Will new Mustang be as “fun” as the old ones?

Ford Motor Co. President of the Americas Joe Hinrichs addressed more than 600 Economic Club of Chicago members, guests and journalists to kickoff the 2014 Chicago Auto Show (www.chicagoautoshow.com) on Feb. 6, 2014.

The open-to-the-public new-car event showcased some of Ford’s current spotlight vehicles, including the 50th edition Ford Mustang and the all-new Ford F-150, America’s best selling vehicle for 32 years. Hinrich brought one of the 2015 Mustangs to the party for people to sit in and crawl over after he was done talking.

The theme of Mr. Hinrichs’ address was global competitiveness, including the resurgence of manufacturing to the United States and the impact that global trade agreements have on the U.S. economy and, notably, on the automotive manufacturing industry. The new Mustang is sure to have an impact when it arrives in Ford showrooms next year.

The Mustang displayed was a convertible finished in a brownish-gold color that reflects the new car’s high-tech personality, but probably won’t do much for nostalgia buffs who have a Poppy Red Gen 1 ‘Stang in their garage. This is a different kind of car than the original, which sold like hot cakes because it was a cheap, sporty car with four seats.

The new Mustang is aimed more at the “world-class sports car” niche that the Corvette plays in today. I’m sure it will be a good, fast, sexy car with a just-affordable price tag that gives the buyer good value for the money. But it is not going to be a fun-filled bargain basement bombshell that a million people will rush right out and buy.

If you want that, you’ll be better off with a vintage Pony Car that isn’t all optioned up in Barrett-Jackson auction style—a nice Poppy Red ’65-’66 convertible with the basic Mustang features.

They are still out there, they are still affordable and they are still lots of fun.