 2020 Aviator show car at the New York Auto Show with a Mustang's rear suspension. Not a modified Mustang suspension, but the identical item, which we expect to be swapped out for beefier components come production time. As long as designers can maintain the Mustang mojo they've had going for several years now, the platform switch should be a non-issue. The coupe's real trick has been backing up those popular retro looks with excellent driving dynamics, and that latter benefit shouldn't be harmed. The same way Chevrolet took Camaro DNA to create a crossover that resurrected the Blazer name, the next Mustang will pour its heart and soul into an electric crossover. Ford teased the name Mach 1 for that EV people mover earlier this year, but a stampede of negative reaction appears to have forced a rethink. After that, as the last car standing in the U.S. Ford's greatest global icon, we should expect more Mustang cues to find their way to other models.

Cars were meant to be driven and enjoyed, not displayed behind velvet ropes. This 1936 Ford pickup is clearly a daily driver. It shows its patina with pride, and the wooden box in the back suggests a previous life as a farm truck. This one was just plain cool. This 1951 Chevrolet truck is one of the best looking pickups I've ever seen. The silver-grey paint and dark grey wheels gave it an almost stealthy appearance. You get plenty of old American pickups here in Texas, but this just might be my favorite one yet. Like I said, there's no shortage of old American trucks around here. This one, a 1953 Chevrolet, stood out with its bright yellow paint job. There's not a lot to say about this one, other than mention how clean it was. This 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air had all the right stuff. The paint combination was gorgeous, the interior was immaculate, and custom wheels added a little bit of personalization.

This is my favorite "Tri-Five" Chevy, although the fin-tastic '56 and '57 models are definitely not bad cars. I simply prefer the ultra-clean lines of the '55. That said, it's hard to go wrong with this 1957 Bel Air. Light blue suits these cars, and the aftermarket wheels on this one look great. Not a whole lot to be said about this one. It's just a good-looking car. What we have here is a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL. The nondescript white paint job might lead you to believe that this is just an average Ford grocery getter, but you'd be wrong. Under the hood lies a Holman-Moody 390 V8, which is more than capable of smoking any opposition you could find in 1963. Overall, this was a super nice car. Yes, yet another Chevrolet pickup. I'll be brief on this one, and say that it's a 1964 Stepside, and it looks good in blue.

I'll start to speed things up a little bit, as there's plenty of pictures. This 1965 Malibu SS was classy, and the custom rims are a nice addition. This one was nondescript, yet at the same time it stood out. This is one I didn't expect to see. The experienced gearhead will recognize this as a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger, which is a Sunbeam Alpine powered by a Mustang V8. The brilliant idea was the brainchild of none other than Carroll Shelby, who had achieved fame with the Cobra by doing almost the same thing. This 1967 Ford Mustang GT has a lot going for it. Custom wheels, spoiler, and hood scoop combine with an iconic Mustang paint scheme, white with blue stripes. Terlingua badging on the sides pays homage to the Mustang racing efforts of the aforementioned Carroll Shelby. Power comes from a modified 428 Ford engine. Here's another 1967 Mustang, this time a GT-A fastback. Blue paint and retro wheels made this car an eye-catcher.

This is a car you don't see everyday, a Mercury Cougar. This one is in pristine condition, and rides on aftermarket Cragar wheels. I was very pleased to see this at the show, as Cougars seem to be getting rarer and rarer. Seeing a genuine Shelby is always a treat, and this 1967 GT 350 doesn't dissappoint. Rock chips marked the Brittany Blue paint, showing that this car is a daily driver. It's hard not to like this car. Seeing one Shelby is uncommon, but two? That's pretty unlikely. Nonetheless, this 1968 Shelby GT 350 convertible was soaking up some Texas sunshine. I don't know the exact numbers, but a convertible Shelby is pretty rare these days, so I was thrilled to look at one up close. This 1969 AMX was wild. Side exhaust, tuned engine, and plenty of custom bodywork drew attention. The silver paint was highlighted by blue stripes, a color combo that works well on this classic AMC. Basking in the shade was this 1969 Corvette Stingray Convertible.