Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Ford Mustang Goes on Sale to the Public – April 17, 1964

Courtesy Motorcities.org
On this day back in 1964, the production Ford Mustang went on sale to the public. Henry Ford II himself unveiled the car at the 1964 New York World's Fair on April 17, 1964. (Click here for a great article with photos about that event.)

Maybe that's why the ad above for George May Ford, which ran in the Journal on April 16, 1964, doesn't even show a photo of one. Instead, we have a cowboy on a wild mustang.

"The mustang is at the George May Showroom. Not a wild horse, but wild horsepower from Ford," reads the ad copy. "But George May isn't making a production out of it; he's just letting you see for yourself the wild styling... and he is serving refreshments.

"You're all invited... you'll see... in person, a gun-toting cowboy and his horse... plus our model cowgirl hostess."

It all sounds like a lot of fun on a special day.

As a member of an Olds family, I've never been a Ford fan – but it's impossible not to love the look of the Mustang.


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4 comments:

  1. Don HiltonApril 17, 2024 at 9:23 AM

    I had a friend in hi skool whose dad bought her a brand new '73 Mustang II Ghia.

    Damned thing was a death trap. Due to the stealership, I suppose. It stalled at almost every stop and was almost impossible to get up to highway speeds due to hesitation and bucking.

    We were better off in my tin-can '69 Karmann Ghia and it's 53 hp engine!

    And the new "E-" version looks like a mal-shaped potato!

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  2. BusterApril 17, 2024 at 11:27 AM

    The Mustang got all the press, but I preferred my '65 Pontiac LeMans convertible. An all-time favorite.

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  3. AnonymousApril 17, 2024 at 12:56 PM

    The Mustang was based on the tiny little Ford Falcon.Its chassis and suspension components were directly lifted from the Falcon to save development costs.And the first Econoline vans were based on the Falcons also.They were even called Falcon Econoline in their first couple of years of existence.I always think of "what if" Ford would've built the Mustang at Lorain Assembly alongside the Falcon.Lorain Assembly might still be open now?Ford still seems adamant about the Mustang being one of their flagship vehicles.Through thick and thin,they've always pushed the Mustang up to where they even have an electric SUV version now. Although they are built in none other than Mexico.

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  4. AnonymousApril 17, 2024 at 4:07 PM

    That's one thing that would not allow at todays dealerships.A real live cowboy with a real live six shooter (with blanks of course)on a real live horse with a real live cowgirl hostess to boot.All that would be allowed in todays neutered world would be a photo of a real live horse out in a field.

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