For 1969, the Ford Mustang got a longer, sleeker look and an expanded model lineup that included the Grande and the Mach 1.
For the 1969 model year, and with its second exterior makeover since introduction, the Ford Mustang continued to evolve, and really, that’s the theme of this commercial. “Sportier than ever. Roomier than ever. Longer than ever,” the announcer declares. Indeed: At 187.4 inches, this new Mustang was nearly six inches longer and 200 lbs heavier than the original pony car when it made its debut at New York World’s Fair in April of 1964.
The model line was expanding as well. Featured here are the luxury-tinged Grande and a new performance model, the Mach 1 (more on the Mach 1 here.) Not included in the spot are the Boss 302 and the brutish Boss 429, probably due to their narrow target markets. Both Mustangs were in large part homologation specials, the Boss 302 for the SCCA Trans-Am Series and the Boss 429 to legalize its 429 CID twisted-hemi V8 for NASCAR.
In 1969, Ford’s marketing plan included an in-house song-and-dance team called The Going Thing, and in this spot they’ve borrowed the entire schtick of the hit comedy show of the time, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. Here’s a duplicate of a Laugh-In innovation, the Joke Wall, where catch phrases proliferated and old jokes become new again. Ford’s TV team even brought in Laugh-In regular Arte Johnson, who played a daffy World War II-era German army officer. It’s said that if you can remember the ’60s you weren’t there, but we remember this. Video below.
Wider, longer and heavier does not mean “sportier”, to me.
The Mustang II was the same size & weight of the 1964 and everyone hated it. Many Americans consider “truck-like” to be the pinnacle of development.
I wouldn’t say that everyone “hated” the Mustang II, given that Ford sold over 1.1 million Mustang IIs from 1974 to 1978. Controversial? Sure, even to this day – but hated?
An ad showing a red 1969 Mach1 is what turned on my “guy who loves cars” gene. I never paid attention up to that time. Still, I’ve never owned a Mustang. I prefer 4 cylinder sporty cars and the Ecoboost has no great advantage over a V8 model.
Bigger is bettter!
I had a used Boss 302, which I cancelled my new 1978 Corvette order for because it had room for people and things. (also a lo faster/quicker)
Camaros were for for midgets; Mustangs had room for six foot people.
In ’69 Mustang was was showing to show it’s Thunderbird genes.
’64 it was young and lithe, ’69 showing just the hint of a paunch and broader butt.
For me, to this day, the 1969/70 Mustang fastback is still and by far, the best looking Mustang of all time.