Who owns the first Ford Mustang ever sold?

If you are a Mustang fanatic then this may be a question that you have asked before and now the answer has been made known.  The answer will surprise you and even more so to know that the original owner still owns it today and the car is on the road again after 53 years.

In the spring of 1964 a 22 year old school teacher was looking to get her first taste of freedom and purchase a new set of wheels.  Gail Brown was living with her parents and teaching at a local elementary school in Chicago, Illinois and her only means of transportation was her mom’s 1957 Ford Fairlane 500, but at least it was a convertible.  She knew that her first car needed to be something special but had no idea what would unfold when she visited the Johnson Ford dealership in her hometown.  After looking at every car in the showroom she told the salesman that she just didn’t see anything that fit what she was searching for.  The salesman then told her “I’ve got something in the back that’s really new” and as he took her in a back storeroom he pulled the cover off of a shiny new 1965 Ford Mustang convertible that had not even been shown to the public yet.  Gail said “That’s me……..that’s what I want”!  The car was painted Skylight Blue and was equipped with the Rally Pac instrumentation to go with its 260 cu. in V8 engine. 

After trading in an old beater and getting her parents to pitch in a little to help her she purchased the car for a total of $3419.  Even if this was the end of the story, it would be a neat story, but the real kicker is that the purchase date of this car was on April 15^th, two days before the car was unveiled at the New York World’s Fair.  Just by chance she became the owner of the first retail Ford Mustang known to be sold. (Talk about being at the right place at the right time)  Can you imagine the excitement this young girl was feeling as she experienced the joys of driving her own car and letting her hair blow in the wind? 

Gail recalls all the looks and waves that she got for the first few months as she began driving this all new American Sports car.  She says “I was the coolest teacher in school that year” and remembers how all the boys from the nearby middle school would stare as she drove by.  “I felt like a movie star everywhere I went”.

Just a couple of years later Gail married her sweetheart, Tom Wise and they began their family in a suburb of Chicago.  The Mustang served the family well and in 1974 it would become Tom’s daily driver even though it was beginning to show some wear.  Northern winters were not very kind to this all original car, so after some minor mechanical issues and daily wear and tear, the rusty and tired car was pushed into the driveway after a stolen battery episode in 1979.  Four children later as life moved along the car did not and was eventually tucked into the garage where it would spend the next 27 years.

Even though there were times when Gail would hint at selling the car, Tom convinced her to keep it and had plans of his own of restoring Gail’s classic to its original state.  After retiring from the Navy he made their dreams come true by beginning to restore the 65 convertible in 2007.  It took approximately three years but the car has been fully restored to its original beauty and is now wowing the crowds again after 50+ years!

These days Gail is afraid to drive it much in fear of scuffing her old friend but Tom enjoys driving it to local shows and sharing this incredible story with other Mustang fans.

In case you are wondering, yes the Wise kids now have kids of their own and one of the granddaughters has already asked Tom “Grandpa, can I have this car when I turn 16” 

As this classic American sports celebrates over 50 years on the road, it becomes clear to those who own a Ford Mustang that it’s more than just a car…..its part of the family.

On April 17, 2014 the Ford Mustang turned 50 years old and thousands of folks gathered at the Charlotte Motor speedway in North Carolina to have a massive birthday party and car show. Gail had her car on display at this event for all the show participants to see and enjoy. (I was fortunate enough to get my picture with it)

Every year the World waits to see what the next chapter in this car will bring, but I’m sure it will continue to capture the American spirit, because the classic features of this car have always been the key to its success.  Melanie Baker (Ford marketing manager) says “From the first days it went on sale in 1964, Mustang has appealed to a broad range of customers, including both women and men of all ages, thanks to its blend of style, performance and affordability”.  “Those attributes remain a part of the Mustang formula to this day”.

Thanks Gail for sharing your incredible story!

See Ya down the road…..Joseph Scott

Just how good is the 2015 Mustang going to be??

Let’s think back just a couple of years….I remember how much Ford and their engineers boasted when they were developing the 2012 BOSS 302 Mustang.  During early on track testing their goal was to beat the BMW M3 and if you remember, after the Boss 302’s first track time, without much engine tuning or suspension refining, they smashed the times of the M3. That was an awesome accomplishment and the Ford engineers and test drivers said what now?? Who is our competition……..what’s our goal now?

Fast forward just a couple of years and Ford is set to unveil a new Mustang….this time it’s getting serious.  If you have been following the all-new 2015 Mustang talk and internet buzz, you should know that Ford has once again boasted that the new 2015 Mustang GT (with track-pack) is promised to be faster "on-track" than the 2012 BOSS 302.  Okay, if it is.....that will be very impressive!!  Most of the newly promised on track quickness will more than likely come of the new independence rear suspension that will make its debut on the 2015 Mustang.  We can only imagine that the handling on this already quick coupe will raise some eyebrows when they glance at the stopwatches.

So, exactly what will the 2015 Mustang GT's target be this time? The Porsche 911, the Jaguar F-Type, or the new BMW M4???  If not one of these then what?  I recently read another blog post where the author was saying that the 2015 Mustang would be moving up and punching in a different weight class, well the new Pony had better be hitting the weight room or “juicing up” as they say, because the class of cars being mentioned in the same sentence are packing some massive punches!  But I must warn you, if you choose to look at bang for the buck as your gauge, go ahead and get the 2015 Mustang before you read any further because the price tag on the other cars being mentioned will give you a big time case of sticker shock!

Let’s look at a few for comparison;

2015 Porsche 911 Targa 4S, 3.8L Flat Six Cylinder, 400HP, and 0-60 time of 4.2 sec, approx. base $116,000

2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe, 5.0L, Supercharged V8, 550HP, and 0-60 time of 4.0sec, approx. base $90,000

2015 BMW M4, 3.0L, Twin-Turbo Inline Six Cylinder, 425HP, and 0-60 time of 4.0 sec, approx. base $70,000

Now I know what you are saying……Wow, at an MSRP of $33,000 for the 2015 Mustang GT (most likely as tested closer to $40,000), I can buy two or more for the price of the cars on this list, and you would be correct.  But you have to consider the quality and craftsmanship in each brand and as with all things, the brand status! 

I think that as long as Ford has been producing the Mustang they have certainly continued to build on the knowledge and expertise that has kept this pony car trotting at a good pace.  

Yes this year Ford is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the iconic Mustang and that’s a big deal, but some folks may ask why?  I hear people say “It’s just another car…..what’s all the fuss about?”  Any vehicle manufacturer that can say they have produced one model for 50 years or more is quite an accomplishment.  After all this milestone has not been reached by very many automotive companies. 

I’m willing to bet that after the dust settles on all the reviews and first drives that the critics will once again be raving about the little pony car that Mr. Ford and Mr. Iacocca brought to life.

Soon enough we will know the question that everyone is asking, just how good is the 2015 Mustang going to be?

The 2015 Mustang...is the 50th too European?

When most folks turn 50 years old it’s celebrated with black balloons and gloomy tombstone markers, but the Ford Mustang is still alive and running free as it always has.  To celebrate the Golden years of this pony car, Ford has decided it is such a big occasion that they needed to have two simultaneous events.  Beginning on Thursday April 17^th, Mustang fans from all over the country will flood into Charlotte, NC and Las Vegas, NV to participate in four days of nothing but Mustang pandemonium!  If you drive a Mustang or are just a fan, you do not want to miss these once in a lifetime events.

(Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company)

Now that the 2015 Ford Mustang has been revealed and the photos are everywhere, I wanted to address the styling/design and some of the negative feedback that is all over Facebook and the forums.  Some fans out there are totally not interested in this all new look that the Mustang is sporting.  To those folks, I say…….wait a minute!

Let’s go back a few years and reflect for a moment.  I was reading one of my numerous Mustang coffee table books the other night and I read some intriguing quotes I had never heard before.......John J. Telnack who was a designer with Ford from the 60's thru the 80's.  (He also had a successful career with Ford lasting some 39 years).  He tells a story of how he helped design the all-new European influenced 1979 Fox Mustang.  When he showed a "sneak peek" of the design to Henry Ford, He did not like the direction they were proposing.  John asked him to just think about it and they would do a few variations.....and the 2nd time he showed it to Henry he said "Boy.....I've got to tell you, it really works.....let's go with it".

What's very interesting is that the other design they were more strongly considering from the other competing design team was "Very-Very American and very boxy"  He goes on to recount how they decided to go with the design that was more European and how successful it became and still is today!!  It’s neat to hear those behind the scenes talks that go on to make history with good and bad design decisions.  I’m just glad that Henry Ford decided to let Lee Iaccoca act on his vision and proceed with production of the Mustang.

(Here is a custom version of the 1979 Mustang Indy Pace Car Edition)

I personally don't have any issues with a European designed 2015 as long as it keeps the American look with a slight European twist- like an Aston Martin-Vanquish look!

The Ford Mustang having a European influence is nothing new and it’s been a part of the car for a large portion of its history.  I think there were some classic Mustangs with some European design influence (maybe one-offs), and more recently there was the Giugiaro Mustang Concept from 2006.

This car did give us a few hints at what the 50^th Mustang might look like, but it was a one-off custom built concept car to stir the interest of Mustang fans worldwide.

Speaking of worldwide, Ford has made no excuses for the worldwide market they are trying to reach with this all new Mustang.  They are pushing the car into some of the Asian markets that have always been off the radar until now.

There will always be those Mustang purists who just will not warm up to this new 2015 design, but I feel like I need to share my experience to bring out an interesting perspective.  I am president of a very active Mustang car club in my local community and most of my friends know that I am Mustang Crazy!  In the months and days leading up to the “Official” reveal of this all new Mustang, many of my car club buddies and close friends kept asking me what I thought it was going to look like and did I think it would be too European and not “American looking”.  I continued to tell each one of them that Ford would deliver on this one and we would all love it.

Now after the photos of the car were posted and all the major news networks covered the big reveals, it was amazing to me to hear the feedback from my friends.   Of my friends who were “car guys” and Mustang fans, there were only about 50% who liked the new 2015 design, but of my friends who are not into cars or Mustangs at all, the numbers were almost 90% who loved it and even said, “WOW, I think I want one of those when it comes out!”  Now I’m not a numbers or marketing guy, but I would say that Ford has hit another homerun if they can get folks who had not previously even looked twice at buying a Mustang to now say they are seriously considering purchasing one. 

When the fanfare is over, the 50^th Mustang Celebration is finished, and the car has hit the dealerships, we will truly get a feel for how the public has responded to this worldwide Mustang.  Personally I feel most will be quick to fall in love all over again with this new Pony car just as they did back in 1964 when it was released.  The only question that will remain is…..”What color do I want to order it in”? 

Don’t forget you heard it here first-when Ford releases the next wave of special edition Mustangs (which rumor has it will include an all-new 2016 Mach I that will blow your socks off)…Ford will fill every order and might have to consider building even more to meet demands! 

Happy 50^th Birthday to the Ford Mustang…….keep running strong for another 50 years!!

Mustang #1 and #1 Million!

Long before the debut of the Ford Mustang on April 17, 1964, the assembly line was already cranking out thousands of the all new two door car.  Dealers throughout the United States were already receiving the new car in anticipation of showing them off on the launch date.  A few of the early pre-production Mustangs were to be used for promotional purposes and were not to be sold; these cars are usually kept within Ford for various testing and marketing.  It turns out that one of those early models was a Wimbledon White convertible wearing serial number 5F08F100001 and it was delivered to George Parsons Ford in Canada.  This was among those pre-production cars that were not to be sold to the public, however while on display at the dealership the car caught the attention of an Eastern Provincial Airline pilot named Capt. Stanley Tucker and he knew he had to have it.  He talked the dealership into selling it to him and drove away in his new white Mustang convertible.  This was just one of the near 22,000 Mustangs that were sold that first weekend of sales.  The funny thing was it seemed like just another Mustang being sold to the next happy customer, but very soon Ford and the folks back at headquarters in Dearborn realized that there was something extremely special about the car that Capt. Tucker had purchased.  After it was confirmed what had taken place, Ford officials knew that this was Mustang number 1 and that it was not intended for this car to be sold.  Ford contacted him and told him the story of this car and began trying to convince Capt. Tucker to sell it back to them, but he was not interested in this because he was having too much fun driving his new convertible. 

(Photo courtesy of Ford)

He had already driven the car approximately 10,000 miles when Ford reached out to Capt. Tucker again in the winter of 1965; however this time they were offering an incentive.  Ford was offering to trade an all-new 1966 Mustang optioned with anything he wanted in trade for Mustang number 1.  Now by this time Mustang fever had swept the nation and the sale were skyrocketing.  During the first year of production the sale reached an amazing 417,000 and Ford was having a hard time meeting the demand for this hot new sports car.  The cars incredible low price tag and youthful looks had everybody wanting one.  It only took just over two years of production for the Mustang to reach the 1 million car mark.

Now here comes the cool part, Ford was offering the let Capt. Tucker decide how he wanted the car to be equipped.  He accepted and picked his new 1966 white convertible up as it rolled off the assembly line, and yes there was a lot more excitement and fanfare this time as took position of his new Mustang.  This one had the newer 289 V8 engine with a C4 Cruise-O-Matic transmission.  Ford called Capt. Tuckers new Mustang number 1 million and I guess that was fitting because it was a once and a lifetime trade.

Shortly after the trade took place Ford shipped Mustang number 1 back to Dearborn to the Henry Ford Museum where it was freshened up with a new coat of paint and has never been driven since.

On a personal note, while attending the 45^th Mustang Celebration at Barber Motorsports Park in 2009 with my Dad, I was in for quite a surprise when visiting the Motorcycle museum.  Guests were allowed to visit the floor level of the Museum and Ford had loaned Mustang number 1 to be displayed throughout the weekend and I was able to see it for the first time.

Joseph