First Year Mustang Facts and Figures

In Texas, a dealer sold his last display model to the highest bidder who insisted on sleeping in the car until his check cleared. By the close of business the Mustang sold 22,000 units on it’s first day, Ford had only produced 16,000 cars up until it’s introduction date and now found itself 6,000 cars in the hole. The car was a thunderbolt through out the automotive world as the brochures proclaimed, “Unexpected Look! Unexpected Price! Unexpected Choice!

It was available in 14 colors with 10 interior colors, 4 engines choices, 3 transmissions and 3 different models, a coupe, a convertible and a fastback (sold as a 65). Available with a 170 cubic inch 6 cylinder grocery getter up to a high performance 271 horsepower solid lifter “K” code V-8 engine (available June of 64). The country went Mustang crazy and Ford struggled to keep up, by December 31, they had sold 263,434 cars in eight and a half months more than three times the forecast estimates.

Success brought more success and Ford quickly realized that this wasn’t just another car. On April 16, 1965 one year after the initial launch of the Mustang the National Council on Mustangs held its first Rally Day. 12,500 Mustang owners showed up representing over 250 Mustang clubs nation wide. The owners treated each other like traditional sports car enthusiast treated each other. Their clothes were adorned with Mustang logos, they wore Mustang hats, they waved and honked at each other on the road, they were a fraternity. They shared the secret that others, the uninitiated could only imagine.

The First Million

In September of 1965 a mere 676 days after the Mustangs introduction the one-millionth copy rolled out of Fords River Rouge factory. Ford began to introduce for 1966 more interior options such as wood grained steering wheels and glove box covers a $74 vinyl roof option and more choices for interior colors. The side trim was changed and horizontal bars replaced the honeycomb on the front grill. Ford began its first special package with the Mustang, the High Country Special. Available only in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, dealers sold only a disappointing 333 of the cars and only 35 convertibles.

While nation wide Ford Motor Company had sold almost half a million coupes: 35,698 fastbacks and 72,119 convertible Mustangs. Staggering numbers, making Ford the most profitable of America’s big three automakers and making Lee Iacocco an automotive legend. The car created cultural phenomena. In May of 65 the song Mustang Sally hit the air waves and went into the top 20. Today Rolling Stone Magazine includes it in its list of top 500 songs of all time.