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Tag: mustang

April 17, 1964 – The Ford Mustang goes on sale
17Apr By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day

April 17, 1964 – The Ford Mustang goes on sale

Picture yourself the New York Auto Show on this day in 1964. You're in a huge crowd, gathered to hear Henry Ford II, grandson of Henry Ford, make a monumental announcement. He begins his speech, puffing up a balloon of anticipation. Then POP!  The curtain drops and you feast your eyes on an all new car! The pony car revolution is about to blossom. A bomb has been dropped on the auto industry, catapulting American sports cars into a spotlight that previously shined only on the Europeans. The Ford Mustang is here. 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang On the same day the car debuted at the show, dealers began sales to the general public. Approximately 22,000 of them sold the first day on the market. Within 18 months, more than 1,000,000 Mustangs were sitting in driveways all across the world...
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January 27, 1965 – Shelby GT350 goes on sale
27Jan By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day

January 27, 1965 – Shelby GT350 goes on sale

The racing circuit changed forever when sales of the 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 launched on this day in 1965. The Shelby GT350 was based off of 1965 Ford Mustang fastbacks that originally left the San Jose Assembly Plant with a 271 HP 289 V8 and a 4 on the floor. Carroll Shelby had the stock vehicles shipped to Shelby American in Venice Beach, California, and later at Los Angeles International Airport, where his team would first strip the cars of weight. Shelby then added performance upgrades, such as high-riser intake manifolds, a four barrel carburetor and custom exhaust headers, boosting horsepower to 306.  Above: Original ad for the Shelby GT350Cover photo: First generation Ford Shelby GT350 by Brian Corey In 1965 Shelby built 562 GT350s, all painted Wimbledon White with Gua...
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January 11, 1923 – Carroll Shelby is born
11Jan By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day

January 11, 1923 – Carroll Shelby is born

Carroll Shelby, legendary race car driver, team owner and car builder, was born on this day in 1923. Though he is perhaps best known for his role in the creation of the Shelby AC Cobra and the Shelby Mustangs of the 1960s, the history of Carroll Shelby covers so much more. His career spanned decades of racing, engineering and production feats. Shelby’s need for speed dated back to the 1930s when he cruised around his high school town in Texas in a modified Willys. After graduation, he only went faster, serving in the Air Army Corps during WWII, earning his wings as a test pilot and flight instructor. Upon discharge, he held positions in the oil fields and on a poultry farm before giving auto racing a serious go. Above: The first AC Cobra, CSX2000, at the Shelby Museum. ByJaydec...
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November 21, 1970 – Ford gets a new Boss – 351 Mustang that is
21Nov By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day

November 21, 1970 – Ford gets a new Boss – 351 Mustang that is

1971 Boss 351 Mustang for sale by Rock Hard Motors Ford introduced the one-year-only Boss 351 Mustang on this day in 1970 for the 1971 model year at the Detroit Auto Show. The vehicles featured a 351 cubic inch 8-cylindenr, 16-valve V8 pushing 330 horsepwer. It featured an aluminum intake manifold, solid lifters, dual-point distributor, a six-quart oil pan, and cast-aluminum valve covers and 4-barrel carb system, allowing the Mustang to scream from 0 - 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. Only 1,806 Boss 351 Mustangs were built for 1971. The 351 succeeded the Boss 302 and Boss 429, both available in '69 and '70. As you can guess, the numbers on the badge represented the size of the engine. While the 351 offered about 40 more ponies than the 302, it couldn't keep up with the 429's 375 hp rating. T...
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April 15, 1964 – Gail Wise is first to buy a Ford Mustang
15Apr By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Automotive

April 15, 1964 – Gail Wise is first to buy a Ford Mustang

On this day in 1964, two days before the official Ford Mustang on-sale date, one mistakenly left the dealership. The lucky new owner, the first person to buy a Mustang, was Gail Wise, a 22 year old school teacher from Chicago. Her parents lent her the money after she landed her new job but had no way to get to and from the school she was to teach at. Cash in hand, she headed to a local dealership in search of a convertible. When she expressed her desires, she was disheartened to learn no drop tops were in stock. Perhaps seeing her dismay, the salesman told her he had a special surprise and led her to a backroom. Not sketchy at all... Are you old or classic? Get it here Much to her relief she found a baby blue Ford Mustang convertible. The car had yet to be released to the public...
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Dusty & Rusty – 1968 Ford Mustang J Code
17Oct By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Dusty & Rusty

Dusty & Rusty – 1968 Ford Mustang J Code

If you caught the earlier post about today being the anniversary of the release of Bullitt, then you'll have extra appreciation for this 1968 Ford Mustang fastback that could be the base of your Bullitt tribute car. Midway through 1968 Ford replaced the 289 with a 302, which resulted in the J code in the VIN, a one year listing. The only real difference in the motor was the intake and heads, which were the same ones used on the '66 289, but with updated castings. So while the J code may be rare, it's hardly more than a 289 in an ironed shirt. That's essentially the long winded way of saying, YOU WANT $20,000 FOR THIS? The 1968 Mustang in question after it was pulled from the weeds -- where it looked way cooler This is a serious case of "I know what I have!" While the seller seems to...
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October 17, 1968 – Bullitt hits theaters, stars 1968 Mustang & Steve McQueen
17Oct By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day

October 17, 1968 – Bullitt hits theaters, stars 1968 Mustang & Steve McQueen

Thin lined and fueled by octane, Bullitt was a box office hit that made its theatrical debut on this day in 1968. The film is centered around San Francisco Police Lieutenant Frank Bullitt, who sets out to investigate the murder of a witness he was ordered to protect... and there's a bunch of mystery and twists and turns and eventually he gets the job done... sort of. So, now that we got that out of the way, let's chat about the legendary car chase where Steve McQueen drives a 1968 Ford Mustang GT as he hunts down two hit men in a 1968 Dodge Charger. Their dash through the streets of San Fran elevated the film to superstar status, at least for gearheads, but it has been preserved in the Library of Congress. Here... just watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJZ-BHBKyos If you've b...
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