At least in North America, the Ford Mustang’s 50th anniversary is an important milestone for the auto industry, something that the Blue Oval’s chief rival, General Motors, acknowledges. If it weren’t for the original pony car’s success, perhaps GM’s own Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird models may have never existed.
As a token of appreciation, GM issued a happy birthday card featuring the new Camaro Z/28 dressed up in chocolate icing and candles with the caption, “Here’s to another 50 years of rivalry. Your friend, Camaro”, together with an animated picture (GIF) containing some of the magazine covers featuring the two cars over the years.
The General says it firmly believes that the “healthy” competition between the two brands has “become a driving force for constant improvement”.
“For five decades, the Camaro and the Mustang have been battling it out in every possible setting,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of GM Global Product Development. “These two cars have been striving to beat each other on the track, on the drag strip and on the streets. That competition is a big part of why both cars are so amazing, and so popular, today.”
