| In March 1964 Ford debuted as one the most popular | | | | The 1968 was little changed in appearance from the |
| cars ever built. It was the car that started the pony | | | | 1967. The 427cid of Cobra fame came out in he |
| car craze and gave us a peek into what the world | | | | GT's. Equipped With disc brakes, racing tires and |
| would know as the muscle car era. Although it was | | | | heavy duty suspension it was race ready right off |
| built in 1964 it was designated as a 1965. The ones | | | | the showroom floor. Mustang racer Bob Tasca |
| built from March until July 31, 1964 are known as | | | | efforts to build the 428 Cobra Jet was rewarded by |
| 1964 1/2 Mustangs and were some what different | | | | Ford building 2,817 instead of the just 50 intial run he |
| from the ones built from August 1 and later. Most of | | | | asked for. This was the last year for the High |
| the differences were internal and the body were | | | | Country Special and a California Special was available |
| identical except for the hood being rolled under in the | | | | for this year only. All the Specials were coupes. |
| later ones. It was basically a Falcon with a new body | | | | In 1969 things really changed, the engine line had 7 |
| and bucket seats. The ones built after July are | | | | different size engines and although the body had the |
| known as 1965's and were a little more updated with | | | | same look it was 4 inches longer and a little wider. |
| such things as an alternator,adjustable passenger | | | | The engines ranged from the 2 little 6 cylinders, a |
| seat and a number of other engineering refinements. | | | | regular and a Boss 302cid, 2 different 351cid, the |
| The pony interior with the running horses was | | | | 390cid, the Cobra Jet and Cobra Jet-R 428cid all the |
| offered also. | | | | way up to the monster, Boss 429. The original body |
| The Mustang probably had the biggest debut of any | | | | styles were still around, but now they were joined |
| car ever made as it was introduced at the New | | | | by the Mach 1, the Boss and the Grande. This was |
| York's World Fair and was the pace car for the | | | | the last year for the GT. |
| Indianapolis 500. Over 4 million people visited the | | | | The Mach 1 was basically a fastback GT with |
| showrooms and 22,000 were ordered the 1st day. It | | | | upgrades. It came with 351cid, 390cid or the Cobra |
| sold 417,000 the first year which broke all previous | | | | Jet 428.The Grande was for the luxury buyer, with |
| automobile sales records. | | | | many upgrades. The Boss 302 was built to race in |
| The body styles were the coupe and convertible. No | | | | the TransAm series where the Camaro had beat |
| fastbacks were built until the 1965's came out in | | | | them in 1968. They almost won it in 1969. This was |
| August. The engines were the U code 170 CI 6 | | | | the year of the Boss 429 debut, which was the |
| cylinder, F code 260 V8 and the D code 289 V8 with | | | | Nascar version engine. |
| 210 Horsepower. The GT came out in April 1965 and | | | | 1970 was a happier year for Ford as the Boss 302 |
| was offered in all 3 body styles. You had a choice of | | | | won the Trans-Am Series. Very few changes were |
| the A code 225 HP or K code 271 HP V8. The 271 | | | | made to the cars. The Boss 429cid came out with a |
| HP almost qualified it as a muscle car. The 1st Shelby | | | | hemi-head that required suspension modifications so it |
| Mustangs, all fastbacks, came out in 1965 and was | | | | would fit.The 390cid was done away with. Ford built |
| really a hotrod with no backseat and hopped up to | | | | 2 1970 Boss 429 Lawmen Mustangs to tour with the |
| 306 HP. | | | | U.S. troops. Only 1 of the 1,200-horsepower monsters |
| 1966 didn't see a lot of changes in the body except | | | | survives today and is owned by wrestler Bill Goldberg. |
| for the pony in the grill, side trim and restyled gas | | | | In 1971 the Mustang gained one inch in wheelbase |
| cap. The G.T. 350 came out in 1966 and Hertz | | | | and every other dimension grew. The Mach 1 could |
| ordered 1,001 of them for rental cars or "Rent-a | | | | now be had with the 429cid although the 302cid was |
| Racers" as they were known as. Many Sundays they | | | | standard. The Boss 302 and Boss 429 were both |
| could be found at the dragstrip or road race course. | | | | dropped in favor of the Boss 351. Like 1970 there |
| There was a rumour at the time that a number of | | | | wasn't too much exciting happening in the Ford camp. |
| them were rented and the engines swapped with | | | | It was like they knew the end was near. |
| the renter's engine and returned to the dealer. True | | | | 1972 saw the end of the Mustangs wild ride. The |
| or not it makes a heck of a story. This was also the | | | | pony had grown into a stallion, but like the stallions of |
| first year for the High Country Special sold in | | | | the old West it's end was near. The 429cid engine |
| Colorado and Wyoming. The Shelby GT350 was | | | | was dropped which meant that the largest engine |
| available with a 289cid that put out 390hp and likely | | | | was now the 351cid. Although the High Output |
| qualified it as a muscle car. In 1967 the Mustang had | | | | version put out a respectable 275hp it was a far cry |
| the 1st body redesign, although it wasn't a major | | | | from the advertised 376hp (reputed to be much |
| one, mostly trim and grill. The biggest change was on | | | | higher) the Boss 429 put out. In my estimation this |
| the fastback where the top went all the way to the | | | | was the last year for the Ford muscle cars although |
| rear of the car. The convertible had a glass rear | | | | in reality it was 1970 as the engine cubic inches and |
| window for the 1st time. | | | | horsepwer went the way of the dodo bird in the |
| It was the last year for 289 Hi-Po and the first year | | | | 1971 models. |
| for the 390cid and 428cid engines. The GT350 had | | | | I hate to even mention the 1973 because of the |
| the 289cid Hi-Po while the GT500 got the 428cid. The | | | | hatchet job that was done on the Mustang and other |
| 390cid could be had in all 3 body styles. This was the | | | | muscle cars. This was even the last year for the |
| only year for the GTA which had an automatic | | | | convertible. The 351cid was down to a wimpy 266hp. |
| transmission and could be had with the 289 or 390 in | | | | The Mustang with any kind of muscle was dead and |
| all 3 body styles. Only 400 High Country Specials | | | | would not really get revived until recently. |
| were build in 1967. | | | | Due to the short but rich history of the real |
| The Chevy Camaro, Mercury Cougar, Pontiac Firebird | | | | Mustangs we need to keep on restoring or |
| and Plymouth Barracuda were all in the same class as | | | | preserving them so that the kids of today can have |
| the Mustang and cut into their sales, but they still | | | | a chance to own a piece of history that will never |
| outsold their nearest competitor, the Cougar by a | | | | come around again. Remember, restore them don't |
| three to one margin. | | | | crush them. |