No Reserve: 1964½ Ford Mustang Convertible
No Reserve. They are two words guaranteed to attract potential buyers’ attention, even if the classic in question looks decidedly secondhand. However, to see the term used in the listing for a car the caliber of this Mustang, it is easy to understand why the bidding has been spirited. This isn’t any old Mustang but is a genuine 1964½ Convertible that has been part of the same family since Day One. That gives it a known ownership history, and the extensive collection of included documentation heightens its desirability. The Mustang is listed here on eBay in Riverside, California. Bidding has raced to $15,600, and we mustn’t forget that the winning bidder could be driving this gem home a week from now.
The Data Plate for this Mustang confirms it rolled off the line in June 1964, with the included documentation indicating the owners took delivery of this gem in the following month. The collection consists of the original Window Sticker, Dealership Paperwork, Finance Documentation, and the original Bill of Sale. The Convertible was ordered in Caspian Blue, with the car receiving a repaint in the 1990s and another fairly recently. It presents well, with no significant flaws in the panels or paint. The White power top is in good order and functions correctly. The car has spent its life in Southern California and is garage-kept when not prowling the streets. This has kept the dreaded tin worm at bay, although it is fair to expect a few minor spots from any First Generation Mustang of this vintage upon close inspection. The glass is free from significant flaws, and the trim is acceptable for a survivor. The distinctive “V” and “289” badges from the driver’s side front fender are missing, but the original wheel covers are intact and look excellent.
This Mustang retains its original Blue vinyl trim that has stood the test of time well. The seats show no appreciable wear, and the remaining upholstered surfaces are equally impressive. The carpet shows some slight dirty patches on the outer edges, but the lack of wear makes the idea of replacement seem unnecessary. The original AM radio has made way for an AM/FM unit, but I can’t spot any further additions. It isn’t loaded with factory options, although the original (and functional) Rally-Pac gauges and console enhance this car’s desirability.
Lifting this Mustang’s hood reveals the D-Code 289ci V8 producing 210hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque. The power feeds to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission, but the new owner misses such luxuries as power assistance for the steering and brakes. The D-Code brought a significant performance boost over the F-Code 260, which delivered 164hp and 258 ft/lbs. Owners could hardly ignore the improvement because the larger engine slashed the ¼-mile ET from 17.5 seconds to 16.2 seconds and lifted the top speed from 111 to 119mph. The seller indicates the Convertible is numbers-matching and is in excellent mechanical health. The car runs and drives like a dream and has caused no drama on a few recent extended journeys.
It isn’t unusual to find classics in the market with a long-term ownership history, which is admirable and desirable. However, to find a car like this 1964½ Mustang Convertible that has been part of the same family since Day One is rare. This vehicle hails from the earliest days of production and a time when nobody knew how profound the badge’s impact would be on the automotive landscape. Many of those early cars are distant memories, but this is a genuine survivor that has stood the test of time. It has received eighteen bids, but I believe that figure will climb significantly before the hammer falls. If an early Mustang has been on your radar, would you consider making a play for this one? I won’t blame you if you do.
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Comments
The vehicle of choice of two of my high school buddies post-high school. One Mustang convertible was brown and the other ice blue. Both had the 289 and both were modified a little. That is to say both were equally loud which accented the experience of terrifyingly fast runs here and there around town. How nature selected us to survive into our twenties and beyond is anyone’s guess. These Mustangs were going for a song in the mid-’70s since there were so many of them.
Nice looking car only time will tell if it climbs into the stupid drunk bidding price range
The earliest Mustangs were fitted with the 260 V8 not the 289. If this is truly a 1964-1/2 Mustang, then the original engine has been replaced with a 289.
Wrong. Ford offered both in early mustangs…the d code is stupid rare…
D Code = 4 bbl 289, very rare, made only from March – Sept. 1964.
This History behind it you do not often see!!
This is a Gem.
The K-code High Performance 289 was also available in 1964 1/2 Mustangs starting in June, 1964.
The Purple Defender 1/2 true the cars were built in late 64 and offered as a 65 since they were at the world fair in 64 they came to be known as 64 1/2
There really WAS no such thing as a 64 1/2 Mustang! That is merely a moniker tagged by Stang afficiandos. All were serialed as 65 models!
My first car was a 1967 Mustang convertible, fun car. If I purchased this I would drive and enjoy it. I like to drive these classics around town.
Would be worth more if it was still Caspian blue. But it’s still got the generator, and has the ”High Profile” rallye pack that was available on the earlier cars, so I’d guess it’s pretty original. 4 speed adds value to it, but as a person who likes to drive mine and not show it, the oddity of original owner and paper work doesn’t add much. Be interesting to see how high it goes.
Look close..it’s still Caspian blue..the lighting is bad..Caspian Blue is a very dark blue.
I don’t think it’s Caspian. I’ve got a Caspian Blue 65 Coupe here in my garage, and it’s much lighter than that. I guess it could be the colors on my monitor, or maybe the light. One in picture looks black to me. But the blue of the interior is a little different than mine too. Who knows!?!
It’s a really gloomy day,that’ll wash photo’s out done by someone who isnt cognizant of proper lighting.
I had a 64 1/2 in high school, poppy red with white convertible top. My 289 could take me to at least 5 mph past the 120 mark btw. This one is gorgeous as can be…didn’t think dual exhaust was a factory option? Too bad the bid will go way high.
Single exhaust is what I have read, for both the 260 and 289’s in 1964 1/2 version.
Red, white and black engine decal on air cleaner, aluminum water pump.
What I would have given to have bought from original owner on my Torino- all the History ! Records, stories, all of it like here. RARE.
History beats Mystery!
Single exhaust is correct but the air cleaner housing and valve covers should be gold and the engine should be black.
According to fords info Mustangs did not have 289’s until august of 1964. Which is the beginning of the 1965 model year. I was a teenager when they were built. I have seen lots of early Mustangs, but never with a 289
There never was a 64 model year. From the introduction at the World’s Fair they were all 65s. First 271hp 289 Mustang was built on March 9, 1964. Given to henry Foord II.
Yes, I typed that all myself!
Technically correct but there are notable differences between the cars built before mid August of 1964 and those built after. The fun ones were built during the couple of weeks around August 17th when they were just using whatever parts were available in the bins to assemble them with. The convertible I had prior to my May 26, 1964 built one was such a car and had a few parts from both sided of the changeover date. It’s VIN and build date, including being an A code confirmed what it was but the parts used during assembly were a bit confusing.
You are correct. Although there were changes made to the later 65’s, all were 65’s. The first number in the VIN is the key.
@AKRunner – I am curious about your statement regarding them hitting the parts bin. According to some book I read that details the transition from generator cars, i.e. the 64 1/2’s to the 65’s – which have an alternator, my car was built the first day that they did this transition, per the VIN tag. Mine is a convertible with a 289 and 4 speed. While it was restored back in the late 80’s, possibly as late as 90 as I bought it in ’93, I don’t know what parts would remain original to that build, but am curious as to what other differences there would have been that you know of.
As always, reading comments on this site is always educational, though, like everywhere on the internet, should be taken with a grain of salt. I do enjoy learning more about these cars but have never taken mine to show or meet with the Mustang groups.
That information is incorrect. This car has a June 22, 1964 build date and a D(4V 289 ci) code VIN. Additionally the original bill of sale and sales contract posted on Ebay are both dated July 22, 1964. My last Mustang was also a D code convertible that was built on May 26, 1964, 26,346 units earlier. The D code production started in March prior to the April 17th release of the Mustang and the K code was available in June of 1964. I have been messing with vintage Mustangs since about 1983 and also worked back then as the parts department wholesale account representative for a Ford dealership. For reasons I can’t explain I even still have(in storage) my old microfiche viewer and slides for most every Ford vehicle series prior to the early 1990’s.
This is the first 1964 built I’ve seen in a while with the correct timing cover on it but the engine color including the air cleaner is wrong. I suspect that this engine has been out of the car at least once because of the the color change.
Has anyone else noticed the 289 emblem is missing on the driver side front fender?
Never forget seeing my first D code Mustang. Girl I went to college with drove it back in the early 80’s. None of the engine decoder books available even listed it. Had to go to the Ford dealer and ask what it was. Definitely don’t see many around.