By: Bobby Webb
The Car Designed to be Designed by You
The Mustang was introduced on April 17, 1964. There was one white hardtop and one red convertible available for each dealer. I was fortunate enough to purchase the white hardtop from my dealer during my lunch break on April 17th.
It doesn’t invite much argument to say that the Mustang was the most important car of the ‘60s. The initial 1965 model (there was never a 1964 1/2 as many believed) sold a staggering 680,989 copies and changed forever the young America’s attitude toward Detroit cars, which was just what the Mustang’s patron and creator, Lee Iacocca, had hoped to achieve.
Iacocca, the wizard sales ace who rose from obscurity to a vice presidency and the head of Ford Division within five years after joining Ford, had observed the gap left by the long-departed two-seat Thunderbird. He was sure the youthful, sporty, inexpensive car – but with four seats – which was peppy and snazzy looking and started at under $2,500 would be a powerful new product.
Ford designers set to work with these product objectives:
- The car should be as low-priced as possible — to compete in the volume segment of the market.
- It should seat four passengers, and have front bucket seats to complement the over-all sporty appearance of the car.
- It should have good trunk space.
- It should offer both good performance and good economy — meaning a wide range of engine choices.
- It had to be soundly and exquisitely styled.
- It had to be versatile and adaptable to a wide variety of tastes.
When they completed their objectives, there were three models: a hardtop, convertible and semi-fastback coupe. A six-cylinder engine was standard, but there were 260-cid and later 289-cid V-8’s on the option list, along with just about every other accessory one could imagine – a key ingredient in Mustang’s broad appeal to several different market segments.
Careful use of the option book, for example, could result in a basic-transportation Mustang, a thundering drag racer, or a deceptively nimble sports car. Several choices of transmissions were available; including automatic, four-speed, three-speed, or overdrive. You could even get bench seats instead of the standard bucket seats if you preferred. There was a GT package available for $170. The GT package included front-disc brakes, full instrumentation, driving lights, and special badge identification. These many options allowed you to purchase a Mustang for $2,372 or you could spend as much as $4,500 if you desired all the options.
The Mustang has a “look of performance,” characterized by a low profile with sports car proportions. Full-wheel cutouts and the forward-thrusting hood accentuate the Mustang’s sporty design.
The ever lasting love for the Mustang is proof of its unbelievable success. Even today, 45 years later, the American car buyers still love the Mustang. I do not see that changing anytime soon.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
As someone that was in the car world as part of a dealership ( Ford,Chev,Buick and Dodge) I know for a fact that there was a 64 1/2 Built I had a white one with Black vin top and 200 cid cyl with a 3 speed WITH ac wish I still had it. Thanks for a very good write up other than the one little missque.
Thanks for the comment. I have always heard that there was not. Must have been one if you owned it but I did buy mine on the first day, April 17, 1964 and the title in North Carolina had it as a 1965. Maybe different states titled them differently. Thanks again.
There was definitely a 64 1/2 model. It was a generator car and in 1965 the Mustang became an alternator run car. The 64 1/2 also had a 260 up until September of 1964, when Ford bored it out to make the now famous 289. Great article just thought I would share a little of what I now about these awesome cars as I own a 66 convertible and a 69 coupe.
Thanks for the info. That is good to know. The one I purchased had the 260 engine and I sold it and purchased a 289 from a friend after they were available. I drove the 289 for several years and it was a great car.
Bobby, everyone is correct, as strange as it seems. Ford marketed the original Mustang as a 1965 model when introduced on April 17, 1964. The six cylinder was a 170 cid while two V8′s were offered, a 260 cid 2bbl and a 289 cid with a four barrel carb. Later in 1964 the 289 Hi-Performance V8 became an option. All engines were generator equipped, which is the easiest way to tell the difference between an ‘early 1965′ (64 1/2) and a ‘late’ 1965 Mustang. When regular 1965 production started, the engine line-up changed and all engines were equipped with an alternator. All engines were different in the ‘regular’ 1965 models. The 200 cid six cylinder replaced the 170 cid, 289 2v replaced the 260 2v, and the 289 4v became a premium fuel engine. The 289 HiPo remained but with the alternator upgrade. There are many differences between early and late 1965 Mustangs but the original engine is the easiest way to tell the difference.
I owned a 64 1/2 Mustang equipped with the 289 4v (regular fuel) engine, 4-speed transmission and the Ralley-Pac. Wish I still had the car. I’ve owned an ‘early’ 1968 Mustang (another story) for over 10 years now.
Thanks for the information on this. I was not aware of the detail you explained. All I knew was that I did purchase one on April 17, 1964 with a 260 engine and it was titled in NC as a 1965. I later purchased a used one from a friend that was purchased in August of 1964 and it had a 289 engine and was also titled as a 1965. Thanks again for you help.