Courtesy Ford Motor Company
After more than 50 years, the Ford Mustang has made its way to the UK. Here are some of history's other landmark Mustangs.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
In 1960 Ford boss Lee lacocca had a vision for an American-made sporty four-seater for less than $2,500. This 1962 was an early attempt.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
By 1964 the various concepts had evolved into the iconic shape we know and love. Here is the original on display in the Ford Pavilion at the New York World's Fair on April 17.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
The Ford Mustang was meant to appeal to Baby Boomers. It also created the "pony car" class -- sports coupes with long hoods and small trunks.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
This 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 looked brutal, but was beginning to pile on the pounds.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
Ford's svelte 1970 Mustang Milano concept had more of a European feel, but sadly never made it into production.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
Thanks to the 1973 oil crisis, the muscle car went on a diet -- hence this 1974 Mustang II hardtop.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
The 1976 Ford Mustang II Mach 1 bore more than a passing resemblance to the European Ford Capri in side profile.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
This 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra was a limited edition version. Only 4,313 were produced.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
In 1979, the third generation debuted with a sleek "Euro" design. It was longer and taller -- yet 200 pounds lighter -- than the outgoing Mustang II.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
For its 30th anniversary in 1994, the Ford Mustang was dramatically restyled to evoke the car's heritage and performance tradition.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
The fifth-generation Mustang reverted to a sleeker fastback and shark-bite front with round headlamps, recalling the first generation models.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
In 2009, the Ford Mustang celebrated its 45th birthday.
Courtesy Ford Motor Company
Ford launched the sixth-generation in 2015, and it went on sale across Europe for the first time in more than 50 years of production.

Story highlights

The Ford Mustang is now officially for sale in the UK

The original Mustang was unveiled in 1964

1,000 Mustangs have been delivered, and thousands more are on order

CNN  — 

It’s taken more than 50 years, but British drivers are finally able to experience the all-American Ford Mustang.

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A UK-spec Mustang is now officially on sale for the first time in the muscle car’s history. Most importantly for Britain, where motorists drive on the left-hand side of the road, Ford is also building its first right-hand drive cars.

Sales success

The original Mustang was unveiled on April 17, 1964 at New York World’s Fair. The iconic car is now in its sixth generation, and more than nine million cars have been sold.

Read: Jaguar’s XKSS vintage supercar to be resurrected for millions

“There’s never been a better time to introduce this iconic car across Europe,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe.

“This all-new Ford Mustang is the most technologically advanced and forward-looking model in the history of the marque.”

Ford says demand has been greater than expected and, so far, more than 1,000 UK customers have received their new Mustangs, while thousands more are on order.

Read: Unveiling the DB11, the new face of Aston Martin

The Mustang in pop culture

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While the Mustang is only now hitting UK roads, the car has been an international pop icon for decades. In all, it’s estimated that the Ford Mustang has featured in more than 500 movies, and hundreds of TV shows.

Read: Land Rover Defender ends production after seven decades

Driving a highland green Mustang GT, Steve McQueen famously tore up San Francisco in the classic 1968 thriller “Bullitt”; as James Bond, Sean Connery drove a 1971 Mustang Mach 1 down an alleyway in “Diamonds Are Forever”; and Farrah Fawcett’s car of choice on “Charlie’s Angels” was a Ford Mustang II Cobra II.

Recent big screen appearances include “Gone in 60 Seconds”, “I Am Legend”, and “Need for Speed”.

Check out the gallery above for more moments from Mustang history.