When Was the Ford Mustang First Introduced to the Public?

Few cars have made an entrance quite like the Ford Mustang. When it first appeared, it didn’t just fill a gap in the market – it created an entirely new segment. In the early 1960s, American car buyers had limited options. You could choose a large family sedan or a small, budget-friendly compact. But what if you wanted something with style, decent performance, and a price tag you could still justify?

Ford Motor Company asked the same question. Their answer was a sleek coupe with a long hood, short rear deck, and seating for four. This wasn’t just another new model – it kicked off the pony car era. Before long, Chevrolet, Plymouth, and AMC were working on their own challengers, but the Mustang got there first.

The Mustang’s Official Debut

The big reveal took place on April 17, 1964, at the New York World’s Fair. Inside the Ford Pavilion, visitors saw a gleaming hardtop slowly turning on a raised platform under bright spotlights. Outside, a convertible version pulled guest trams through Disney’s Magic Skyway ride, giving people a moving, real-world look at the new car.

It was the perfect stage. The fair brought in more than 50 million visitors, giving Ford an enormous audience from day one. The next morning, newspapers ran photos of crowds packed around the display. Television coverage highlighted the low starting price – under $2,400 – and the Mustang’s compact, sporty proportions. For many, it was unlike anything they had seen from an American automaker.

When Did the Mustang Go on Sale?

Back then, it was common for months to pass between a new car’s reveal and the day customers could actually buy one. Not so with the Mustang. Ford had been building “early 1965” cars since March 1964, so dealers were ready with stock on launch day. By the end of April 17, more than 22,000 orders had been placed.

Some customers called their dealer the morning after seeing the TV commercial, eager to claim one without even sitting behind the wheel.

Introduction vs. Sales

• Introduction: the official reveal to the public
• Sales: when buyers could place an order and take delivery

For the Mustang, both happened in the same week, a rare move at the time.

1964½ Launch Lineup

Body style	Base price (USD)	Launch date
Hardtop	$2,368	April 17, 1964
Convertible	$2,614	April 17, 1964
Fastback 2+2	$2,553	September 1964

Engine options ranged from a 170-cu-in inline-six to a 289-cu-in V8. A three-speed manual came standard, but many buyers chose the four-speed manual or Cruise-O-Matic automatic instead.

Who Designed the First Ford Mustang?

The Mustang’s creation was a team effort, guided by a few key figures:

• Lee Iacocca – Ford Division general manager and the project’s champion
• Donald Frey – Chief engineer who kept costs low by using Ford Falcon parts
• Joe Oros – Head of the design studio who led the styling contest
• Gale Halderman – The designer whose side profile sketch won, drawn in a single night

Goals for the project

• Comfortably seat four adults
• Keep weight close to 2,500 lbs
• Use proven chassis components to speed development
• Offer enough options for buyers to customize their car

Why it was different

The Mustang was shorter than a midsize sedan yet felt roomy enough for everyday driving. Priced close to a Falcon Futura, it appealed to budget-conscious buyers while looking like a premium, European-inspired sports coupe. Design elements like the running-horse grille badge and sculpted body sides gave it instant personality.

Even the base models carried sporty touches, such as a floor-mounted shifter, and buyers could choose from an extensive accessory catalog, including wire wheels and rally-pack gauges.

How Popular Was the Mustang After Its Debut?

Ford had hoped to sell 100,000 units in the first year. Instead, they sold more than 418,000 by August 1965, dominating over half of the U.S. sports car market.

Key milestones

• One-millionth Mustang built on March 2, 1966
• Fastest first-year sales for any post-war American car
• International exports began in late 1964, including right-hand-drive models for Australia

Early model changes

Model year	Notable updates
1965	Alternator replaced generator, GT package added disc brakes
1967	Body widened two inches, big-block 390 V8 became available
1969	Mach 1, Boss 302, and Boss 429 performance models introduced
1970	Twin-cluster taillights returned, new 351 Cleveland engine debuted

Ford kept the Mustang fresh each year while preserving its signature look – the long hood, short rear deck, and triple taillights.

Conclusion

• Public debut: April 17, 1964, at the New York World’s Fair
• First sales: Same day, thanks to early production
• Design team: Iacocca, Frey, Oros, Halderman, and many more engineers
• Impact: Sparked the pony car class and reshaped the market
• Legacy: Continuous production and an enduring spot in car culture

Fun facts

• Chicago teacher Gail Wise accidentally became the first retail Mustang owner on April 15, two days before the official reveal, when her dealer ignored Ford’s release date
• Tiffany & Co. gave the Mustang its 1965 Design Excellence award, the only car ever to receive the honor
• Early “1964½” Mustangs used a generator instead of an alternator, making them especially prized by collectors

Sources (accessed August 2025):

• History.com
• Ford Corporate Archives
• Wikipedia
• Autoevolution
• Classic Industries News
• Wired
• MotorTrend