Ford once built a 1965 Mustang on top of the Empire State Building
Published on Jul 13, 2025 at 3:35 AM (UTC+4)
by Callum Tokody
Last updated on Jul 08, 2025 at 6:49 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
To celebrate the first anniversary of the Ford Mustang, engineers rebuilt a 1965 Mustang on the Empire State Building using only its elevators.
With helicopters and cranes ruled out, engineers opted for an unconventional method.
They cut the 1965 Mustang into sections, measured for the building’s elevators, and worked overnight to complete the job.
The car was reassembled more than 1,000 feet above Manhattan in just six hours.
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How Ford rebuilt the 1965 Mustang in Midtown Manhattan
This was not a replica or shell. It was a real 1965 Mustang convertible, rebuilt from parts on the 86th-floor observation deck.
The Empire State Building’s elevators were too small for a complete car, so Ford engineers divided it into four key sections.
The front end, rear body, center structure, and windshield frame were each carefully measured and boxed.
The entire process was timed with precision.
Parts were moved through service corridors, brought up in the middle of the night, and reassembled under tight deadlines.
By morning, the Ford Mustang was fully intact.
Its red paint gleamed in the morning sun, and it attracted crowds from across New York.
People queued up for a glimpse, and the moment quickly gained worldwide press coverage.
Ford’s stunt demonstrated how flexible and intelligently designed the 1965 Mustang really was.
The display proved that the car could be taken apart, transported vertically, and put back together in one of the world’s most iconic buildings.
It became a foundational piece of Mustang history, referenced for decades after.
Mustang returns to the Empire State Building in 2014
In 2014, Ford recreated the same stunt using a 2015 Ford Mustang fastback. The goal was to honor the original 1965 Mustang event while showcasing the evolution of the model.
The new car was heavier, more complex, and built with modern safety and electrical systems.
Engineers still managed to break it down, transport it by elevator, and reassemble it in place before sunrise.
Just like the original, it stood on the 86th floor for two days and drew massive attention.
It was a statement that the Mustang remained central to Ford’s identity.
The 1965 Mustang’s appearance atop the Empire State Building continues to stand out in Mustang history.
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Callum Tokody is a content writer at Supercar Blondie, where he covers the latest in the automotive world with a focus on design and performance. Callum has a background in automotive journalism and has contributed to a range of publications in Australia and the UK. Outside of work, he’s a design enthusiast with a soft spot for anything with a V8 and a good story.
