The first Mustang was received with much anticipation and excitement. Individuals from all income levels were excited about the 1964 Mustang, released as a 1964 ½ model. The four seater pony car was stylish and sporty and the dream car for many of the baby boomers finally old enough to purchase their first car. To the surprise of many, the first Mustang was not just a vehicle desired by young men interested in getting girls and racing. In fact, the first Mustang significantly appealed to women consumers as well.
The beginning of the '60s did not have too much to offer muscle car enthusiasts in the way of an affordable yet stylish vehicle. In addition, Ford did not have a small sports car to appeal to the baby boomers reaching car buying age. As a result, Lee Iacocca, the vice president of Ford, decided Ford would begin designing a small sports car different than any of Ford's line with its own design and appeal. The result was the super sporty and youthful looking Mustang.
There were two Mustang prototypes in 1962 and 1963, both of which received an amazing reception among consumers. The first concept car only had two seats. However, the second prototype was received better by the public due to the four seats, front engine rear drive, and variety of available engines. As a result the first Mustang was based on the 1963 prototype.
The very first Mustang celebrated its birthday March 9, 1964. The early date of the Mustang's production in 1964 created the notion that it was a 1964 model or a 1964 ½ model. However, the first Mustang is officially considered by Ford as a 1965 model. Regardless of what Ford officially calls it, the first Mustang is well known as the 1964 and 1964 ½ models as well.
The unveiling of the first Mustang was on a television commercial and was claimed to be the most exciting programming for that evening. Magazines spread the word as well as newspapers and radios and over 29 million Americans watched with anticipation and bated breath as the first Mustang was unveiled.
1964 Mustang Lineup
The 1964 Mustang did not have many models, just the coupe and the convertible. The biggest difference was that there were four different engine options for the coupe and convertible. These included a 170 cubic inch engine with 105 horsepower with 9.1:1 compression and a carburetor with one barrel, a 260 cubic inch engine with 164 horsepower with 8.8:1 compression and a two barrel carburetor, a 289 cubic inch engine with 210 horsepower with 9.0:1 compression and a four barrel carburetor, and finally the most powerful 289 cubic inch engine with 271 horsepower, 10.5:1 compression, and a four barrel carburetor. Consumers loved the different engine options on the coupe and convertible.
Powertrain and Performance
The coupe and convertible first Mustangs were available with four different engines. These included the 101 horsepower 170 cubic inch engine, the two valve 260 cubic inch 164 horsepower V8, the 210 horsepower V8 with 289-4V, and the strongest engine that was available June 1964 that was a four barrel, 289 cubic inch V8 engine that boasted 271 horsepower. Not even one third of the first Mustang buyers chose the six, however the following year more than 40% of buyers chose that engine.
The coupe and the convertible were also available with an automatic transmission, a three or four speed, and a mixture of rear end gears. Ford was under the impression that the younger market of buyers preferred manual transmissions, however more than 60% of the first Mustangs were sold with automatics.
The launch of the Mustang was history's most successful ever. In the first year and a half over one million Mustangs were sold. The cheapest Mustang was the six with a three speed transmission. The most expensive Mustang was the one with all the luxury options and the most powerful engine. This brought the price tag close to $4,000. The result of the Mustang was just what Ford desired. A vehicle that appealed to all social classes and was affordable to all as well.
Two of the luxury options for the Mustang were power steering and power brakes. They improved handling and made the Mustang appeal to the higher social classes. These options are a perfect example of tailoring a Mustang to one's own budget and style.
Exterior
The first Mustang's exterior design was simply outstanding and caused quite a stir among Americans. The pony car was just the sports car that appealed to all classes and was affordable to everyone. The exterior boasted scooped fenders, a long hood, and short deck which made it look hard and embody the definition of a muscle car. The two different available models, the coupe and the convertible, were somewhat different than the prototypes shown. The hoods were longer and the rear decks shorter and they also boasted chrome wrapped bumpers, full wheel coves, and grilles with a running horse that would become Mustang's signature.
The body panels were not exactly well spaced and the paint job was not what you would see today. In fact, the exterior paint and body panel spaces of the 1964 would be unacceptable today. However, they were not only widely accepted in 1964 but they were all the rage!
Ford had only been working on the Mustang's design for 18 months when it released the first version, now known as the 1964 or 1964 ½ model. However, the design for the exterior of this muscle car was just what consumers were looking for and to say its entrance into the market was a success is not quite strong enough to embody the true meaning of Mustang's success with its first car.
There were a variety of exterior colors available on the first Mustang. These included Chantilly Beige, Skylight Blue, Cascade Green, Silversmoke Gray, Caspian Blue, Guardsman Blue, Pagoda Green, Poppy Red, Prairie Bronze, Phoenician Yellow, Raven Black, Dynasty Green, Rangoon Red, Sunlight Yellow, Wimbledon White, Twilight Turquoise, Vintage Burgundy, and Skylight Blue.
Obviously the wide selection of colors was appreciated by consumers and only added to Mustang's success its first year on the market.
Interior
The first Mustang interior was considered outstanding in 1964 although it would not meet today's standards. There was only an AM radio for music needs, but consumers at the time were excited about this feature. The seatbelts were non-retractable waist belts, but again consumers were pleased the car had seat belts.
The dashboard base offered a large console for storing various personal items, however there was not quite as much storage space allocated in the center console and along the doors. The dashboard received rave reviews because it was covered in vinyl. This was a significant change and one that was greatly appreciated by consumers since the majority of dashes during that time frame were metal. Another benefit of the interior that was not completely known at the time was the concave deep steering wheel. The shape and style of the steering wheel provided more driver safety during an accident than other styles of steering wheels. The steering wheel was similar to the future's collapsible steering columns in the way it protected the driver.
The entire interior of the first Mustang was covered in carpet. Consumers could choose between front bucket seats or a front bench seat. A rear bench seat was standard. The shifter was mounted on the floor and the Mustang boasted a full headliner.
There were plenty of luxury options to choose from on the first Mustang that made quite an impact on consumers. These included deluxe wheel covers, air conditioning, a full length center console, vinyl tonneau cover, power operated convertible, and others. With such a wide selection of options to choose from Mustang was the perfect vehicle for almost anyone.
Final Thoughts
The first Mustang that became the most successful vehicle of all times was paraded to the public after 18 months of development. The cheapest Mustang was very affordable at about $2,320, half the price of a Corvette. The first Mustang is known as the 1964, 1964 ½, and 1965 models. However, Ford refers to the first Mustang as a 1965 model although it was being sold as early as March 1964. Consumers, collectors, and the like have given the 1964 or 1964 ½ model names to the Mustang to differentiate early and late 1965 Mustang models. Despite what it is called, the first Mustang was a major hit when it was released and continues to be year after year.
