1965 Ford Mustang Fastback

Launched in April 1964 as a midyear model at the New York World’s Fair, Ford Motor Company’s sporty new Mustang created an overnight sensation that established a completely new automobile market. Its landmark debut also remains historic as the most successful new-car introduction of all time. In fact, the Mustang’s significance and its profound influence on car culture simply cannot be overstated. In addition to its handsome styling, its brilliant success came in large part from its low base pricing and unprecedented combination of a compact and sporty car that was remarkably affordable. A comprehensive options list gave buyers the ability to specify a Mustang built to fit their personal needs and budget.

Reportedly, while Ford Motor Company’s market planners projected first-year Mustang sales around the 100,000-unit mark, that very conservative figure was reached in just four months following the car’s release. By 1966, one million Mustangs were on the road, and in competition, Shelby’s Mustang-based GT350s were chasing Corvettes back onto their trailers nationwide. The Mustang and its success immediately triggered competition from every major American car company, but none of them achieved the Mustang’s enduring level of success, considering the Mustang nameplate has been in continuous production for nearly 50 continuous years.

Hardtop and convertible body styles were released first, with the sleek 2+2 fastback joining the Mustang lineup in September 1964. Finished in Wimbledon White with a black interior, this example is a factory C-Code Mustang sporting a comprehensive restoration. In addition to its famed 289 CI V-8 engine, it is equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission favored by committed driving enthusiasts, and further features include an engine dress-up kit and the GT-themed Rally Pac clock and tachometer combination. Rolling on 1960s-style American Racing Torq Thrust wheels mounting BF Goodrich radial tires and accompanied by Mustang assembly manuals, this early Mustang Fastback is a highly collectible and enjoyable automotive icon.