This rather loooong looking mid-engine sports car is an in-house designed Ford prototype known as the Mach II-C. It has lots of front and rear overhang, just like a 1971-1973 Mustang.
The coachwork of this prototype was desinged by Larry Shinoda, the Boss Mustang guy, during his 18 month stint at Ford. He was an associate of Bunkie Knudsen, he came from GM with Bunkie in Feb 1968. Henry Ford II fired Bunkie on September 2, 1969. And Larry Shinoda was fired a short time later.
Now look at the date of the photos. August 15, 1969. The design was finished 2 1/2 weeks before Bunkie was fired.
Once Knudsen was fired, this creation of Shinoda's didn't stand a chance to go into production. The GM guys weren't well liked. Iacocca was tired of waiting for a sports car, he flew to Italy and signed an agreement with Alejandro DeTomaso on September 9, 1969 ... Bunkie's chair at Ford wasn't even cold yet.
I am glad things turned out the way they did.
-G
