On Friday April 17, 1964, Ford rolled out the Mustang, introducing a new class of sporty car to the world. Happy birthday !
I remember it like it was 56 years ago. Was walking to school weeks afterward and saw the first Mustang in our neighborhood. A white coupe. It was a big deal.
Then the mom of a friend of mine brought home a Caspian Blue 'vert. That was an ever bigger deal. My first ride in one.
Happy birthday Mustang !
My dad was the shop foreman at my hometown Ford dealer, and I worked in the parts department when the first Mustang was delivered. I saw the man park it and went to look at it. The keys were in the ignition, so I yelled at my dad"Let's go for a ride." He came out and got in the passenger seat, and away we went for about a 6 or 8 block ride. It was a white coupe , 6 cylinder, 3 speed with red interior. I was told that the very first Mustang that every dealer was equiped like that one. Ron
I was 10 months old when the Mustang was released. I waited a long time to drive one. 15 years for my first car, a 19y9 Mustang Coupe. The wait was worth it.
My father bought a new Ford about every other year, and had ordered a Mustang. When the first truckload arrived at Allen County Motors in Ft Wayne, In - he got a call to come pick out which one he wanted. I went along, I was 12 years old.
My father was a Teamster truck driver (which I remind people that in the 60's meant upper middle class pay, but gone a lot of hours) and he was very frugal. We drove home a yellow coupe with the only options being seat belts and AM radio.
So it was equipped with a 3 speed with non-synchro first, 170 cu in 6 cyl, and I think a generator. About $1800. And we were the coolest people around every place we went.
That Mustang and the experiences with it got me started enjoying fun cars.
Great story and thank you for sharing. Looks like you picked up a Cobra along the way among others.
I had turned 15 the month before, was still a year away from my driver's license, but already an avowed motorhead. I got my dad to take me to Francis For Fords in Harrisburg to see it. I remember walking through the showroom door and a seeing my first Mustang ever, a Poppy Red 6 cylinder 3 speed coupe. I sat in it and recall that it was the first car that felt like it fit me.
That September I saw my first fastback in the same showroom, a Twilight Turquoise 289 automatic with a black interior. Then in November my first Shelby ever, again in the same showroom - a '66 carryover 6S101. I got a photo that time.
In the summer of '65 Ford ran a promotion - Send us a dollar and we'll send you a Mustang! So I dug into my lawn mowing money, sent them a buck and became the "original owner" of the Arcadian Blue coupe pictured below. Still have it in the original box sent to my parents' address.
Quote from: Bill Collins on April 17, 2020, 06:04:47 PM
I had turned 15 the month before, was still a year away from my driver's license, but already an avowed motorhead. I got my dad to take me to Francis For Fords in Harrisburg to see it. I remember walking through the showroom door and a seeing my first Mustang ever, a Poppy Red 6 cylinder 3 speed coupe. I sat in it and recall that it was the first car that felt like it fit me.
That September I saw my first fastback in the same showroom, a Twilight Turquoise 289 automatic with a black interior. Then in November my first Shelby ever, again in the same showroom - a '66 carryover 6S101. I got a photo that time.
In the summer of '65 Ford ran a promotion - Send us a dollar and we'll send you a Mustang! So I dug into my lawn mowing money, sent them a buck and became the "original owner" of the Arcadian Blue coupe pictured below. Still have it in the original box sent to my parents' address.
VERY COOL story and photos!
Great and memorable times
Thanks for sharing
Quote from: Side-Oilers on April 16, 2020, 10:02:53 PM
I remember it like it was 56 years ago. Was walking to school weeks afterward and saw the first Mustang in our neighborhood. A white coupe. It was a big deal.
Then the mom of a friend of mine brought home a Caspian Blue 'vert. That was an ever bigger deal. My first ride in one.
Priceless moments
Thanks for sharing
Quote from: Rocket on April 17, 2020, 10:54:51 AM
My dad was the shop foreman at my hometown Ford dealer, and I worked in the parts department when the first Mustang was delivered. I saw the man park it and went to look at it. The keys were in the ignition, so I yelled at my dad"Let's go for a ride." He came out and got in the passenger seat, and away we went for about a 6 or 8 block ride. It was a white coupe , 6 cylinder, 3 speed with red interior. I was told that the very first Mustang that every dealer was equiped like that one. Ron
It was meant to be
Thanks for sharing
Quote from: deathsled on April 17, 2020, 11:36:21 AM
I was 10 months old when the Mustang was released. I waited a long time to drive one. 15 years for my first car, a 19y9 Mustang Coupe. The wait was worth it.
What an experience
Thanks for sharing
Quote from: Dwathencars on April 17, 2020, 01:33:43 PM
My father bought a new Ford about every other year, and had ordered a Mustang. When the first truckload arrived at Allen County Motors in Ft Wayne, In - he got a call to come pick out which one he wanted. I went along, I was 12 years old.
My father was a Teamster truck driver (which I remind people that in the 60's meant upper middle class pay, but gone a lot of hours) and he was very frugal. We drove home a yellow coupe with the only options being seat belts and AM radio.
So it was equipped with a 3 speed with non-synchro first, 170 cu in 6 cyl, and I think a generator. About $1800. And we were the coolest people around every place we went.
That Mustang and the experiences with it got me started enjoying fun cars.
Very kool story and pictures
Thanks for sharing
Quote from: Bill Collins on April 17, 2020, 06:04:47 PM
I had turned 15 the month before, was still a year away from my driver's license, but already an avowed motorhead. I got my dad to take me to Francis For Fords in Harrisburg to see it. I remember walking through the showroom door and a seeing my first Mustang ever, a Poppy Red 6 cylinder 3 speed coupe. I sat in it and recall that it was the first car that felt like it fit me.
That September I saw my first fastback in the same showroom, a Twilight Turquoise 289 automatic with a black interior. Then in November my first Shelby ever, again in the same showroom - a '66 carryover 6S101. I got a photo that time.
In the summer of '65 Ford ran a promotion - Send us a dollar and we'll send you a Mustang! So I dug into my lawn mowing money, sent them a buck and became the "original owner" of the Arcadian Blue coupe pictured below. Still have it in the original box sent to my parents' address.
Again Happy Birthday Mustang lets see what excitement 2021 brings us all !