Ford to Put Mustang Atop Empire State Building for 50th Anniversary

Half a century ago, before the Internet and viral-video stunts, Ford took one of its brand new Mustang convertibles, cut it into three pieces, stuffed it into the Empire State Building's tiny elevator and sent it all the way up to the 86th floor. Then the company reassembled the car, and drove it around the the Manhattan landmark's observation deck. Now, to mark the Mustang's 50th anniversary -- and because Ford apparently had so much fun the last time -- the automaker is doing it again.

Of course, Ford is not chopping up a priceless old Mustang. Instead, the company is using one of its freshly minted 2015 models (you can see them slicing and dicing it in the video, above). Unveiled late last year, the 2015 Ford Mustang is both a throwback, with lines and curves reminiscent of the late 1960s Mustang Mach II, and an update, as the front shows hints of the futuristic-looking Ford Fusion with its slit-like headlights.

A DST metal fabricator carefully measures and marks where the cuts will be made to section the 2015 Ford Mustang convertible that will be displayed on the Empire State Building observation deck. Credit: Ford Motor Co.

This time, however, Ford and its partner in high-rise crime DST Industries had to cut the car up into even more pieces. Prakash Patel, Ford's Mustang program manager, explained, “The car is actually bigger, longer and wider than what it was in 1965. Remember, the Empire State Building is exactly how is was 50 years ago, so we have a significant challenge.”

A DST metal fabricator slices through the rear section of the 2015 Ford Mustang convertible that will be displayed on the Empire State Building observation deck. Credit:

The elevators used to transport the car pieces nearly 1000 feet up are just 36-inches wide. In order to ensure that the trips go smoothly (each segment rides alone), DST built an Empire State Building elevator replica in its shop, and carefully placed each piece inside it.

Testing a dunnage for moving one of the rear quarter sections of the 2015 Ford Mustang convertible that will be displayed on the Empire State Building observation deck. Credit: Ford Motor Co.

The other goal was to ensure the 2015 Ford Mustang didn't end up looking like it was reconstituted from six separate pieces. So DST also built a special subframe that goes underneath the Mustang, and bolts the body and suspension together.

DST metal fabricators prepare to fit the front subframe and suspension to the 2015 Ford Mustang convertible that will be displayed on the Empire State Building observation deck. Credit: Ford Motor Co.

Once the observation deck closed to visitors on Monday, Ford and DST had just five hours to move and reassemble the 2015 Ford Mustang before unveiling it atop the iconic Empire State Building on April 16 (it will remain on display until April 17). Mashable will be present at the event, and will report on Ford's handiwork.

The crew rides up in the elevator with parts of the 2015 Ford Mustang that will displayed on the Empire State Building observation deck. Credit: Ford Motor Co.

The crew that will build the 2015 Ford Mustang that will displayed on the Empire State Building observation deck. Credit: Ford Motor Co.

The crew loads one of the rear quarter sections of the 2015 Ford Mustang, which will displayed on the Empire State Building observation deck, into the final elevator required to get the car to the 86th floor. Credit: Ford Motor Co.

50 years ago...

If you're curious about how Ford did it the first time, check out the following photos for a mini walk-through.

The operation to tear down a whole and healthy Mustang, 15 long, into four major sections and many smaller pieces enters a critical stage. The well-trained team of specialists skillfully and cautiously separates two sections by unfastening clamps, and sliding pipe rails apart on both sides of the car. The technique of reducing the Mustang into four sections proceeded so smoothly, the job was successfully completed in about an hour. Credit: Ford Motor Co.

Removed from the operating arena on 33rd Street, the front third of the disjointed Mustang is precisely tucked into a waiting elevator to be whisked to the 86th floor observation area. The front and rear sections of the car were wheeled into the lobby in rickshaw fashion. The sections and all the other pieces were carefully assembled, and joined together again in a reverse operation on the 86th floor, more than 1,000 feet above the street. Credit: Ford Motor Co.

Once again restored to robust health and with the hazards of Operation Mustang safely concluded, the 1966 convertible recuperates while perched on a corner of the 86th floor parapet. The car was later moved inside the building to the observation deck where it will be on public display to be viewed by thousands of visitors to the famed landmark until next spring. It is the first car ever to be put on the observation deck and the biggest and heaviest object ever on display there. Credit: Ford Motor Co.

This latest Ford stunt ends just before the start of the New York International Auto Show, which kicks off on April 18, and takes place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, just a few blocks from the Empire State Building.

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