I'll take Black, Performance White, Screaming Yellow or Sonic Blue

But, puhleeze, where's the shaker scoop? And the hood stripe? I needs my stripe! And better wheels! And a..

Via metacool: NYT

...The release of the new Mustang has set off a stampede of interest across the country. Many point to its retro style, three years in the making, with cues from the 1960's and 70's. Some cite the upgraded V8 engine, with greater horsepower than last year's model. There's the fairly affordable price, starting at $19,410 for the V-6 and $24,995 for the V-8 GT. But Ford appears to have tapped into something else: an emotional reaction strong enough to turn some buyers into auto stalkers.

"They're physically following the truck in and saying, `I'll take that car,' " said Brian Carlson, fleet sales manager at Earnhardt Ford in Tempe, Ariz. The dealership received and sold 10 Mustangs in two weeks. The cars that did not sell right off the carrier were on the lot for two days at most.

Kathy West, a computer support technician from Hope Mills, N.C., was driving to a furniture store one evening last month with her husband, Ryan, when they spotted a yellow V-6 at a dealership. "Ryan said, `Turn around! Turn around!' " she recalled.

Less than three hours later, they had traded in her Ford Explorer S.U.V., bought the Mustang and driven it home — a purchase that Ms. West, 33, hadn't even considered until she saw the car. She did take a test drive before buying, but they didn't leave the lot to make a decision. "We both knew it wouldn't be there when we came back," she said. The only problem: "It was really dirty. Everybody had their fingerprints on it."

She was lucky to find a Mustang. McCarville Ford in Centereach, N.Y., has presold its entire allotment of Mustangs through January — just 15 cars. "I could sell a lot more if I could get them," said Mike McCarville, the owner. To make sure he has something to show the dozen or so gawkers who turn up every day, he doesn't let the new owners take their cars home until the next shipment comes in.

With supply limited so far, buying early has disadvantages. Forget about making a deal on the price. Paul Russell, a marketing manager at Ford, said that many cars are selling for $1,500 over the sticker price. Last week, nearly 20 dealers were auctioning new models at eBay Motors for thousands more than manufacturer's suggested retail price.

Over the last two decades, Mustang's annual sales have fluctuated — 225,290 in 1980, down to 80,247 in 1991 and back to the mid-100,000 range for the last four years, according to Autodata, an auto market research firm. As of last week, Mr. Russell said, dealers had already ordered 42,000 Mustangs for this model year.

The cars should be more available in the next few months, and shoppers will have the option of a convertible this spring, as well as different trim levels and more engine choices.

Interest in the new Mustang has been building for some time. Early drawings and photos appeared in car magazines and on car-related Web sites by late 2002. In 2003, concept models of the coupe and the convertible made the rounds at auto shows around the country, generating plenty of interest. "Some of the regional shows were upset because we didn't have enough of the prototypes to go around," Mr. Russell said. "It was our most requested vehicle."A production model appeared at the shows in January of this year, and that same month, interest was high enough for dealers to begin taking orders.

OF course, Mustang also has the benefit of a 40-year history — and a corps of romantics who have always loved the car for its early image of power and adventure.

"People go to showrooms just to see the Mustang," said Joe Barker, a manager at the auto research firm CSM Worldwide, "even if they're not a serious buyer." [more]

Way cool. Very R-complex. High drool factor. The same whiplash effect as when Mazda whapped America with the Miata in the mid-80s--"Hey, a tingly-car!" But knowing how and why, that's the key. Slingshot into your idealized future using the idealized past as your jetpack. If you're older, a metaphorical do-over. If you're younger, a do-it-right-the-first-time, with muscle, not priss. Car = Arrrr! Now, imagine if the rest of the business world would get their butts in gear and splash around in the limbic well to find the true nature of their product and the intrinsic power and identity in their craft. Wait. What am I saying? That would be silly. Duh. Where was I? Oh, yeah--Vroooom! Brah-brah-brah-brah-Vrooom!