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Pony1964½ Ford Mustang: History, Specs and Collector Facts
A new kind of car, sold to a new kind of buyer.
The 1964½ Ford Mustang is the car that gave America a new category. Ford showed it at the New York World's Fair in April 1964, and buyers responded as if they had been waiting for it. Roughly 400,000 were sold in the first twelve months, and the pony car class was born.
Mustang design and engines: built from Falcon parts
Under the skin the Mustang was a Falcon, which kept costs low. Designers wrapped that simple chassis in a long hood, a short rear deck and sporty proportions, then priced it just under $2,400. Buyers could stay thrifty with an inline six or step up to a V8 of up to 289 cubic inches and a long options list, so one car suited a student budget or a weekend racer.
Why the 1964½ Mustang matters to collectors
Ford officially counted these early cars as 1965 models. Enthusiasts call the earliest ones 1964½ because they arrived before the usual autumn debut and differ in small details, such as generators instead of alternators on some engines. Those quirks make early production cars especially sought after, so a documented example deserves a close look before you buy.
1964 Ford Mustang key facts
- Launch
- April 1964
- Collector name
- 1964½
- Milestone
- 1 million in about 18 months