A look back at nearly 6 decades of the Ford Mustang, the world's best selling sports car

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.Ford

• The Ford Mustang debuted in 1964 as a sporty and cheap car for younger buyers.
• Throughout the years, the Mustang has undergone many changes.
• But the original "pony car" philosophy still holds true, even nearly six decades later.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nearly 60 years have passed since the birth of the Ford Mustang. In the decades since, the car has gone through six generations and is currently leading global sales for the two-door sports car segment.

Six decades is a long time for a car to be around, but the Mustang still hasn't lost its reputation of bringing fun and performance to the masses. Originally conceived as an affordable sports car, contemporary Mustangs haven't really strayed far from that philosophy. They're still relatively inexpensive for the performance you get in return.

The "pony car" class also originated from the Mustang, but isn't reserved exclusively for it. The Mustang was a revolution when it launched because it was aimed at the youths, and was compact, sporty, and — most importantly — cheap, as Car Throttle explains. Competitors, such as the Chevrolet Camaro and the Plymouth Barracuda, sprang up not long after.

The Mustang nameplate has undergone plenty of changes throughout the years, despite maintaining the same sentiment: fun and affordable. Here are some of the notable ones that brought us to the current lineup.