The 1965 Mustang: Classic Symbol Of Americana

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History was made on Friday, April 17th 1964. On a stage at the 1964 New York World's Fair a blue silk cover was ceremoniously removed by Lee Iacocca before a breathlessly awaiting crowd of 20,000 to reveal the first Ford Mustang convertible. On that same day, a 70 car Mustang rally was held with 100 reporters driving the 750 miles from New York to Dearborn, Michigan, home of the Ford headquarters. April 17th was the day that Ford dealerships all across the United States were mobbed by excited customers who clamored to be the first to own what would be the most popular car ever created.

The public story of the Mustang actually began in 1962 when the prototype Mustang 1 was introduced at the U.S. Grand Prix to enthusiastic reception. The distinctively sporty coupe geared towards the young, affluent market of the day was able to reach 115 miles per hour. The high performance engine, three-speed manual transmission, and sleek design excited the racing community instantly. The first Mustangs offered for sale in April, 1964 are often referred to as the 1964 one half Mustang because of the early Spring release. More than 125,000 Mustangs left the showrooms in 1964 with over 500,000 sold during 1965, the first full year of this historically popular car.

The Mustang was chosen to be the pace car for the 1964 Indianapolis 500 with a white Mustang convertible leading the field on Memorial Day. Soon after, the Mustang did Ford proud by winning both first and second place in the international Tour de France. It was featured in the James Bond movie Goldfinger in September 1964 and further honored in song with Wilson Pickett's hit rock and roll song Mustang Sally.

Though designed to appeal to the younger demographic, the 1965 Mustang found success with a much broader audience. Available both as a coupe and a convertible, the four-seat, six-cylinder economy car appealed to men and women of all ages leading Ford to call the Mustang their "universal car." A fastback body and optional GT trim and equipment package were offered during the full 1965 model year. Subsequent decades have seen many changes in the Mustang design though the iconic running horse on the grille remains as the symbol of the only original pony car to remain in production.

1965 Mustangs can still be seen on the road, lovingly maintained and restored by enthusiasts who still appreciate this wonderful symbol of Americana.


About the Author:
Kentucky Mustang (http://stores.kentuckymustang.com/StoreFront.bok) provides ford mustang parts making it easier than ever to find everything you need -- all in one spot.



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