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1965 Mustang Restoration: Mustang History and Resources A short primer on the making of an American legend, the 1965 Mustang. From "Classic Car Restoration" episode DCR-501

Before beginning actual restoration work on our classic 1965 Mustang Fastback, Classic Car Restoration host Steve Magnante takes a minute to review the history of the Ford Mustang and its fairly prominent place in American popular culture.

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A Short History of the Ford Mustang

Ford Mustang production first began in April 1964, and the initial production run continued through December 1965. In car manufacturing terms, it was a long, year-and-a-half production cycle. Why? Because the car was so successful, Ford just had to keep building them. Ford initially thought they'd build maybe 100,000 of these cars. In the end, closer to 900,000 first generation Mustangs were manufactured.

Why was it so successful? The car incorporated features that appealed to the growing driving-age population of baby boomers, and it was very inexpensive. Perhaps its most noteworthy feature for the era were the car's standard bucket seats — offered for the first time ever in a low-priced American car (figure A).

Figure A

Born as a concept car in 1962, the Mustang actually debuted at the 1964 World's Fair (figures B and C). The popular "pony car" hasn't stopped running since.

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

The basic form of the Mustang was based on Ford's proven workhorse car of the era, the Falcon (figure D), albeit with lots of attitude.

Ford's innovative general manager Lee Iacocca made sure that the Mustang was sporty, fun to drive and affordable. He also decked it out with all the options features that a young car owner might want.

In addition to the hard-top coupe and already popular convertible, Ford offered the bold-style 2+2 Fastback in 1965 (figure E), the very car that we're restoring in this project (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

Also in 1965, Ford offered a Mustang GT package (figure G), featuring better engine performance as well as luxury interior options. But the biggest news was when famed race-car driver and builder Carroll Shelby teamed with Ford to produce high-performance Mustangs, starting with the Shelby GT-350 in 1965 (figure H).

Figure G

Figure H

Figure I

Carroll Shelby was the designer and engineer behind the legendary Ford Cobra, at the time the fastest American production car ever built.

Shelby's Ford legacy continues through today, and Shelby Mustangs remain some of the most sought-after collectibles in the automotive world (figure I).

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