Can you imagine a car selling 22,000 units the very first day it was released? The 1964½ Mustang did just that, on April 17, 1964. And the euphoria did not end there. Within a year, the number of Mustangs sitting in driveways across America had reached 418,812. What is curious and worth noting, is that even though the numbers are quite astonishing, less than 5% of first generation Mustangs remain in unmodified condition today. This new book by Colin Date now available at The Motor Bookstore, captures with beautiful sharp color photos, the essence of original examples, and offers a historical reference for the early Mustang collector or aficionado. Immaculately restored Mustangs and several 100% original examples will help you differentiate between years and models, plus detailed tables describe standard and optional equipment upgrades for every model. Of course, no book about first generation Ford Mustang automobiles would be complete without a few fine examples of Shelby Mustangs, including the 1965 GT-350 and the 1966 GT-350H, which were specially built for the Hertz rental car company. Yes, things were different back then. Whether you are one of the millions of Mustang fans out there, a collector, a restorer, or a potential buyer of one of these jewels of American automotive ingenuity and engineering, Mustang Collector's Originality Guide 1964½-1966 belongs in your Mustang library.
Book Excerpt: Mustang Collector's Originality Guide 1964½-1966 MUSTANG: MODEL YEARS

Some sources claim that no 1964½ cars exist, only early 1965s. This statement contains a bit of truth. You won't find a Mustang bearing a 1964 model year VIN (vehicle identification number) or one officially titled as a 1964 (all early Mustangs bore a "1965" VIN). Still, they were manufactured at the same time as other 1964 Fords, which actually makes them 1964-era production vehicles. Other than the midyear introduction of the first Mustangs, the cars were typically built five months prior to the calendar year. Truth be told, many distinct differences separate the three model years, which we will illustrate throughout this book.

1964½

Even though this list of standard goodies was impressive for its day, few cars were actually ordered as "base" models. Dealers pitched the Mustang as "the car that was designed to be designed by you," and indeed it was. Buyers could mix and match options on the car to their heart's content, and most did. More than half of all Mustangs sold were ordered with automatic transmissions, 85 percent were spec'd out with white sidewall tires, 80 percent had radios added, and almost three-quarters of the buying public opted for V-8 power. In fact, the majority of new Mustang owners paid well over $3,000 for their cars; a far cry from the base sticker of $2,368!

Subject: Mustang Collector's Originality Guide 1964&frac;, 1965, 1966. ISBN-10: 0760337454 | ISBN-13: 9780760337455