1964 .............................................................................................BACK

Market research and a talented styling team from Ford presented the eagerly anticipated new personal sized family car to the American public on April 17, 1964 !

To keep manufacturing costs to a minimum, parts interchangeability was implemented. The new Mustang was based on an efficient platform that had already proven itself with the Falcon.

Nearly all the first half year Mustangs were assembled in Dearborn, Mich. at Ford's headquarters. A handful were also assembled at the tail end of production at San Jose plant in Milpedas, Ca.

Although a puny 170 c.i. inline 6 cyl. ( that was borrowed from the Falcon) was standard equipment, the majority of '64 1/2 cars were very highly optioned 260- 2V or the low compression 289 4V- V-8 equipped cars. Marketing figured out that a low advertised retail price would captivate the public's interest but options were the source of higher profits. Promotional strategy was programmed to match a performance image to it's sports design with a touch of elegance all at an affordable price.

Convertibles and coupes were the only body styles offered during the first six months of production.

Pleased by the numbers produced, Ford geared up its Metuchen, New Jersey and it's San Jose, California's assembly plants for the 1965 models.

Tiffany presented Ford with it's award for ''Excellence in American Design''.This was the first time an automobile had ever earned this prestigious award.

Ford in turn capitalized on the notoriety by offering the ''Tiffany Stripe'', a painted pinstripe that accentuated the body's side sculpted lines. Quarter ornaments were deleted on cars with this option .

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