<Tr> <Th> Successor </Th> <Td> Ford Mustang II </Td> </Tr> <P> The first - generation Ford Mustang was manufactured by Ford from March 1964 until 1973 . The introduction of the Mustang created a new class of automobile known as the pony car . The Mustang's styling, with its long hood and short deck, proved wildly popular and inspired a host of competition . </P> <P> It was initially introduced as a hardtop and convertible with the fastback version put on sale in August 1964 . At the time of its introduction, the Mustang, sharing its underpinnings with the Falcon, was slotted into a compact car segment . </P> <P> With each revision, the Mustang saw an increase in overall dimensions and in engine power . The 1971 model saw a drastic redesign to its predecessors . After an initial surge, sales were steadily declining, as Ford began working on a new generation Mustang . With the onset of the 1973 oil crisis, Ford was prepared, having already designed the smaller Mustang II for the 1974 model year . This new car had no common components with preceding models . </P>

When did the first mustang fastback come out