In 1962, Ford rolled out the first of many Mustang concept cars. While the Mustang we would come to know and love bears little resemblance to this short and sleek two-seater, the original concept was still a very big deal for Ford. The Mustang I concept debuted many styling and tech features that would eventually be used on the 1965+ Mustang models.

The original Mustang I concept, however, called for an affordable two seater, a poor-man’s Thunderbird if you will. We are thankful Ford designers added two more back seats, though there were other perks of the original concept that never made it into production. Still, this promotional video serves as a reminder of how far the Mustang has come.

Born as a two-seater with an aluminum body and a mid-engine, high-output V4 four-cylinder engine, the feasibility of the concept was never a concern. Rather, Ford wanted a concept that grabbed the attention of the public and let them know that the Blue Oval was pushing the automotive technological envelope.

But the video does more than just talk about the Mustang I concept; it shows the vehicle in action, with veteran race car driver Dan Gurney serving as a test driver. Ford even gives us a behind-the-scenes look at engineering meetings, as well as a look at an accurate scale model. The whole concept gave birth to the pony car we all know and love today, and this video is an interesting look at the Mustang that might-have-been.

We’re just glad it wasn’t.