The Ford Motor Co.'s iconic Mustang was first introduced to the world on April 17, 1964. Click through to see how the car has evolved over the years. Jim R. Bounds/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The 1965 Ford Mustang is officially revealed at the New York World's Fair in Flushing, New York, on April 17, 1964. Standard equipment for the car included carpet, bucket seats and a 170-cubic-inch, six-cylinder engine that was coupled with a three-speed floor-shift transmission. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1965 Ford Mustang fastback. The fastback was not an option when the car was originally introduced in 1964, but it was added in 1965. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1966 Ford Mustang GT350H. The GT350H was a limited run, produced for Hertz as a "rent-a-racer" in participation with Shelby American. The rental car was based on the stock GT350 fastback, but it came with an automatic transmission. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1967 Ford Mustang convertible. In 1967, Ford added a longer nose and bigger grille for a more aggressive stance. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1968 Shelby GT500. The GT500 was powered by a 355-horsepower, 428-cubic-inch big-block V-8 engine. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 fastback. Other models offered in 1969 included a 290-horsepower Boss 302, a 375-horsepower Boss 429, and a Grande luxury model. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302. In 1970, Ford offered an optional ram-air "Shaker" hood scoop that could be ordered on any Mustang equipped with a 351-cubic-inch or larger V-8 engine. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 fastback. The Boss 351 debuted in 1971 with a 351 "Cleveland" V-8 and Cobra Jet heads. The 1971 cars were also the biggest Mustangs ever, nearly a foot longer and 700 pounds more than the original. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1972 Ford Mustang Sprint edition fastback. The Sprint was the only new model offered for 1972. It included a special red, white and blue exterior package with coordinated interior. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1973 Ford Mustang convertible. Rising gas prices brought an end to the big muscle cars, and 1973 was the last model year for the original Falcon platform Mustang. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1974 Ford Mustang II. The car went on a major diet with the completely redesigned Mustang II, coming in 19 inches shorter and 490 pounds lighter. Gone is the V-8; the only two engine choices were an 88-horsepower 2.3-liter inline-four or a 109-horsepower 2.8-liter V-6. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1975 Ford Mustang II Ghia. The V-8 came back in 1975, but the 302-cubic-inch engine produced only 133 horsepower -- and only with an automatic transmission. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1976 Ford Mustang II Cobra II. The Cobra II, meant to recall the famed Shelby Mustangs, came with a nonfunctional hood scoop, a racing stripe sand front and rear spoilers. It was available in white with blue stripes, blue with white stripes, and black with gold stripes. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1977 Ford Mustang II Cobra II. In an attempt to win back convertible fans, Ford offered a removable T-top option on fastback models. A four-speed manual transmission was also added by the way of a sports performance package with the 302-cubic-inch V-8. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra. The new King Cobra was the first to wear a "5.0" badge -- the metric equivalent of the V-8's 302-cubic-inch displacement. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1979 Ford Mustang coupe. This marked the third generation of Mustangs with the introduction of the "Fox" platform. It was longer and taller than the Mustang II yet 200 pounds lighter. The new engine lineup included a 2.3-liter four-cylinder (including a 140-

horsepower turbo version), a 2.8-liter V-6, a 3.3-liter inline-six and a 140-horsepower 5.0-liter V-8. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1980 Ford Mustang LX coupe. The year 1980 saw the 302-cubic-inch V-8 engine dropped as an option. It was replaced by an economy-minded 119-horsepower 255-cubic-inch V-8. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1981 Ford Mustang. The turbo four-cylinder was dropped from the engine lineup in 1981, and new emissions controls dropped the 255-cubic-inch V-8's power down to 115 horsepower. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1982 Ford Mustang GT. The GT moniker returned after a 12-year absence. Optional T-tops made a comeback as well, as did the 5.0-liter V-8. This one rated at 157 horsepower with a two-barrel carburetor. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1983 Ford Mustang convertible. The convertible returned after being absent for 10 years. The Mustang GT's 5.0-liter V-8 also got a boost from a Holley four-barrel carburetor, beefing up the horsepower to 175. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1984 Ford Mustang convertible, right, and 1965 Mustang. For the 20th anniversary edition Mustang, a special V-8-powered GT model was offered -- painted Oxford White with Canyon Red interior -- in either coupe or convertible form. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1985 Ford Mustang SVO. The SVO series came from the Special Vehicle Operations group that ran Ford's racing programs. It featured an off-center functional hood scoop with a turbo-charged four-cylinder under the hood. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1986 Ford Mustang GT convertible. Ford traded the V-8 Mustang's carburetor for a new sequential multiport fuel injection system. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1987 Ford Mustang GT. The Mustang was redesigned in 1987, adopting an "aero-look" body that included faired-in headlamps. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1988 Ford Mustang LX fastback. The 5.0-liter LX model was popular, as it offered all the power of the GT but was 200 pounds lighter. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1989 Ford Mustang LX coupe. As a special for the Mustang's 25th anniversary, all cars produced between April 17, 1989, and April 17, 1990, sported the Mustang's running horse logo on the dash with "25 years" inscribed underneath. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1990 Ford Mustang convertible, front, and 1965 Ford Mustang convertible. In 1990, Ford added a driver's-side airbag as standard equipment. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1991 Ford Mustang LX. V-8 models came with new five-spoke, 16-inch cast aluminum wheels -- the first time a 16-inch wheel was offered as a factory option on Mustangs. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1992 Ford Mustang 5.0. The lightweight 5-liter LX outsold all other models combined in 1992. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1993 Ford Mustang Cobra. Ford's Special Vehicle Team introduced a limited-production SVT Mustang Cobra with special styling cues and performance upgrades. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1994 Ford Mustang convertible prototype. The year 1994 brought on the fourth generation of Mustangs. The Fox-4 platform was re-engineered and structurally stiffer. The hatchback body style was discontinued, leaving the two-door coupe and convertible. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1995 Ford Mustang GT. This was the final model year for the 5.0-liter V-8. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1996 Ford Mustang Cobra Coupe. The Cobra featured Ford's new 4.6-liter modular V-8 -- the first production Ford V-8 to use overhead camshafts. The Cobra used dual-overhead cams and four valves per cylinder to generate 305 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1997 Ford Mustang convertible. Ford added a passive anti-theft system as standard equipment on all Mustangs. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1998 Ford Mustang GT convertible. The Mustang's 4.6-liter V-8 got a horsepower boost to 225. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

1999 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra. The SVT Mustang Cobra was the first Mustang with a fully independent rear suspension. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2000 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra. The third SVT Cobra R was produced with a limited run of 300 cars. It featured a 385-horsepower 5.4-liter DOHC V-8, and it came with the first six-speed manual transmission ever in a Mustang. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2001 Ford Mustang Bullitt GT. Inspired by the 1968 Mustang GT390 driven by Steve McQueen in the movie classic "Bullitt," the Mustang Bullitt GT was also finished in the same dark green as in the movie. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2002 Ford Mustang GT Premium convertible. Two of Mustang's domestic competitors fell to the wayside this year, as the production of the Chevrolet Camaro and the Pontiac Firebird was suspended. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 coupe. The Mach 1 sported a 305-horsepower V-8 engine and a signature ram-air "Shaker" hood scoop. The interior was equipped with 1960s-style "comfort weave" seats trimmed in black leather. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2004 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra. The 2004 models were the last to be manufactured in Ford's Dearborn Assembly Plant, which had produced every model year Mustang since its inception. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2005 Ford Mustang GT. The year 2005 brought in the fifth generation of the Mustang, with a wheelbase 6 inches longer than the car it replaced. The platform was unique to the Mustang and not shared with any other models. This year's Mustang models were produced in Ford's plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2006 Ford Mustang. The Mustang V-6 Deluxe is seen here, equipped with the sport appearance package. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2007 Ford Shelby GT500. The rigid chassis and comparable curb weight of the 2007 Shelby GT500 convertible resulted in driving dynamics that closely matched those of the coupe. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2008 Mustang Shelby GT convertible. Ford collaborated with Carroll Shelby to develop the most powerful production Mustang built up to that time, the 2007 Shelby GT500 Mustang. Available as either a convertible or coupe, it was powered by a 500-horsepower supercharged 5.4-liter V-8. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2009 Mustang convertible. Thousands descended on Birmingham, Alabama, as the state declared "Mustang Day" on April 17, 2009, to celebrate the Mustang's 45th anniversary. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2010 Mustang GT. The 2010 Mustang was redesigned with more sculpted haunches, chamfered rear corners and a trapezoidal grille. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2011 Ford Mustang. Ford introduced a new 5.0-liter V-8 engine that delivered 412 horsepower and a highway fuel economy of 26 miles per gallon. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302. The limited-production 2012 Mustang Boss 302 was revived as a track-oriented model for a two-year limited-edition run, with its 5.0-liter V-8 upgraded to produce 444 horsepower. Courtesy Ford Motor Company

2013 Ford Shelby GT500. The GT500 was fitted with a supercharged 5.8-liter V-8 that generated 662 horsepower, enough to provide a top speed of just over 200 mph. Courtesy Ford Motor Company