To celebrate the Ford Mustang’s 61st anniversary today, April 17th, and in recognition of continued global admiration for the iconic vehicle, Ford of Canada honoured one if its most loyal fans.

What started as a way for Seasons Belle River Retirement Community team member Tony Ilievski to bond with a resident quickly evolved into a friendship that spans generations. Through their mutual love for Ford’s iconic Mustang and Tony’s own mother working for Ford, a plan quickly evolved to give Mr. Mailloux an emotional morning he won’t soon forget.

On April 15th, Ford of Canada arranged a stroll down memory lane for Mr. Mailloux and Seasons Belle River residents. The event showcased a variety of classic Mustangs in addition to a thrilling ride for Paul in the street-legal, track-ready Mustang Dark Horse, the exhilarating, fun-to-drive, production Mustang coupe - featuring an engine built right down the road from Seasons Belle River at Ford of Canada’s Essex Engine Plant.

Pour en savoir plus sur cette célébration spéciale – veuillez cliquer ici.

On April 17, 1964, Ford introduced the Mustang® and established a legacy that’s endured for decades. And as it begins its 61st year, Mustang continues to excel on the track. The year 2025 has already seen it capture a win at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and multiple NASCAR and Australian Supercar victories. It’s winning on the sales chart, too.

Mustang once again tops the global sports car sales charts1 and it continued its reign as North America’s best-selling sports car2. Ford has sold nearly 1 million Mustangs globally over the past decade. The sports car is available to customers in 85 markets; and in Canada, Mustang is the top-selling sports car – representing nearly half the segment2.

The latest Mustang, the seventh generation, is expanding its reach on both the road and the track. There’s a Mustang for every Mustang fan, from the economical Mustang EcoBoost® to Mustang GT and Dark Horse™ to 815-horsepower Mustang GTD supercar.

Mustang’s success on the road is mirrored on the track. Beyond IMSA endurance racing, NASCAR, and Australian Supercars, Ford continues to race with Mustang in series around the world, as well as the one-make Mustang Challenge series.

The spirit of competition has been part of Ford culture since the beginning, and it’s clear racing helps make Ford vehicles, including Mustang, better. Whether it’s through technology like the Drift Brake or Mustang GTD’s active aerodynamics and carbon-fiber construction or smaller details that improve performance, efficiency, or driver confidence, Mustang’s motorsports participation and racing-inspired engineering has been part of its character for 61 years.

1S&P Global Mobility global vehicle registrations are compiled from government and other sources and capture 95 per cent of global new vehicle volumes in more than 80 countries as reported in March 2025. Sports car as defined by S&P Global Mobility, includes two-door coupe and convertible models.

2Based on OEM-reported sales data through to end of 2024 calendar year.

(Photo: In time for Global Mustang Week, Ford of Canada surprises Mustang super fan and Seasons Belle River Retirement Community resident Paul Mailloux with a vintage Ford Mustang convoy and a thrilling ride in the Mustang Dark Horse.)