The origin of the Ford Mustang’s name is shrouded in mystery. Some believe it was inspired by the P-51 Mustang fighter plane, a favorite of designer John Najjar, while others attribute it to market research manager Robert Eggert, who had a passion for mustang horses. Ford’s official stance on the matter is uncertain, with a representative questioning the significance of the name. Regardless, the name ultimately connects back to the mustang horse, derived from the Spanish word mestengo, meaning “stray” or “feral animal.” This can be traced back to mesta in Latin, stemming from mixtus, which translates to “mixed” and reflects the concept of wild animals joining a group of domesticated ones. The evolution of mixtus from Proto-Italic miksko, ultimately originating from the Proto-Indo-European term meik, also signifying “mix.”
