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"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 \u2014 and because Ford apparently had so much fun the last time \u2014 the automaker is doing it again.\n\nOf 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.\nA 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.\nImage:  Ford Motor Co.\n\n\nThis 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, \u201CThe 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.\u201D\nA 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.\n\n\n\nThe 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.\nTesting 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.\nImage:  Ford Motor Co.\n\n\nThe 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.\nDST 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.\nImage:  Ford Motor Co.\n\n\nOnce 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. \nThe crew rides up in the elevator with parts of the 2015 Ford Mustang that will displayed on the Empire State Building observation deck.\nImage:  Ford Motor Co.\n\n\nThe crew that will build the 2015 Ford Mustang that will displayed on the Empire State Building observation deck.\nImage:  Ford Motor Co.\n\n\nThe 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.\nImage:  Ford Motor Co.\n\n\n50 years ago...\nIf you're curious about how Ford did it the first time, check out the following photos for a mini walk-through.\nThe 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.\nImage:  Ford Motor Co.\n\n\nRemoved 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.\nImage:  Ford Motor Co.\n\n\nOnce 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.\nImage:  Ford Motor Co.\n\n\nThis 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.\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments. \n\n\nNew York International Auto Show 2014\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGeneral View of the New York Auto Show\n\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCarPlay\nVolvo and Apple offered the first public demonstration of CarPlay in the U.S. since its March debut at the Geneva International Motor Show.\n\nImage: Mashable, Adario Strange\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3D Printed Liquid Metal Car\nAssembled on to the body of a Ford Torino is a 3D printed liquid metal car shell created by Ioan Florea.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLand Rover Discovery\nLand Rover and Virgin Galactic announced a partnership that included a concept for Land Rover's Discovery SUV.\n\nImage: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"See-Through\" Hood\nLand Rover revealed a \"see-through\" hood that allows drivers to see beneath their cars while driving.\n\nVideo: YouTube, Land Rover\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nToyota FT-1\nToyota gave car fans an up-close look at its video game-inspired FT-1 concept car.\n\nImage: Mashable, Adario Strange\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFord Mustang\nFord's executive chairman, Bill Ford, stands with the all-new 2015 Mustang convertible as it's introduced on the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building.\n\nImage: John Minchillo/Associated Press\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nToyota PM Concept Car\nThe PM is a personal mobility Toyota concept vehicle that \"fits like a glove\" to create a feeling of unity between the driver and the vehicle. \n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Barra\nGM CEO Mary Barra took the stage on April 15 to help announce two new Chevy cars -- one of which was the Trax, which is already available in Canada.\n\nImage: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMyLink\nThe Chevy Trax will come equipped with Siri compatibility and a hands-free system called \"MyLink.\"\n\nImage: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCross Section of a Hyundai Genesis\nHyundai had a cross section of it's Genesis coupe on display at the New York International Auto Show.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPorsche 918 Spyder\nOne of the fastest street-legal cars out there but at $845,000, it's obviously not a consumer-oriented vehicle. \n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChevrolet Camaro SS\nCamaro SS Convertibles accompany a Corvette ZR1 as the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500.\n\nImage: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJeep Outside Demonstrations\nJeep has a whole obstacle course set up outside the Javitts Center for individuals who want to give a car a test drive through the most extreme conditions.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBMW i8 Hybrid\nBMW's first hybrid, plug-in electric vehicle, the i8, was unveiled at the New York International Auto Show.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n$2,950- Smart Electric Bike\nFor those with a little less cash in their pocket, you can take home an electric bicycle that actually looks like a bike.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCorvette C7 Stingray\nYou might recognize this Corvette C7 Stingray from the recent trailer for Transformers: Age of Extinction.\n\nImage: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSoleil Anadi\nThis Italian produced sports car yields 651 horsepower and goes from 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds. \n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChevrolet Charger \nThe ever-popular Bumblebee made an appearance, too.\n\nImage: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNYIAS\nThe New York International Auto Show runs from April 18 to April 27 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York, NY.\n\nImage: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCorvette Z06 convertible\nChevy also unveiled the Corvette Z06 convertible, a roofless version of the well-known supercar.\n\nImage: Mashable, Will Fenstermaker\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSRT Viper GTS\nThis viper goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds and can reach a top speed of 206 mph.\n\nImage: Mashable Christina Ascani\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNissan Murano\nNissan updated its Murano SUV with a more \"futuristic\" aesthetic, particularly on the rear and with NASA-inspired seats.\n\nImage: Mashable, Adario Strange\n\n\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/04/15/ford-mustang-empire-state-building/>