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The Ford Mustang is among the first models that spring to mind when you think about American muscle cars. It is without a doubt one of the greatest muscle car icons in American history, and the name alone conjures up images of speed and style. It started off as a reasonably priced pony car and abruptly switched into a potent muscle car. It has been around since 1964 and has been through six generations so far, giving rise to numerous models and variants. Even renowned Ford executive Lee Iacocca, who created and conceptualized the Mustang, was unaware of the eventual independent life the car would lead.
As an American classic, the original first-generation Mustang, which was producinmid the 1960s and sold for ten years until 1973, will always have a special spot in our hearts. It is also undeniable that the first-gen Mustangs produced several legendary models, such as the 1967 Shelby GT500 "Eleanor," the 1969 Boss 429, and the 1965 Shelby GT350. These are still regarded as some of the best Mustangs of all time. It boasts several distinctive details that will interest and delight gearheads and muscle car enthusiasts. Here are ten things you need to know about the first-generation Ford Mustang.
10 The Origin
In 1962, when the world was introduced to the Ferrari 250 GTO, a two-seater concept car (T5 project) was proudly in its development phase with a small 4-cylinder mid-sized engine spearheaded by Lee Iacocca and chief engineer Donald N. Frey to revolutionize the automotive world, today famously known as the Ford Mustang. Amazingly, the team completed the entire development of this T5 prototype in just 18 months.
The Mustang II prototype, a four-seat concept car intended to gauge public opinion of the series, was created from it after that in the same year. The Mustang III, the last prototype and concept car, was built in 1963 and had many characteristics in common with the production model while having front and rear ends that were 2.7 inches lower than those of the first two concept cars. The first-generation Mustang production model was finally unveiled in 1964, making auto history. It was originally envisioned to appeal to a younger generation of motorists.
9 Tale Behind The Iconic Name And Logo
The genesis of the Ford Mustang's name and distinctive badge is quite mysterious. However, the idea of the name "Mustang" is actually credited to Ford designer John Naijar, who worked on the Ford Mustang I concept car. John took inspiration from the now-iconic North American Aviation P-51 Mustang fighter jet, which had operated as a swift and adaptable fighter-bomber in the skies over occupied Europe since he was an admirer of World War II fighter plane designs.
Philip Thomas Clark, another designer who worked on the Mustang I concept car alongside John, apparently came up with the idea of the Mustang horse galloping from right to left for the car's logo. Though the horse is closely associated with the American West, it is believed that the horse stands for American freedom and expansion.
8 Its First Public Debut Was At The New York World's Fair
Without a doubt, the first-gen Mustang has had a profound influence on the auto industry, but its official debut also attracted the most media attention. The day before it was officially unveiled to the public in New York, it generated a lot of buzz. As part of a nationwide marketing campaign, Ford sponsored concurrent shows on the three major TV networks, which were viewed by 29 million people. More than 2,600 publications ran Mustang advertisements the following day.
On April 17, 1964, Henry Ford II made Mustang's long-awaited world premiere at the New York World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows. A total of 124 journalists were the first to drive a Mustang after its introduction in the Ford Mustang Road Rally, which traveled from the suburb of New York's Westchester Country Club to Dearborn while making a stop at Niagara Falls.
7 22,000 Models Were Sold On The First Day
Several automakers began emphasizing style in the early ‘60s to attract young drivers. Some of the most memorable cars from the era were the Chevy Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, and AMC Javelin. However, the Ford Mustang, which was made in record time and on a modest budget, was the 1960s' most distinctive car. Both hardtop and convertible variants were offered.
Designed to be "the Thunderbird for the working man", it aroused hype on opening day, with a staggering 22,000 models being sold on the first day. With production only running at 12,000 units per day, the brand was unable to meet demand. It eventually ended up selling up to 400,000 units and earning billions of dollars. Even Ford was unable to foresee the car's level of popularity.
6 1964 ½ Isn’t Official
The Ford Mustang is a car that many auto aficionados would instantly recognize from a distance. There are, nevertheless, several intriguing characteristics connected to this renowned moniker. One such interesting trait is the 1964 ½ Mustangs, which are officially not acknowledged by Ford. Yes, you read that correctly.
Five months before the start of the planned 1965 production, the first Mustang production models were created. These earliest Mustangs were referred to by collectors and enthusiasts as the "1964 1/2 models" to set them apart from the rest, as they weren't formally included in the planned batch. Even though the production kicked off on March 9, 1964, in Dearborn, Michigan, Ford referred to them as the 1965 models when they were sold.
5 First Supercharged Ford Mustang
Ford produced its one-millionth Mustang in 1966, which was also the year Carroll Shelby, a renowned car designer, developed the first Ford Mustang with a supercharger. He created 11 GT350 fastbacks with Paxton superchargers, which pushed out past the factory's engine power by 46%, raising output to 395 from 271 horses.
Shelby considered creating a special GT350 supercharged model but ultimately decided to make the supercharger an extra $670 option. Moreover, it was offered for sale independently, along with the additional instrumentation that was part of the supercharger package. In addition to installing some on GT350s in 1967, the marque also offered the superchargers for sale over the counter.
4 Continued To Expand In Size And Weight
During its first generation, the Mustang's design saw several modifications. In other words, it started expanding. The Mustang saw its first significant changes in 1967. The car's dimensions and weight were increased substantially to make room for the big-block engine to be installed.
In addition, the Mustang grew even bigger in 1969, measuring 3.8 inches longer and 0.5 inches wider while maintaining its 108-inch wheelbase. But the Ford Mustang's expansion didn't end there; for the 1971 model year, it grew even wider and bulkier, and a new buttressed back window gave the sedan a radically different look from prior Mustangs. Interestingly, the weight of the coupe climbed to 3,600 pounds by 1973, 1,200 pounds more than the 1965 Mustang.
3 First 5.0-Liter V8 Engine Mustang
Although this legendary muscle car has sported a number of fairly potent engines, many auto enthusiasts and Mustang fans mistakenly believe that the 1980s were the first period in which a Mustang was offered with a 5.0-liter V8 engine. This is incorrect; it was offered in the first-generation Mustang.
1968 saw the arrival of the first Mustang with a 302 cubic-inch small-block V8 engine, which produced 230 horsepower with a four-barrel and 220 horsepower with a two-barrel carburetor. Additionally, the 1968 Shelby GT350, too, featured the same engine tuned with an aluminum intake and a bigger 600-cfm Holley that produced 250 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Plus, the Boss 302 Mustangs were also powered by high-performance variants of the engine in 1969 and 1970.
2 Featured In Numerous Blockbuster Movies
The first-generation Mustang has garnered star treatment in numerous blockbuster flicks thanks to its potent engine and attractive styling. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, it quickly rose to iconic status and dominated pop culture. The model made an appearance in the renowned Sean Connery James Bond movie "Goldfinger" only eight months after its release. But this wasn't the only Bond movie it was in; in fact, the Mustang Mach 1 was in the famed Las Vegas scene from the 1971 movie "Diamonds are Forever."
The Mustang was already popular on the streets, but in 1968, Steve McQueen elevated it to star status in Bullitt's 9-minute climax, which is regarded as the best car chase ever shot. Many Mustangs from the first generation have made appearances in renowned movies, whether it was the 1969 Fastback in "John Wick," the 1967 Fastback in "Fast And The Furious Tokyo Drift," or the 1968 Shelby GT500 in "The Thomas Crown Affair." But without a doubt, the 1967 Shelby GT500, named Eleanor in the 2000 version of "Gone in 60 Seconds," is the most instantly recognizable Mustang on the silver screen.
1 Mustang Serial Number One Was Sold Accidentally
It was not intended for the original Mustang serial No. 001, a convertible preproduction model, to be sold, but rather to be used just for a dealership tour. On April 16, 1964, in St. John's, Newfoundland, a dealer accidentally sold the car to Captain Stanley Tucker, a Canadian airline pilot. He was amused when he first saw the elegant Wimbledon White convertible and made the decision to get one for himself. He persuaded Parsons Ford to sell the automobile to him ahead of schedule, breaking the street date.
After quickly realizing how important and pivotal the first Mustang would be, the brand finally managed to track down Capt. Tucker. However, he declined initially and drove it for a good two years. The Blue Oval again called him in 1966 and finally negotiated an agreement to swap his Mustang 001 for the one-millionth Mustang, which would be created in accordance with Tucker's requirements. It was then donated to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, where it’s still on display.