Complete List of Ford Mustang Concepts, One-offs, & Prototypes
- Story Cars
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- Aug 27
- 11 min read
Updated: Sep 9
1962 Ford Mustang I Concept
The 1962 Ford Mustang I Concept was the first vehicle to carry the Mustang name. It was a two-seat, mid-engined roadster developed by Ford’s Advanced Design Studio under Lee Iacocca to gauge public reaction to a sporty compact car. The car used a 1.5-liter V4 engine sourced from Ford of Germany, mounted behind the seats, producing about 90 horsepower. It featured an aluminum body, independent suspension, and a low weight of around 1,200 pounds. The Mustang I debuted at the 1962 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, where driver Dan Gurney demonstrated it on track. Although it was never intended for production, the positive response to the Mustang I led Ford to pursue the idea of a sporty car for mass production, which ultimately became the 1964½ Mustang.
1962 Ford Avventura Concept
The 1962 Ford Avventura Concept was a design study created by Ford’s Turin, Italy-based styling team as part of early Mustang development explorations. It was a two-seat roadster built on a shortened Ford Falcon chassis, aimed at the European market. The car featured Italian-inspired styling with sharp lines, a long hood, and a compact rear deck, differing from the American Mustang I roadster shown the same year. The Avventura used a front-mounted inline-four engine and a lightweight body. It remained a one-off prototype and was never shown widely to the public, but it represented Ford’s effort to evaluate different sporty car formats before finalizing the direction that would lead to the production Mustang.
1962 Ford Allegro Concept
The 1962 Ford Allegro Concept was a small two-seat sports car designed by Ford’s European studio in Italy. It featured a mid-mounted four-cylinder engine and a lightweight, compact body aimed at testing sporty styling ideas for potential export markets. The Allegro had a low, aerodynamic profile with a short rear deck and long hood, emphasizing a sleek, performance-oriented look. Only a single prototype was built, and it never entered production, serving primarily as a design and engineering study to explore alternatives to the Ford Mustang I and other emerging sporty models.
1962 Ford "Special Falcon" Proposal Studio Submissions
In August 1962, Ford held an internal design competition to shape the car that would become the Mustang, code-named the Special Falcon Project. Three studios—Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, and the Advanced Products Studio—each submitted proposals, resulting in a series of fascinating clay models that blended Falcon underpinnings with sporty new styling. Among these were sleek fastback studies from the Lincoln-Mercury team, Thunderbird-inspired taillight treatments, and more conservative coupe designs from Advanced Products. While none of these early proposals were chosen outright, they laid the groundwork for the Mustang’s final form, showcasing Ford’s effort to create a youthful, stylish, and performance-oriented car that would define an entirely new segment.
1962 Ford Two-Seat Concepts
The 1962 Ford Two-Seat Concepts were a series of experimental designs exploring a compact, sporty two-seater that could follow in the footsteps of the Thunderbird. Designers repeatedly revisited the idea of a two-seat Mustang, even after management decided the production Mustang would include a rear seat. These concepts tested proportions, performance layouts, and styling cues, but none of the prototypes were ever built for production. They remained purely design exercises to explore what a small, agile Ford sports car could look like.
1963 Ford Mustang Fastback Styling Clay
The 1963 Mustang fastback styling clay marked one of the earliest looks at what would become the production fastback model, capturing nearly its final shape more than a year before launch. This clay featured a dramatic split rear window treatment, echoing the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray coupe, but Ford ultimately abandoned the idea in favor of better visibility. Even so, the design study revealed Ford’s intent to expand the Mustang lineup with a sportier fastback variant that would become one of the car’s most iconic body styles.
1963 Ford Mustang II Concept
The 1963 Ford Mustang II Concept was an early design study for a smaller, sportier Ford car intended to fit between the Falcon and Thunderbird. It featured compact proportions, a sleek profile, and a two-seat layout, aiming to capture the growing youth market. The concept influenced the development of the production Mustang, particularly in overall size and sporty styling, but it was never intended for direct production.
1964 Mustang III “Shorty” Prototype
The 1964 Ford Mustang III “Shorty” Prototype was an experimental two-seat version of the Mustang designed to explore compact, sporty proportions. It featured a shortened wheelbase and small overall dimensions while keeping the styling cues of the production Mustang. The prototype was never put into production but helped Ford evaluate alternative Mustang layouts and design possibilities.
1965 Ford Mustang Four-Door Sedan Prototype
The 1965 Ford Mustang Four-Door Sedan Prototype was a rare experiment by Ford to create a four-door version of the original Mustang. It retained the Mustang’s styling elements but extended the body to add rear doors and seating for extra passengers. The prototype never went into production, as Ford decided the Mustang’s appeal was strongest as a two-door sporty car.
1965 Ford Mustang 007 Concept
The 1965 Ford Mustang 007 Concept was a specially prepared fastback intended for use in the James Bond film Goldfinger. Finished in a unique gold exterior with a matching black-and-gold leather interior, the car was designed to tie in with the film’s title and style. However, the project missed the production schedule, and the car was not completed in time for filming. Instead, a Wimbledon White Mustang Convertible was used in the movie. The 007 Concept remained a little-known one-off, representing an early instance of Ford’s interest in connecting the Mustang with cinematic promotion.
1965 Mustang AWD Prototype
The 1965 Mustang AWD Prototype was Ford’s experiment to bring all-wheel drive to the Mustang shortly after its launch. The company partnered with Ferguson Research in England, which had developed one of the first AWD systems for passenger cars. Ford sent two identical 1965 Mustang coupes with 289 V8 engines to England: one remained stock, while the other was fitted with Ferguson’s AWD system. The prototype delivered improved traction, handling, and acceleration, especially on slick roads, thanks to a full-time system with a 37/63 front-to-rear torque split and a planetary center differential. Despite outperforming the standard Mustang in testing, the AWD Mustang never entered production.
1965 Bertone Mustang 2+2
The 1965 Bertone Mustang 2+2 was a unique concept developed by Italian design house Bertone. It featured a stretched roofline to add rear seating while keeping the sporty proportions of the Mustang coupe. The design explored a more practical, four-seat layout without losing the car’s original fastback style. Powered by a 289 V8, the Bertone 2+2 remained a one-off show car and never reached production.
1965 Ford GBX Prototype
The 1965 Ford GBX Prototype, part of Project Colt, was an early design study for what would become the Ford Capri. Created at Ford of England’s Research & Engineering Center in Dunton, Essex, the project was led by designer Philip T. Clark, who had previously worked on the Mustang I concept and created the Mustang’s galloping pony emblem. Clark’s GBX featured many of the design cues that defined the Capri launched in 1969, including the long hood, short rear deck, fastback pillars, squared-off rear quarters, and dramatic side crease. Initially styled by American designer Steve Shearer, the GBX evolved under Clark’s direction to closely anticipate Capri’s final form. Clark’s influence extended far beyond this prototype—he shaped the Mustang, Capri, Ford Transit, and Zodiac-Zephyr before his untimely death in 1968 at just 32 years old.
1965 Ford Mustang B1 by OSI
The 1965 Ford Mustang B1 by OSI, unveiled at the 1965 Turin Motor Show, was an Italian reimagining of the Mustang that shared little with the original beyond its 271-hp V8 and badges. Built on a short-wheelbase tubular chassis and dressed in sleek fiberglass two-seat bodywork, the B1 blended American muscle with European style, giving it an exotic character far removed from the production Mustang. Though OSI hoped to build a limited run, the company’s collapse in 1966 ended the project, leaving the B1 a fascinating one-off that showcased how the pony car might have looked through an Italian lens.
1966 Ford Mustang Shooting Brake / Station Wagon Concept
The 1966 Ford Mustang Shooting Brake was a one-off concept that turned the Mustang into a sporty station wagon. Designed to combine the performance and styling of the Mustang with added cargo space, it featured an extended roofline and a hatchback-style rear. Built on the standard Mustang chassis and powered by the 289 V8, this prototype never entered production but showcased the flexibility of the Mustang platform.
1966 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Concept
The 1966 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Concept was an early exploration of a performance-oriented Mustang. Built to test styling cues and aerodynamic elements for a sportier, more aggressive model, it featured unique hood and trim treatments and a slightly lowered stance. Although it never went into production as a standalone Mach 1, the concept helped influence the eventual 1969 Mustang Mach 1 performance package.
1967 Ford Mustang Mach 2A Prototype
The Mach 2A was the first fully functional prototype in Ford’s Mach 2 mid-engine program. Built on a modified 1967 Mustang chassis, it used a 289-ci V8 and a ZF transaxle. One prototype was painted red for a road car candidate, while a white version served as a race car mule. Both featured fiberglass bodies inspired by the GT40 and Corvette. Testing revealed handling issues with body roll and understeer, which limited the project’s progress.
1967 Ford Mustang Mach 2B Prototype
The Mach 2B was a design proposal intended for production starting in the 1970 or 1971 model year. It abandoned the Mustang chassis in favor of the Maverick Delta platform and included a redesigned body with dual front headlights and a layout that could accommodate the Boss 429 V8. Ford built three full-size clay models to explore production feasibility, but the car never reached the prototype stage.
1967 Ford Mustang Mach 2C Prototype
The Mach 2C was a fully realized static concept designed by Larry Shinoda. It drew inspiration from European supercars of the 1970s and 1980s, featuring a dramatic, futuristic body that hinted at a high-performance sports car. Although intended as a mid-engine, supercar-style vehicle with potential for a Boss 429 or SOHC 427 engine, it never became operational and remained a detailed showpiece.
1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 by Zagato
The 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Zagato was a one-off collaboration between Ford and Italian coachbuilder Zagato. Built on a Shelby GT350 chassis, the car featured distinctive European styling with a fastback roofline and a unique wrap-over rear window. It was unveiled at the 1967 Turin Auto Show as a potential candidate for limited production, but the project never advanced beyond the single prototype. After its initial display, the car was sold into private hands. In 2018, it underwent a restoration, though some of Zagato’s original design elements—most notably the wrap-over rear glass—were replaced with a more conventional Mustang fastback configuration. Today, it remains a rare example of transatlantic design experimentation during the Mustang’s early years.
1967 Ford Allegro II Concept
The 1967 Ford Allegro II Concept was a compact, sporty prototype developed to explore new styling and aerodynamic ideas for Ford’s small car lineup. It featured a sleek fastback roofline, lightweight bodywork, and an emphasis on handling and efficiency. While the Allegro II influenced some future design cues, it never progressed beyond the concept stage and was never intended for production.
1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 “Little Red” Prototype
The 1967 Shelby “Little Red” was a one-off Mustang-based prototype built by Carroll Shelby’s team to test performance upgrades and styling tweaks. It featured a lightweight body, custom suspension components, and unique red paint that gave it its name. The car was used primarily for development and promotional purposes and never went into production.
1968 Shelby EXP 500 “Green Hornet” Prototype
The 1968 Ford EXP 500, nicknamed the “Green Hornet,” was a prototype developed as a high-performance variant of the Mustang for racing and promotional purposes. It featured a modified 500-ci V8 engine, lightweight body panels, and experimental suspension components aimed at improving handling and speed. The car never reached production but served as a testbed for Ford’s performance engineering in the late 1960s.
1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Rear-Engine Prototype
The 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Rear-Engine Prototype was an experimental project exploring a mid-engine layout for the Boss 429. Built to test performance and weight distribution, the V8 engine was mounted behind the driver, a radical departure from the standard front-engine setup. The prototype never went into production, but it provided Ford engineers with insights into alternative configurations and high-performance handling dynamics.
1970 Mustang Milano Concept
The 1970 Ford Mustang Milano was a mid-engine concept designed to explore a more exotic, European-style sports car using Mustang components. Built on a modified chassis, it featured a V8 engine mounted behind the driver and a fiberglass body with sleek, low-slung styling. The Milano was intended to show how Mustang technology could be adapted for a high-performance, two-seat layout, but it never reached production.
1970s Ford Mustang II Proposals
The Ford Mustang II proposals were a series of design experiments created in the early 1970s as Ford prepared the second-generation Mustang. After the original Mustang grew larger and heavier through the late 1960s, designers explored ways to return the car to a smaller, more agile format. Early proposals retained the large 1971–1973 platform with new bodywork, but these were considered too bulky and formal. By 1971, Ford shifted to a smaller, lighter platform and commissioned the Ghia design studio in Italy to create sleek fastback and hardtop concepts. These studies introduced features like molded-in faux side scoops, hidden headlights, and forward-leaning “shark-nose” grilles. Further refinements in 1972 and 1973 finalized the hatchback profile and proportions for the 1974 production Mustang II. The final model was significantly toned down from the bold styling experiments, but the concepts provided the blueprint for the smaller, more fuel-efficient pony car that launched amid rising gas prices and stricter safety standards.
1974 Ford Mustang Sportiva II
The 1974 Ford Sportiva II was a one-off roadster concept based on the newly launched Mustang II, created to test the market’s appetite for a sportier, open-air version. It featured a targa-style roof with a folding rear section similar to the Lancia Beta Spider and carried forward many production Mustang II design cues. Shown publicly at the Detroit Auto Show, the Sportiva II remained a prototype only and was never developed for production.
1975 Ford Mustang Fox Concept
The 1975 Ford Mustang Fox Concept was an early design study for what would become the third-generation Mustang, introduced in 1979. Built on the Mustang II platform, this prototype explored new styling directions, including a large chrome grille, similar overall proportions, and a rear-end design influenced by the late-’70s Ford Fairmont. Several Ford design teams contributed ideas, and the Fox Concept represented one path the Mustang could have taken. Ultimately, Ford chose a more modern design for the production model, which helped revitalize Mustang sales in the early 1980s.
1976 Ford Mustang Station Wagon Prototype
The 1976 Ford Mustang Station Wagon Prototype was a follow-up to the 1966 Mustang Shooting Brake, revisiting the idea of a Mustang wagon. Built on the Mustang II platform, it featured a roof rack and woodgrain side trim, aiming to compete with small wagons like the Chevrolet Vega three-door. This prototype, along with the Mustang III, never reached production. A model of this wagon is part of Howard Kroplick’s collection, preserving a rare piece of Mustang concept history.
1979 Shelby Quarter Horse
The 1979 Shelby Quarter Horse, also known as the Composite Mustang, was a pair of prototypes built by Kar-Kraft using Boss 429 Mustangs as a base. They combined 1969 Shelby GT500 front sheetmetal, Mercury Cougar dashboards, closed hoodscoops, and a standard Mustang galloping horse on the grille. Intended as a potential mid-year 1970 replacement for the Boss 429 and Shelby lineup, the project was canceled after poor sales of the GT500 and over-saturation of performance Mustangs.
Our team is currently working through to verify the remaining prototypes and concepts. Comment below if any are missing!
1980 Ford Mustang GT Enduro Prototype
1980 Ford Mustang RSX Concept
1980 McLaren M81 Mustang
1982 Mustang GT Enduro Prototype
1984 Ford Vignale Mustang Concept by Ghia
1993 Ford Mustang Mach III Concept
1994 Ford Mustang Boss 10.0L
1997 Mustang Super Stallion
1999 Ford Mustang FR500 Concept
2000 Bullitt Mustang Concept
2003 Mustang GT Concept (Fastback)
2003 Mustang GT Convertible Concept
2003 Mustang Fastback Design Study
2005 Mustang GT-R Concept
2006 Ford Mustang Giugiaro Concept
2006 Shelby CS6 Concept
2007 Ford Mustang FR500GT Concept
2008 Mustang AV8R
2009 Mustang AV-X10 “Dearborn Doll”
2010 Mustang “SR-71 Blackbird”
2011 Mustang “Blue Angels”
2012 Mustang “Red Tails”
2013 Mustang “U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds”
2014 Galpin-Fisker Rocket Concept
2014 Mustang “F-35 Lightning II”
2015 Mustang “Apollo Edition”
2016 Mustang “Ole Yeller”
2017 Mustang “F-22 Raptor”
2018 Mustang “Eagle Squadron”
2019 Mustang “Old Crow”
2019 Mustang Lithium EV Concept
2020 Mustang Mach-E 1400 Prototype
2020 Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 Prototype
2023 Mustang GT3 Prototype
2023 Mustang GT4 Prototype
2023 Mustang GTD Prototype
2024 Super Cobra Jet 1800 Prototype
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