History of Mustang through the Newspaper's Eyes - 1965
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1964 [1965] 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
This is a history of the 1965 Mustang as seen by national and local Mustang articles, press releases, and advertisements. This is an interesting view of the Mustang throughout the years because we can see what was important each year through photos, graphics, models, written text, phrases, etc. Most unexpectedly it also shows an interesting view of why styles changed and how special promotions created special and limited edition Mustangs. See the links provided for more newspaper articles, information, and examples of the Mustangs shown.
Summary: 1965 started with the Mustang settling into the Ford lineup of Falcon and Galaxie, but it wasn't long until the Mustang started to set itself apart. This came with the new 2+2 fastback body style, the Mustang GT options package, the 1st Birthday celebration, the Shelby Mustang GT 350, and the beginning of locally modified special edition Mustangs.
Instant '65 Mustang, Just as gas says this early 1965 ad for the Mustang. Kind of funny.
Friday April 17th, 1964 was the first day the Mustang went on sale. One year later the Mustang GT is introduced at a Ford birthday party for the Mustang. The newest Mustang body line, the fastback 2+2 had already been introduced; so the GT extras comes on all three models: hardtop, convertible, fastback. This article says that 413,165 Mustang had already been sold and is set to beat the initial sales record established for the industry by the Ford Falcon in 1960. The retail value of Mustangs through March of 1965 was just over $1 billion, with $244 million spent on 700 outside suppliers, and provided nearly 18,000 jobs at Ford. At the end of the article it states that 550 newsmen are driving Mustang GTs across the country for promotional purposes.
This is a national ad that started everywhere starting April 20th, 1965. It shows the origins of the Mustang GT from the Ford GT race car. Features include the 289 cu. in. 4V 225-hp V8, floor-mounted 3-speed synchronized stick shift, special GT grille with built-in fog lamps, GT 5-dial instrument cluster including ammeter and oil pressure gauge, unique GT insignia on front fenders, distinctive GT stripe, straight-through dual exhaust system with with chrome "trumpet" extensions, front wheel disk brakes. . .
World Premiere of the Mustang GT-350 says this early advertisement for the 1965 Shelby Mustang GT 350
Here is a nice article about the new Shelby Mustang GT 350. It shows that there is a GT 350 for the street and on for the track.
Later on in 1965, the Shelby GT 350 starts to go on sale. Here is a short article describing the car and its 306hp, 289ci 4V V8 engine.
1965 Mustang JR glamorous, gasoline power adult fun car! This is an interesting ad for an Adult fun car which was sold from June through September of 1965. The small text says, You'll find these handy, smart Mustang JRs, in the most interesting spots all over the world: Luxurious Beverly Hills homes, secluded suburban estates, mansions of heads of state. They're adding pleasure and fun to families of presidents, potentates, movie stars, magnates . . . how about you? Be the first in your set to drive the most sophisticated car on wheels . . .
The 1965 Player's Mustang special edition was painted dark blue and white to match the Player's cigarette package. The Mustangs were used to promote the cigarette by the John Player and Sons division of Imperial Tobacco Canada. Contests to win them ran in many Canadian Providences such as Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario, and Alberta from 1965 through 1968. Besides the unique paint they all were hardtops with 200ci 6-cylinder engine, full wheel covers, and an AM radio.
Later in the 1965 calendar year and through 1966, a 1966 version of the Player's Blue and White Mustang was given away in similar promotions.
Above are some of the winners from the Alberta Player's Mustang giveaway.
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