Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Meet The World's First Mustang Owner: Video
Motor Authority ^ | 2/18/14 | Nelson Ireson

Posted on 02/19/2014 6:36:06 AM PST by smokingfrog

It's 1964, and the Ford Mustang is coming, but it hasn't arrived in any owners' hands yet. People all over the country are excited about Ford's affordable new sporty car. Then Gail Wise rolls down the street in a powder blue convertible and everyone loses it.

This is the first Ford Mustang ever sold to a customer, and it's still in the hands of the woman who bought it out from under a tarp in the back room of Johnson Ford. The dealer sold the car before it was officially on sale.

Over the years the car has seen a lot of use, eventually falling into disrepair. But then, when it was time to get rid of it or fix it, Wise's husband, Tom, completely restored the car.

(Excerpt) Read more at motorauthority.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: convertible; ford; mustang; oldcars
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last
Pretty cool!
1 posted on 02/19/2014 6:36:06 AM PST by smokingfrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

I saw a “where it it now” type of TV show a few years back and it showed the first mustang off the assembly line. A traveling salesman had bought it. Ford tracked it down and was surprised it was still around. They bought it, restored it and put it in the Henry Ford Museum.

There was a famous pancake house in Detroit. Lee Iacoca said he knew he had a hit when he drove by one day and there was a sign in the window that said “Our hotcakes are selling like Mustangs”.


2 posted on 02/19/2014 6:43:57 AM PST by VerySadAmerican (".....Barrack, and the horse Mohammed rode in on.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VerySadAmerican

https://www.thehenryford.org/rouge/legacygallery.aspx


3 posted on 02/19/2014 6:54:26 AM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog
I am not questioning the story of the first Mustang, but it kinda surprises me that it is a convertible. I remember the Mustang's arrival well. In my memory, the convertible was about a month or so later and the V8 even later. Does anyone out there in Freeperland know?
4 posted on 02/19/2014 6:59:02 AM PST by Tupelo (I am feeling more like Philip Nolan every day)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tupelo

I dunno, but Wikipedia shows a picture of a convertable for the 1964 model


5 posted on 02/19/2014 7:09:00 AM PST by kidd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Tupelo
My story is very similar to the lady's. I was young. We went to buy a new car. The salesman took us to the back to see this new model - a '64 Mustang. WOW! it was really neat.

We left with a new car. A 1964 Ford Fairlaine station wagon - which was that same horrible baby blue color at the 'Stang in the video, btw.

6 posted on 02/19/2014 7:11:32 AM PST by kinsman redeemer (The real enemy seeks to devour what is good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Tupelo

I think they’re only claiming that it was the first Mustang convertible that was ordered.

There seems to be well over a hundred pre-production models.

http://blogs.mustangmonthly.com/6448377/miscellaneous/first-mustang-are-you-kidding/


7 posted on 02/19/2014 7:14:04 AM PST by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog
Also, (off topic) I found this question interesting. My mechanic asked me: "How many letters in the Ford emblem?"


8 posted on 02/19/2014 7:14:52 AM PST by kinsman redeemer (The real enemy seeks to devour what is good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kinsman redeemer
The small "e" stands for Edsel (Ford).

.

according to my mechanic, that is.

9 posted on 02/19/2014 7:16:11 AM PST by kinsman redeemer (The real enemy seeks to devour what is good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: FReepers
Less Than 15K To Go And The Freepathon Is Over!


Click The Pic To Donate

Support FR, Donate Monthly If You Can

10 posted on 02/19/2014 7:25:28 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kinsman redeemer

One more if you count the “o” in the oval.

As a Mustang owner I know that FORD stands for “Found On Road Dead.”


11 posted on 02/19/2014 7:31:16 AM PST by bajabaja (Too ugly to be scanned at the airports.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: bajabaja

FORD stands for “First On Race Day”.....


12 posted on 02/19/2014 7:34:06 AM PST by Boonie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Boonie

My Dad, Grandfathers and uncles were all GM guys.

From a young age I was taught Ford stands for Fix Or Repair Daily.


13 posted on 02/19/2014 7:38:53 AM PST by chrisser (Senseless legislation does nothing to solve senseless violence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Boonie; bajabaja

Fix Or Repair Daily


14 posted on 02/19/2014 7:39:31 AM PST by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: MrEdd; Boonie

Had a girlfriend who worked in a FIAT showroom waaaay back.

Fix It Again Tony


15 posted on 02/19/2014 7:41:30 AM PST by bajabaja (Too ugly to be scanned at the airports.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

My first car was a 64.5 white Mustang. Inline-6, 3 on the column, no synchro in first gear.

Not exactly sporty, but a great first car.


16 posted on 02/19/2014 8:03:20 AM PST by jimtorr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chrisser

I worked for Elmo Langley, a NASCAR Ford/Mercury driver back in the day...Cale Yarborough, Dave Pearson, Leroy Yarbrough,Bobby and Donnie Allison won with Fords...
Even Richard Petty, when Chrysler factories held out on him one year went to a Ford...Wouldn’t dispute “The King”, would you???*L*


17 posted on 02/19/2014 8:27:42 AM PST by Boonie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: jimtorr

There were no column-shift Mustangs.


18 posted on 02/19/2014 8:31:44 AM PST by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: smokingfrog

I can still remember the first Mustang I ever saw.It was a funny”orange”color and parked across the street from my school(St.Monica’s High School/Santa Monica).This is 1964.


19 posted on 02/19/2014 8:40:34 AM PST by bandleader
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Boonie

I have one of each - Ford, Chrysler and GM.

They each excel and suck in their own special ways. I don’t have much brand loyalty anymore. I do all my own work on my vehicles, so my perspective is likely different that those who pay to have them maintained.

If I were to buy new, it would probably be a Ford. But I have serious doubts I will ever purchase a new vehicle. Used would depend on the specific model and what I needed it for.


20 posted on 02/19/2014 8:43:44 AM PST by chrisser (Senseless legislation does nothing to solve senseless violence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-32 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson