One of the World's Most Popular cars was introduced to the
public on April 17, 1964. The night before the debut, Ford commericals
promoted the car on major television netowrks, followed by ads
in more than 2,600 newspapers. More than 4 million people visited
the showrooms the first weekend the car was introduced and more
than 22,000 cars were ordered that weekend.
The Mustang's origins can be traced to two concept vehicles
that came out of Fords Advanced Styling Center int he early
1960's. The Mustang I was the result of then-general manager
Lee Iacocca's desire that Ford produce and affordable sports
car with youth appeal. The Mustang I, with its midship-mounted,
four-cylinder engine and wraparound windshield, was too radical
for mass prodcution. But it inspired another styling exercise,
the 1963 Mustang II show car. Ford rolled out the car for the
press at Watkins Glen on the day before that year's October
Grand Prix. The production Mustang that would debut a half year
later owed its four-set configuration and many of its styling
cues to the Mustang II.
The Mustang|Concept Car
Ford Motor Company's design engineers began work on a two-seat
sports car in early 1962. One of the designers on the project,
John Najjar, named the concept car Mustang after a swift, combat-worthy
World War II airplane of the same name.
Although originally a show car, the Mustang I was fully developed
after clay models were approved. It came to life as a road-worthy,
mid-engine sports car that was actually raced at serveral tracks
across the United States, including Watkins Glen and Monterey.
While the first production Mustang was not a two-seater and
did not have an midship-mounted engine, several Mustang I styling
ideas were carried over to the Mustang II show car and eventually
to the first production vehicle.
1964 1/2 Mustang Convertible
The Ford Mustang was an instant success. In the car's first
year, sales topped 417,000,shattering previous sales records
of any one model in the history of the automobile. Ten months
later it passed the million-unit sales mark. The Ford Mustang
not only had arrived, but is also had served notice to all other
auto manufacturers that a new genre of automobile, the "pony
car," was carving out new trails and if you did not have
one in your stable, you would be left in the dust!
Specifications:
1964 1/2 Mustang Convertible
Production: 28,833 units
Body Styles: 1964 1/2-66 Convertible,coupe, fastback
Construction: Unibody chassis/body
Engines: 200cid I-6 (19641/2-66)
260cid V-8 (19641/2)
289cid V-8 (1965-66)
Power output: 101hp (200cid I-6) 271hp (289cid V-8)
Transmisison: Three and four-speed manual or three-speed automatic
Suspension: Independent front with coil springs and wishbones;
semielliptic leaf springs at rear
Brakes: Drums standard; discs optional on front
Maximum Speed: 108mph
0-60mph 8.1 seconds
0-100mph 24.6 seconds
A.F.C. 16mpg (Patrick Covert, Ultimate Mustang)
