Ford Mustang: 1964-1966

In 1964 the American car scene didn't have too many stars. The expensive Corvette held sway at Chevrolet, but the much-hyped Corvair had more potential than performance. The lovely Avanti had generated reams of publicity, but Studebaker was too busy treading water to take advantage of it. The 409 Impalas, 427 Galaxies and Hemi-powered Chryslers were wicked in a straight line, but expensive gas guzzlers that rumbled like volcanos and stubbornly refused to either stop or turn corners. As a result they sold in insignificant numbers by Detroit standards. The Falcon, Valiant and Chevy II were selling respectably, but their austere "econo car" image did not appeal to younger drivers. All that changed with the Ford Mustang.

Iococca Concept
The Mustang was the brainchild of Lee Iococca, who at 35 had already become a Ford vice president and general manager. He was concerned that Ford was stuck with an aging buyer pool for its lackluster sedans inherited from beancounter Robert McNamara's stewardship. Iococca immediately got Ford back into racing with the Ford GT program, drag racing and NASCAR. He dropped a V-8 into the Falcon to create the sporty Falcon Futura, but what he really wanted was a "personal car" for younger drivers more interested in peeling out in a fun, sporty car than poking around in their parents' sedans. After a series of concept cars, the parameters were laid out.

Sold Out!
The Ford engineers settled on a small, front-engine, 2+2 sports sedan using as many parts as possible from the Falcon and Fairlane parts bins. The requirements included sporty styling, respectable (but not necessarily breathtaking) performance and a price of under $2,500. The Mustang name came from John Conley, who worked for Ford's ad agency. He was also responsible for the Pinto, Bronco and Maverick handles. The Mustang was officially introduced in April 1964 as a 1964-1/2 model. The media went crazy and Ford sagely predicted they would have no problem selling the anticipated 100,000 cars the first year. They were gone in four months. The Mustang was off and running!

Choices
The first Mustang was offered in three body styles. The hardtop was by far the most popular, selling 501,966 units during the 1964-65 model run. The sporty convertible was next with 101,945 sold, followed by 77,079 fastbacks. Engine choices ranged from an anemic 101-hp six to a hot 271-hp high-performance 289-inch V-8, with manual 3-speed, 4-speed or automatic transmissions. The suspension was conventional Detroit hardware with a live rear axle mounting leaf springs and independent wishbones up front. The standard brakes were drums all around, but optional front discs were offered.

Options
Although an optional handling package improved the Mustang's road manners immeasurably, it was not intended to be a racing car. Car magazine testers were excited about the styling, size and concept, but they were only moderately impressed with the handling and vehicle dynamics. It was a sporty car, not a traditional sports car, and had a much wider appeal than just to hardcore enthusiasts. The Mustang had an option list that allowed the buyer to customize his or her car to fit their preferences. The "GT" option package included disc brakes, driving lights and special trim.