Ford Mustang (first generation)
The first-generation Ford Mustang was manufactured by Ford from March 1964 until 1973. The introduction of the Mustang created a new class of automobiles known as pony cars. The Mustang's styling, with its long hood and short deck, proved wildly popular and inspired a host of competition.
It was introduced on April 17, 1964, as a hardtop and convertible, with the fastback version following in August 1964. Upon introduction, the Mustang, sharing its platform with the Falcon, was slotted into the compact car segment.
The first-generation Mustangs grew in overall dimensions and engine power with each revision. The 1971 model featured a drastic redesign. After an initial surge, sales steadily declined, and Ford began working on a new generation Mustang. With the onset of the 1973 oil crisis, Ford was prepared, having already designed the smaller Mustang II for the 1974 model year. This new car shared no components with preceding models.
Conception and styling
As Lee Iacocca's assistant general manager and chief engineer, Donald N. Frey was the head engineer for the Mustang project — supervising the development of the Mustang in a record 18 months from September 1962 to April 1964. — while Iacocca himself championed the project as Ford Division general manager.Drawing on inspiration from the mid-engined Ford Mustang I concept vehicle, Lee Iacocca ordered the development of a new "small car" to vice-president of design at Ford, Eugene Bordinat.
Bordinat tasked Ford's three design studios to create proposals for the new vehicle.
The design teams had been given five goals for the design of the Mustang: It would seat four, have bucket seats and a floor-mounted shifter, weigh no more than, be no more than in length, sell for less than, and have multiple power, comfort, and luxury options.
Design
The Ford design studio ultimately produced the winning design in the intramural contest, under Project Design Chief Joe Oros and his team of L. David Ash, Gale Halderman, John Foster, and George Schumaker. This design was called the Cougar by the design team.Oros states:
In a 2004 interview, Oros recalls the planning behind the design:
David Ash
is often credited with the actual styling of the Mustang. Ash, in a 1985 interview speaking of the origin of the Mustang design, when asked the degree of his contribution, said:Gale Halderman
Gale Halderman, in a 2002 interview with Collectible Automobile, spoke of the Mustang's evolution through the Ford design studio:To decrease developmental costs, the Mustang used chassis, suspension, and drivetrain components derived from the Ford Falcon and Fairlane. It used a unitized platform-type frame from the 1964 Falcon and welded box-section side rails, including welded crossmembers. Although hardtop Mustangs accounted for the highest sales, durability problems with the new frame led to the engineering of a convertible first, which ensured adequate stiffness. The overall length of the Mustang and Falcon was identical, although the Mustang's wheelbase was slightly shorter. With an overall width of, it was narrower, yet the wheel track was nearly identical. Shipping weight, approximately with the straight six-cylinder engine, was similar to the Falcon. A fully equipped V8 model weighed approximately. Although most of the mechanical parts were from the Falcon, the Mustang's body was completely different, including a shorter wheelbase, lower seating position, and lower overall height. An industry first, the "torque box" was an innovative structural system that stiffened the Mustang's construction and helped contribute to better handling.
Gale Haldeman spoke of the engineering and design of the car in his interview, stating:
The idea for a fastback originated with Joe Oros as well and was designed in Charlie Phaneuf's studio. Haldeman recalls:
An additional four-door model was designed by Dave Ash as a clay model, but was not considered.
1964½–1966
Since it was introduced four months before the usual start of the 1965 production year and manufactured alongside 1964 Ford Falcons and 1964 Mercury Comets, the earliest Mustangs are widely referred to as the "1964½" model by enthusiasts. Nevertheless, all 1964½ cars were given 1965 U.S. standard VINs at the time of production, and—with limited exception to the earliest of promotional materials—were marketed by Ford as 1965 models. The low-end model hardtop used a "U-code" straight-6 engine shared with the Falcon, as well as a three-speed manual transmission, and retailed for. Standard equipment for the early 1965 Mustangs included black front lap belts, a glove box light, and a padded dashboard. Production began on March 9, 1964. Mustang Serial Number One was sold on April 14, 1964, at the George Parsons Ford dealership in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Official introduction followed on April 17 at the 1964 World's Fair. The V8 models were identified with a badge on the front fender that spelled out the engine's cubic inch displacement over a wide "V." This emblem was identical to the one on the 1964 Fairlane.Several changes to the Mustang occurred at the start of the "normal" 1965 model year in August 1964, about four months after its introduction. These cars are known as "late 65's". The engine lineup was changed, with a "T-code" engine that produced. Production of the Fairlane's "F-code" engine ceased when the 1964 model year ended. It was replaced with a new "C-code" engine with a two-barrel carburetor as the base V8. An "A-code" four-barrel carbureted version was next in line, followed by the unchanged 289 HiPo "K-code" equipped with a 4-barrel Autolite 4100 carburetor that was rated at at 6000 rpm and at 3400 rpm. The DC electrical generator was replaced by a new AC alternator on all Fords.
GT Equipment Group
The Mustang GT version was introduced as the "GT Equipment Package" and included a V8 engine, grille-mounted fog lamps, rocker-panel stripes, and disc brakes. In the interior, the GT option added a different instrument panel that included a speedometer, fuel gauge, coolant temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and an amp meter in five round dials, but the gauges were not marked with numbers. A four-barrel carbureted engine was available with any body style. Additionally, reverse lights were an option added to the car from August 1964 production.The Mustang was initially available in hardtop or convertible body styles, but a fastback model was considered during the car's early design phase. In 1965, the Shelby Mustang was introduced, available only in a newly introduced fastback body version with its swept-back rear glass and distinctive ventilation louvers. In 1965 Ford built 15,079 Mustangs that featured the GT Equipment Group. For 1966, Ford built 25,517 GTs. According to Jim Smart production guide, the fastback would have been the most common, followed by the coupe and then the convertible.
Options
The standard interior was available in various colors and features included adjustable driver and passenger bucket seats, an AM radio, and a floor-mounted shifter. Ford added additional interior options during the 1965 model year. The Interior Decor Group was popularly known as "Pony Interior" due to the addition of embossed running ponies on the seat fronts and included integral armrests, woodgrain appliqué accents, and a round gauge cluster that would replace the standard Falcon instrumentation. Options included sun visors, a remote-operated mirror, a floor console, and a bench seat. Ford later offered an under-dash air-conditioning unit and discontinued the vinyl with cloth insert seat upholstery that was available only in early 1965 models. The Rally-Pac was introduced in 1963 after Ford's success at that year's Monte Carlo Rally. Available on other Ford and Mercury compacts and intermediates, the Rally-Pac consisted of steering column mounted combination clock and tachometer. It was available as a factory-ordered option for $69.30. Installed by a dealer, the Rally-Pac was priced at $75.95. A 14-inch wheel option was available for Rally-Pac and GT350R vehicles widening front and rear track to 57.5 inches. A compass, rear seat belts, A/C, and backup lights were also optional.A nationwide survey of owners by Popular Mechanics included many complaints about legroom. Fuel economy for the base V8 was good for the period, with a test by Popular Mechanics rating the optional 260 cubic inch engine with automatic transmission achieving at a steady. When equipped with the 289 "HiPo" engine and a 4.11 rear axle ratio, the 1965 Mustang achieved in 5.2 seconds and a time of 14.0 seconds at.
The 1966 Mustang debuted with moderate trim changes including a new grille, side ornamentation, wheel covers, and gas cap. Ford's new C4 "Cruise-O-Matic" three-speed automatic transmission became available for the 225 hp V8. The 289 "HiPo" K-code engine was also offered with a C4 transmission, but it had stronger internals and can be identified by the servo's outer casing, which is marked with a 'C'. The long-duration solid-lifter camshaft that allowed the high-revving 289's horsepower rating, was not a good match for a low stall speed automatic torque converter. The "HiPo" could be identified by the vibration damper, and the absence of a vacuum advance unit on the dual point distributor. With the valve covers removed, a large letter "K" stamped is visible between the valve springs, along with screw-in studs for the adjustable rocker arms. Many new paint and interior color options were available, as well as an AM/eight-track sound system, and one of the first AM/FM mono automobile radios. The 1966 model year cars discontinued the Falcon instrument cluster, while the previously optional round gauges and padded sun visors became standard equipment. The Mustang would become the best-selling convertible in 1966, with 72,119 sold, beating the number two Impala by almost 2:1.
The 1965 and 1966 Mustangs are differentiated by variations in the exterior, despite the similar design. These variations include the cove molding on the rear quarter panels behind the doors. From August 1964 production, the molding was a single vertical piece of chrome, while for 1966 models, the molding was smaller in height and had three horizontal bars extending forward from the design, resembling an "E". The front intake grilles and ornaments were also different. The 1965 front grille used a "honeycomb" pattern, while the 1966 version was a "slotted" style. While both model years used the "Horse and Corral" emblem on the grille, the 1965's had four bars extending from each side of the corral, while these bars were removed for the 1966s. During the 1966 model year, a 'High Country Special' limited edition was available with 333 units sold in Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska.
When Ford wanted to introduce the Mustang in Germany, they discovered that the Krupp company had already registered the name for a truck. The German company offered to sell the rights for US$10,000. Ford refused and removed Mustang badges from exported units, instead, they named the cars T-5 for the German market until 1979, when Krupp copyrights expired.