Reply to "Mangusta 50 years"

Would the real 50th anniversary please stand up!?

1966 was release of Mangusta car concept pushmobile chassis and art hanging on wall.....
1968 was pretty much first release of prototype cars. #508, which was around here for a while, was always advertised by overenthusiastic seller that it was a 1967 car. Couldn't have been. Windows all had early 68 dates on them!!! I'm sorry, but panel beating flat pieces of steel and welding bits together doesn't constitute a car until you roll it off of the assembly line in my book!

1969 is the commonly accepted "first sales" of cars. Any of the early prototypes with the exposed hatch hinges, were often sold by dealers, contrary to the agreements that they signed to get one on their floors! If you can believe the old stories!

So, perhaps the "year of birth" in Europe starts with fertilization of an idea for a car..... If we were to follow that logic, then the Mustang should be celebrating various anniversaries based upon a 1962-1963 concept date....same for Cougars and many others. These were concept cars some 2-3 even 5 years before they were released to the public eye! The concept Mustang that is kept at the Ford Dearborn Museum is a perfect example! It's a two seater convertible with no top....13" wheels and a teeny tiny 4 banger in it..... A bit different than what hit the road in 1964.5!

Anyway, I think people are pushing the envelope here. Not doing it wrong, just not perhaps "as correct" as they could. But that's just my opinion! My car isn't 50 years old......

Ciao!
Steve