The Guinness Book of World Records has recognized a new world record for the largest Ford Mustang parade, featuring 1,326 of them. That shatters the previous record of 960 vehicles set in December 2017. There’s a strange twist, however. Being an American icon, one would assume that this record-setting Mustang parade would have taken place somewhere in the United States. Wrong! The event took place at Ford’s Lommel Proving Ground in Belgium. Sad!
Actually, though, it’s pretty amazing that there are that many Ford Mustang enthusiasts across the pond, as it speaks to just how many people all over the world seek to own the pony car. In fact, Ford Motor Company claims that the Mustang is the world’s best-selling sports coupe, and has already sold 5,500 Mustangs in the first half of 2019, up 3.7 percent from a year ago. More impressively, Ford sold 2,300 Mustangs in Europe in the first quarter of 2019, an increase of more than 27 per cent compared with the same period last year. Belgium was chosen because more Mustangs are sold there than anywhere else in Europe. And of the ones sold, customers seem to prefer the V8 rumble of the Mustang GT over the more entry level Mustang EcoBoost and its 2.3L turbo engine.
To set the new record, the Mustangs were driven in an uninterrupted convoy with no more than 20 meters (65 feet) between each car. Afterwards came the awesome photo shoot to celebrate Mustang’s 55th anniversary this year. The event was capped by a fly-over by a P-51 Mustang, the fighter plane that inspired the name of the car all those years ago.
As we first reported, the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will not be officially sold in Europe, but customers residing in the continent will be treated to the collectible Mustang55 anniversary package. The Ford Mustang55 is based off the Mustang GT and features a unique visual package consisting of black and gray accents inside and out.
Should Ford eventually choose its home country to break its own record, we can imagine there’d be quite a turnout for it.