The Story

The car Ford did not build

In 2009, Lee Iacocca put his name on 45 Mustangs. A coachbuilder built them, one Ford dealer sold them, and Ford itself did not commission them. 17 years later, about 20 of the 45 are missing, and nobody wrote the story down as it was happening.

Seven chapters, told from the shop paperwork, the dead websites, the magazines that folded, and the people who were in the room. A new chapter every week.

Car 1, silver Car 2, silver Car 3, silver Car 4, silver Car 5, silver Car 6, silver Car 7, silver Car 8, silver Car 9, silver Car 10, silver Car 11, silver Car 12, silver Car 13, silver Car 14, silver Car 15, silver Car 16, silver Car 17, silver Car 18, silver Car 19, silver Car 20, silver Car 21, silver Car 22, silver Car 23, silver Car 24, silver Car 25, silver Car 26, silver Car 27, silver Car 28, silver Car 29, silver Car 30, silver Car 31, silver Car 32, silver Car 33, silver Car 34, silver Car 35, silver Car 36, silver Car 37, silver Car 38, silver Car 39, silver Car 40, black Car 41, silver Car 42, black Car 43, silver Car 44, red Car 45, black
45 cars, in number order. 41 silver. 3 black. 1 red. As far as is currently known.
The dash plaque of car number 42 between the two air vents
Concept and design by Michael Leone. Fabricated and handcrafted by Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters. In collaboration with Lee Iacocca.

Every one of the 45 carries this plate. 3 names. Ford is not one of them.

Watch the trailer The series playlist

Opens on YouTube. Nothing on this page plays on its own.

Seven chapters
Episode 1Watch now
The Idea Why would that man, at that age, in that year, want one more Mustang?
Episode 2Next
The Designer The first name on the plaque belongs to an actor. And what did Ford really have to do with it? Episode 3 The Build Two labels on one door jamb, a year apart. What happened to these cars in between? Episode 4 The Launch Why that store? And what did one dealer do with 45 hand built cars nobody had put a price on? Episode 5 Where They Went Las Vegas to Bremerhaven. Were they ever really 45 of the same car? Episode 6 Tribute The obituaries never named the car. Another Mustang had his name painted on its door. Episode 7 The Cars Today What does a car still know, 17 years after it was built?