1964 Ford Mustang Hardtop
Since it was introduced 4 months before the normal start of the 1965 production year the earliest Mustangs were referred to as the 1964.5 model by enthusiasts. Nevertheless, all 1964.5 cars were given a 1965 standard VIN at the time of production. Production began in March 1964 and serial number 1, (5F08F100001), was sold on April 14th, 1964 at the George Parsons Ford dealership in St. John's Newfoundland, Canada.
For consignment, a 1964 Ford Mustang hardtop, a first year car in which 121,538 Mustangs were produced. The first car was a Wimbledon White convertible, and this one shares that color but is a hardtop, one of 92,705 produced the first year, (1964.5 " 1965).
Exterior
The classic Mustang we see today is very familiar, but in 1964 and '65, it must have seemed like an alien spaceship. It's long nose, shorter decklid, headlight recessed from the grille, and of course, the grille itself with a running horse in a corral and first year only accent bar across the middle. Ford designers were surely satisfied with the logo but could not have anticipated its place in automotive culture 60 years later. The straight chrome bumpers are in good condition as are the polished window frames, but the door handle, mirror, tail light bezels, faux duct, emblems, and other metal bits could use some help. Overall, the paint is in decent condition and flaws include some peeling and surface rust at the rocker panel along with some bubbling, bubbling in numerous other areas and some of it severe, rust coming through at the wheel opening, patchwork under the rocker panel, a paint chip on the C-pillar, peeling paint or bare metal on the bottom edge of body and some invasive rust.
Interior
Blue door panels have pleated vinyl door cards, showing a bit of patina and looseness but otherwise intact. The low blue vinyl buckets are tuck and roll design and the driver's seat shows compression and tears on the corner seam and the seat bottom. Rear seats and the front passenger side are in good condition with uncompressed foam and no apparent tears. The blue plastic steering wheel has a three way horn button which shows some pitting and leads to a simple gauge cluster on the dash with a horizontal speedometer flanked by circle gauges, all next to an updated AM/FM/Cassette radio and clean glove box door. A characteristic Ford shifter is on the hump and its small, square plate includes a rounded indicator bar. Blue loop carpet covers the floor and is in decent condition and the light colored headliner shows some age but looks to be intact. The trunk has a rather dirty blue carpet piece and a spare tire inside.
Drivetrain
We lift the hood to find some surface rust and some soot on the underside while the bay and engine are in driver condition. This is a 260ci V8 fueled by a 2-barrel carburetor and rated at 164 horsepower. A C4 3-speed automatic transmission is underfoot and sends power to the Ford 8" in the rear with 3.00 gears. As was standard, drum brakes are found front and rear. Though missing some paint from age, the Cobra, Power by Ford finned valve covers are a nice touch.
Undercarriage
Chock full of surface rust underneath with all major components colored by the stuff, including the single exhaust which flows into a stock style muffler and then exists under the back of the car. Coil springs are in front and leaf springs are in back. Some drippage is noted at the fill hole of the rear diff, some residual oil on the trans pan, and the oil pan has a light coating but does not appear to be leaking. We note some flaking rust on the floor pans along with some invasive rust in the same areas.
Drive-Ability
We prime the 2-barrel and turn the key and the 260 cuber turns over without issue. The 14-inch wheels are carrying 20 year old tires so we're limiting speed and turn-ins to a crawl and as such, the car performed well. All in all, no major complaints here as it tracked well and slowed to a stop with adequate braking. The bare bones functions provided on these early cars all worked as intended and we gallop this one back to the corral. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
This Wimbledon White Mustang has more patina than John McEnroe but that doesn't mean it can't serve up some fun. In fact, here's a driver you won't have to white knuckle as you drive it because it can be enjoyed as is. There's also plenty of room for restoration on this one, a father and son project perhaps, to whip this thoroughbred back into contention. The score on this one? 64.5 to Love. Your serve.
5F07F163216
5-1965
F-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
07-Mustang Hardtop
F-260ci 2bbl 164hp V8
163216-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY PLATE
BODY 65A-Mustang Hardtop, Standard Interior
COLOR M-Wimbledon White
TRIM 82-Blue Standard Vinyl Buckets, Blue Trim
DATE 10L-June 10th
DSO 23-Philadelphia
AXLE 1-Ford 8" 3.00 Conventional
TRANS 6-C4 Automatic
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
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