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Automotive Mustang Memories A legend at 50 – and still turning heads by Paul Sinkewicz F ew cars can match the enduring sex appeal of the Ford Mustang. It has starred in hundreds of movies – alongside Sean Connery in Goldfinger, with Steve McQueen in Bullitt and, more recently, as Will Smith's ride of choice in I Am Legend. Right from its launch in 1964, the Mustang created an RPM revolution – inspiring an entirely new style and class of car. Soon other "pony cars" such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Pontiac Firebird were vying for supremacy on the roads of North America. No slouches themselves under the hood, the contenders may have won the occasional dash down Main Street, but they never really caught up to the iconic 'Stang when it came to winning hearts and minds. Car, keys, check! New driver Brynn Trofimuk snaps a selfie with her new wheels. The classic 1965 Ford Mustang grille ornament. Each new incarnation of the Mustang got the blood of teens pumping faster. Whether it was the baby-blue convertible or cherryred fastback of the first models, or the aggressive stance and performance options of the later Mach 1 and Boss models, there seemed to be a Mustang to suit every personality. Car culture became supercharged. The much-loved Mustang turns 50 on April 17. To celebrate, Ford recently unveiled its special anniversary edition, which is expected to go on sale later this year. The 2015 Mustang maintains much of the signature style of the classic but comes with a sleek, high-performance vibe 36 W e s t w o r l d | s p r i n g 2 0 14 p36-39_Automotive.indd 36 – and a choice of three engines. No car in history has enjoyed such a love affair with its owners. In honour of the golden milestone, I caught up with two of Saskatchewan's most dedicated Mustang admirers. In 1970, Saskatoon's Gerald Prybylski was a gainfully employed 18-year-old looking to buy his first new car. He made the rounds of the car lots and kicked a lot of tires. He finally gave in to the temptation of the Mustang and ordered the sports-roof model. "It was Calypso Coral in colour – that was Ford's way of saying 'orange,' " he says. "I was able to order it straight from the factory." It helped that Prybylski was a manager at the local A&W, which had curb service with car hops. The Mustang was a perfect choice. His workplace was the destination for other teens who would gather for coffee, and then go cruising up and down Eighth Street East. The car has been in Prybylski's possession down the years. Now that he's semi-retired, it brings back a lot of youthful memories. "Having it for so long, it's one of those cases where 'if this car could talk,' " he says, hinting he may not always have stuck to the speed limit. "Somebody would come up beside you and 2014 the ford motor company 14-01-23 11:05 AM