Photo: gaad_8551/eBay
What's your holy-grail first-generation Ford Mustang? To many, it's either the Cobra Jet or the Boss 429, two of the many high-performance versions introduced in the 1960s. Others favor the Shelby GT500 or GT350 rigs. But not everyone is hooked on big and powerful V8 engines. Some would rather own an early small-block variant of the pony car. I'm talking about the 1964 1/2 Mustang.
Some say the 1964 1/2 denomination is a myth and that early Mustangs are 1965 cars. That may be accurate based on production dates and how Ford marketed the cars, but many enthusiasts still call them 1964 1/2 cars. And that's mainly because the first-gen Mustang was announced four months before the start of the 1965 production year.
What exactly is a 1964 1/2 Mustang? Well, it's a model year applied to any Mustang built between March and August 17, 1964. Those made after August 17 are usually known as 1965 or late 1965 Mustangs. But regardless of their production date, all Mustangs built in 1964 got 1965 VINs and were marketed as 1965 cars. Even so, the so-called 1964 1/2 Mustangs remain highly desirable as early iterations of the pony.
Ford built 121,538 units from March to August. The convertible is the rarest, with 28,833 units made. The remaining 92,705 examples left the assembly line as coupes (Ford had yet to introduce the fastback body style). These early Mustangs came with a 170-cubic-inch (2.8-liter) six-cylinder (105 horsepower) as standard, but Ford also offered a couple of small-block V8 mills.
The 260-cubic-inch (4.3-liter) unit delivered 164 horsepower, while the four-barrel 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) arrived with 210 horses on tap. All three units were replaced during the 1965 model, further adding to the 1964 1/2 Mustang's status as a rare and desirable early pony car. The entry-level inline-six is the rarest, while the range-topping 289 V8 is the most sought-after.
While not incredibly scarce, the Mustang you see here brings together all the goodies that make a 1964 1/2 rig highly desirable. For starters, it's a convertible. It also packs a 289-cubic-inch V8 and a four-speed manual gearbox, both of the numbers-matching variety. It's an optioned car, too, featuring a center console, AM/FM radio, and a power convertible top. The owner also went with the dealer-added Rally-Pac bundle.
But wait, there's more. On top of being a numbers-matching and well-optioned classic, this 1964 1/2 Mustang has been in the same family since new. It's been pampered ever since it left the dealership, and it's amazingly original. Aside from the Caspian Blue paint, which has been reapplied twice, this 'Stang is as original as they get. And that's something you don't see every day when it comes to vehicles that are almost 60 years old (as of 2023).
Granted, the drop-top is not perfect. The chassis has some surface rust, and the interior shows signs of wear. The engine bay also needs a cosmetic refresh. But you'd be hard-pressed to find another unrestored 1964 1/2 Mustang in this condition. And if you've been looking for one, you're in luck. This one is being auctioned off as we speak from Riverside, California. Bidding is at $25,500 with six days to go, and there's no reserve.
What exactly is a 1964 1/2 Mustang? Well, it's a model year applied to any Mustang built between March and August 17, 1964. Those made after August 17 are usually known as 1965 or late 1965 Mustangs. But regardless of their production date, all Mustangs built in 1964 got 1965 VINs and were marketed as 1965 cars. Even so, the so-called 1964 1/2 Mustangs remain highly desirable as early iterations of the pony.
Ford built 121,538 units from March to August. The convertible is the rarest, with 28,833 units made. The remaining 92,705 examples left the assembly line as coupes (Ford had yet to introduce the fastback body style). These early Mustangs came with a 170-cubic-inch (2.8-liter) six-cylinder (105 horsepower) as standard, but Ford also offered a couple of small-block V8 mills.
The 260-cubic-inch (4.3-liter) unit delivered 164 horsepower, while the four-barrel 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) arrived with 210 horses on tap. All three units were replaced during the 1965 model, further adding to the 1964 1/2 Mustang's status as a rare and desirable early pony car. The entry-level inline-six is the rarest, while the range-topping 289 V8 is the most sought-after.
While not incredibly scarce, the Mustang you see here brings together all the goodies that make a 1964 1/2 rig highly desirable. For starters, it's a convertible. It also packs a 289-cubic-inch V8 and a four-speed manual gearbox, both of the numbers-matching variety. It's an optioned car, too, featuring a center console, AM/FM radio, and a power convertible top. The owner also went with the dealer-added Rally-Pac bundle.
But wait, there's more. On top of being a numbers-matching and well-optioned classic, this 1964 1/2 Mustang has been in the same family since new. It's been pampered ever since it left the dealership, and it's amazingly original. Aside from the Caspian Blue paint, which has been reapplied twice, this 'Stang is as original as they get. And that's something you don't see every day when it comes to vehicles that are almost 60 years old (as of 2023).
Granted, the drop-top is not perfect. The chassis has some surface rust, and the interior shows signs of wear. The engine bay also needs a cosmetic refresh. But you'd be hard-pressed to find another unrestored 1964 1/2 Mustang in this condition. And if you've been looking for one, you're in luck. This one is being auctioned off as we speak from Riverside, California. Bidding is at $25,500 with six days to go, and there's no reserve.
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