10 Fun Facts About the 1964-1/2 Ford Mustang

Let’s take a joyride through time and explore 10 delightful facts about the 1964-1/2 Ford Mustang! From its exciting debut to its lasting charm, get ready for a fun-filled adventure into the world of this iconic American classic!

1) The origin of the Ford Mustang can be traced back to the Mustang I concept car, built by a team at Ford led by the legendary Lee Iacocca. Originally envisioned as a small, low-cost, two seat design with a rear-mounted engine, the car was being developed as a competitor to the Corvette and small, European sports cars. It debuted at the U.S. Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, New York on October 7, 1962. With racing legend Dan Gurney behind the wheel, the powerful, lightweight, well-balanced Mustang I posted lap times in line with high-end race cars of the day.

2) Ford stylist John Naijar, who helped design the Ford Mustang I concept car with fellow stylist Philip T. Clark, is credited as the person who came up with the name “Mustang.” A fan of fighter plane designs from World War 2, Naijar borrowed the name from the now-iconic North American Aviation P-51 Mustang fighter plane, which had served as a quick and maneuverable bomber escort in the skies over occupied Europe.

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3) The Mustang II concept car, which featured many of the styling and engineering details that eventually went into the first production Ford Mustang–including the familiar squared side coves, the long hood/short decklid configuration, and “2+2” four-seat arrangement–debuted at the U.S. Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, N.Y. on October 5, 1963.

4) The production Ford Mustang went on sale to the public on April 17, 1964, with Henry Ford II officially introducing the car at that year’s World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows, New York.

5) Because the first-year Mustang was introduced in the spring instead of in the fall, as new cars had been for years, Mustangs built before September 1964 are commonly referred to by fans of the breed as 1964-1/2 Mustangs, with cars built after being 1965 Mustangs.

6) Though Ford estimated the new Ford Mustang would sell around 100,000 examples in the first year and around 20,000 in the first few months, the car was an immediate, massive success, topping 100,000 in sales only three months after the launch. The Mustang would go on to sell 318,000 units in the first year, and would surpass more than one million in sales within eighteen months.

7) Originally, the only Mustang variants were the coupe and convertible models. The famous Mustang Fastback, with a sloped rear roof that has been recreated in late model Mustangs–including the 2019 and 2020 Mustang coupe–wouldn’t be introduced until 1965.

8) The 1964-1/2 Mustang convertible bearing serial number 00001 was sold to Canadian airline pilot Stanley Tucker at a Ford dealership in St. John’s Newfoundland on April 16, 1964–the day before the car was supposed to officially go on sale. Soon realizing how significant and important the first Mustang would be, Ford Motor Company eventually tracked down Tucker and made a deal to trade Mustang 00001 for the 10,000,001st Mustang, which would be built to Tucker’s specifications. He eventually settled on a Mustang convertible with every available option except for the high-performance 289 cubic inch engine (which Tucker declined because the engine’s warranty wasn’t as good as the standard 289).

9) Ford Motor Company donated Mustang 00001 to Dearborn’s Henry Ford Museum, where it remains to this day. As for the Mustang #10000001, Stanley Tucker used it as a daily driver for many years and sold it to his mechanic in the mid-1970s. Soon thereafter, it dropped off the map, and is considered one of the great “lost” Mustangs.

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10) Though many mistakenly assume that the white Ford Mustang convertible that appears in the 1964 James Bond film “Goldfinger” was the first appearance of a Mustang on the silver screen, the actual first Mustang ever to appear in a feature film was a red Mustang convertible that co-starred in the French comedy Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez. “Goldfinger” debuted on September 17, 1964, while the French film first screened a little over a week earlier, on September 9, 1964.

Exploring these 10 fun facts has truly been a thrilling ride through the history of the 1964-1/2 Ford Mustang! From its innovative features to its cultural impact, this iconic car continues to captivate enthusiasts worldwide. As we conclude our journey, let’s celebrate the enduring legacy of the Mustang and the joy it brings to generations of fans.