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