1963 Ford Mustang Cougar Fastback Proposal

The Ford Mustang Cougar Fastback Proposal from February 1963 was an early design concept developed before the final Mustang design was locked in. At that point, "Cougar" was still being considered as the name for the upcoming pony car, and several design mockups featured Cougar badging and logos. The emblem depicted a large cat—specifically a cougar—but there was ongoing debate among designers about which way the animal should face: left or right. This was part of a broader branding discussion that was eventually resolved when the car was officially named Mustang later that year.

One of the most distinctive features of this specific proposal was its split rear window, a design detail that did not make it into the final production version of the Mustang Fastback, which launched in 1965. The idea was likely inspired by styling cues seen on other cars of the time—like the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Coupe, which had a similar feature but also dropped it the following year due to visibility concerns.

This Cougar-labeled prototype represents an important stage in the Mustang’s development, capturing the early creative processes at Ford’s design studios, particularly under the direction of Joe Oros and his team at Ford’s Lincoln–Mercury Division, where the Mustang was initially incubated. While the name, emblem direction, and split window were eventually discarded, this proposal highlights the many paths explored before the Mustang took its final, now-iconic form.