To discuss the rat, we must first discuss the mouse. In 1954, Ford squeaked past Chevrolet in sales by a 2% margin (1,165,942 vs. 1,143,561), a reversal of the previous year when Chevy beat Ford by 7% ...
This 11-second muscle car dominated drag strips in the early 1960s, and would remain Ford's fastest muscle car of the era. No, it wasn't a Mustang.