What Was the Most Popular Ford in the 1960s?

The Ford Mustang was the most popular Ford of the 1960s—especially in the United States—after its 1964 debut ignited a sales surge that surpassed one million cars by March 1966. That said, “most popular” varied by market: the Ford Falcon dominated early-decade U.S. sales among compacts, while the Ford Cortina became a best-seller in the United Kingdom by 1967.

Why the Mustang Stands Out

Introduced on April 17, 1964, the Mustang hit an untapped sweet spot: sporty looks, a low base price, and broad customization. It effectively created the “pony car” segment and became a pop-culture icon almost overnight, translating buzz into record-setting sales.

Mustang Sales Milestones

The following highlights show how quickly the Mustang rose to prominence in the mid-1960s.

• Launch: April 17, 1964, timed with a New York World’s Fair reveal.
• First-year impact: More than 418,000 sold in the first 12 months.
• Production landmark: The 1,000,000th Mustang rolled off the line in March 1966.
• Mid-decade dominance: 1965–1966 production alone exceeded 1.1 million units.
• Price and positioning: Base price around $2,368 at launch, with options that broadened appeal from economy to performance.

Taken together, these milestones underline why the Mustang is widely regarded as the decade’s defining Ford: it combined unprecedented volume with cultural cachet, reshaping Ford’s brand image and the U.S. car market.

Mustang’s Cultural Footprint

Beyond sales, the Mustang became a 1960s symbol—appearing on tracks, in films, and across American media—amplifying demand.

• Motorsport and events: Served as the 1964 Indianapolis 500 pace car, boosting national visibility.
• On screen: Featured in 1960s pop culture, most famously Steve McQueen’s 1968 film “Bullitt” with a Highland Green Mustang GT 390.
• New segment: Its success spawned competitors (Camaro, Firebird, Challenger), cementing the “pony car” as a market segment.

This cultural presence magnified the Mustang’s appeal, making it more than just a high-volume model—it became a 1960s icon.

Popular by Region: It Wasn’t One-Size-Fits-All

While the Mustang best captures 1960s Ford popularity in the U.S., other Fords led in specific markets and years. Context by region helps explain the full picture.

United States (Early 1960s): The Ford Falcon’s Quiet Dominance

Before the Mustang, the compact Ford Falcon (introduced for 1960) was a sales workhorse. It targeted economy-minded buyers and families, and it regularly sold in the hundreds of thousands per year, peaking around 474,000 in 1961. The Falcon was the country’s best-selling compact in the early 1960s and even provided the platform that underpinned the first Mustang. By mid-decade, the Mustang eclipsed it in visibility and momentum.

United Kingdom and Europe: The Ford Cortina’s Mass-Market Appeal

Launched in 1962, the Ford Cortina was engineered as an affordable, roomy family saloon with strong fleet appeal. It quickly became one of Britain’s favorite cars and, by 1967, took the title of the UK’s best-selling car—status it would hold in multiple subsequent years as later generations arrived. Across Europe, the Cortina’s formula of value and practicality made it a mainstay for families, company fleets, and rally enthusiasts.

Bottom Line

If you’re asking which Ford defined the 1960s, the Mustang is the clear answer in the U.S.—by both sales momentum and cultural influence. But sales leadership early in the decade leaned toward the Falcon stateside, and in the UK the Cortina emerged as a late-60s best-seller. “Most popular” ultimately depends on the market and moment within the decade.

Summary

Here are the key takeaways that tie together the decade’s top Fords.

• United States: The Ford Mustang (launched 1964) became the decade’s standout, surpassing one million produced by March 1966 and defining the pony-car era.
• Early 1960s U.S.: The Ford Falcon led compact-car sales and set the stage for the Mustang’s platform.
• United Kingdom/Europe: The Ford Cortina, introduced in 1962, became the UK’s best-selling car by 1967 and a cornerstone of Ford’s European lineup.

In short, the Mustang was the 1960s Ford that broke records and captured imaginations, while the Falcon and Cortina anchored Ford’s sales strength across different markets and phases of the decade.