The reason the Ford Mustang became known as a “pony car” was because compared to many sports cars of the day, it was smaller and decidedly more European in its dimensions and styling. Before it was even officially crowned “Mustang”, Ford was considering using a slogan that is remarkably similar to the “Imported From Detroit” slogan used by crosstown rival Chrysler in an award-winning series of advertisements.

Automotive News reports that in his new book Once in a Great City: A Detroit Story, Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Maraniss discovered that Ford considered using the phrase “A new import…from Detroit…” to describe the Mustang.

Back when the Mustang was still called the Torino internally, Ford’s designers were drawing their influence primarily from Italian sources. The small, nimble sports cars of Apennine Peninsula were a major influence on the Mustang, inspiring the early marketing slogan describing the car as a “”brand new import … from Detroit … inspired by Italy’s great road cars, but straight from Detroit.” Were it not for rumors regarding Henry Ford II’s infidelity, the “import” motto might have stuck around.

See, Henry was embroiled in a divorce amid rumors of an affair that linked him to Italian socialite (and later the second Mrs. Ford) Cristina Vettore Austin. Not wanting to add fuel to the fire, the Ford heir nixed both the Italian-sourced Torino name and any motto mentioning Italy, including the “import from Detroit” slogan. It wouldn’t be until 2011 that Chrysler would grab the almost-similar “Imported From Detroit” slogan for themselves in an ad that starred hip-hop legend and Detroit native Eminem, earning it nearly endless accolades and numerous advertising awards.

Obviously, the Mustang didn’t need some fancy slogan to sell well, though Ford’s famous marketing schemes, like bringing a complete car to the roof of the Empire State Building, are still admired and discussed today. Chrysler can keep “Imported” for themselves.