Ford decided the best way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mustang is to replicate what they did 50 years ago when they unveiled the first generation model at the Empire State Building in New York. Technicians have already started disassembling an all-new Mustang convertible to fit it inside the building’s elevators and send it up to the 86th floor observatory.
The 1,454-foot-tall building will host a special festival on April 16-17 celebrating the something that is almost as big an icon as itself, the Ford Mustang. In some ways the Mustang is a bigger symbol of America than the Empire State Building, as the car is widely known all across the globe.
The Ford Mustang at the Empire State Building will be a brand-new 2015 Convertible model. Since no crane can portable crane can reach the 86th floor observatory, and the spire towering above the relatively narrow deck makes helicopter delivery impossible, Ford has to take the car apart and send it up one bit at a time. 50 years ago too they sliced a 1965 Mustang Convertible into three sections before lifting it up the building. It’s a bit of a hassle, but it’s totally worth it as the display is going to be spectacular.
“New York is one of the greatest cities in the world, and it’s the place where the Ford Mustang story began 50 years ago,” said Mark Fields, Ford chief operating officer. “We’re thrilled to be visiting the architectural landmark that has been the heart of the Manhattan skyline for 83 years with the newest generation of the car that is the soul of Ford Motor Company.”