Chassis No.
5F08D131099
On Thursday evening, April 16, 1964, all three major television networks presented to viewers across the land a 60 second commercial that gave them a glimpse of the all-new Ford sports car that was about to be placed on sale the next morning. Filled with peppy music and just quick flashes of some of the features this new car had, it whetted the appetite for the car buying public. The next day, the flood gates were opened, and the customers not only came to the showroom to marvel at this special little car, but they also brought their checkbooks and ordered more of these new cars than Fords sales department could have imagined. It was Americas first pony car, and the new 1965 Ford Mustang became an instant success. At Fords Dearborn assembly plant, production was ramped up to three shifts around the clock to meet the onslaught of orders coming in at a record pace, a legend had been born. Those first Mustangs to be released offered so much for so many, great looks, superior quality and reasonable prices. Available with an economical in-line six-cylinder or a powerful V8, the Mustang could be whatever the buyer wanted it to be. Even before these cars were on sale, the engineers were busy making future improvements to their new sport compact. In mid-August 1964, the production lines were shut down so the assembly plants could be re-tooled for rest of the 1965 Ford models to go into production. During this switchover, a number of changes and upgrades were applied to the Mustang. Several engine selections were changed, operational improvements made, creature comforts improved, and details such as interior trim selection and exterior color selection were brought up to date. When those new 1965 Mustangs started off the assembly lines in September 1964, they were vastly different from the earlier production models. Over the years, and never officially adopted or promoted by Ford Motor Company, enthusiasts began to refer to these early production pony cars as the 1964- Mustangs. This Rangoon Red convertible is one of those treasured 1964- Mustangs, and it has all the elements that confirm this to be one of those treasured cars. Looking at the door mounted data plate, the scheduled production date shows 09E, which translates to May 9, 1964! Under the Color code is the letter J, which was Rangoon Red, a color that would be held over for the later production Mustangs. As we inspected the car, we looked for specific items such as a generator rather than the alternator which was used in the latter part of the model year. The extra support skirting added to the front of the hood as well as the slightly different headlight doors which have been retained with this convertible. Also, the front passenger seat is fixed in place, bolted directly to the floor pan. Little items like the smaller front fender nameplates and the fact that the Mustang branded fuel cap is not secured to the car body as was seen in later models. In the serial number, the fifth character is the letter D, indicating the 289 cid, with 225 HP and four-barrel carburetor V8 engine, and while this same engine selection was offered in later produced Mustangs, the D code was used only on the 1964- models. This example appears to have been treated to a mechanical and cosmetic restoration back in the early 1990s but has been used sparingly and presents well today. It appears that during the restoration, the odometer was set back to zero miles and today shows just under 9,700 at the time of cataloging. That small block V8 starts up with the turn of the key and with the easy to reach floor shifter, that C4 automatic slips into gear ready to hit the road. Those black vinyl bucket seats are comfortable and the black top fits the top bows like a glove. It is well-appointed with factory air-conditioning, a rarity for a convertible, plus the highly desirable center console. The Rangoon Red finish looks fresh and well maintained with body panels that are smooth and straight with even gaps for the hood and deck lid, plus doors that open and close with minimum effort. This Mustang is fitted with full wheelcovers fitted with center mounted spinners and rides on a set of P185/75R14 narrow whitewall tires. One up-grade is the installation of a combination radio-cassette tape player, the cutting-edge entertainment system when the restoration work was completed. Highly sought after by Mustangers, this 1964- edition is an excellent opportunity to acquire an early example of an American original. I * Factory D-Code 289-cubic-inch V-8 engine * Equipped with rare and desirable air-conditioning * Nicely restored inside and out * An early production car-built May 9<sup>th</sup> \*\*\*(***1964?)*** in Dearborn, Michigan * Finished in its original colors of Rangoon Red over a black vinyl trim interior * Factory C-4 automatic transmission and upgraded stereo unit * The original Pony car; Introduced to the public on April 17, 1964 From the Kruse Auctions
For the complete description or to view additional photos, click here: https://listings.kruseauctions.com/listings/AS26-000064
