One-Owner Gem: 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang Is a True Survivor With a Repaint

Introduced in the spring of 1964, the Ford Mustang went into production some four months before the start of the 1965 model year. And even though they were marketed as 1965 cars, the early first-gen Mustangs are widely referred to as 1964 1/2 models.

Although they look identical to their 1965 counterparts, the 1964 1/2 Mustangs have a few features that set them apart. For starters, they're all fitted with DC electrical generators, as Ford did not introduce the AC alternator until the 1965 model year. As a result, the light on the dash reads "GEN" instead of "ALT."

The 1964 1/2 Mustang also had a different engine lineup. It came standard with the 170-cubic-inch (2.8-liter) inline-six, which was replaced in 1965 by the larger 200-cubic-inch (3.3-liter) straight-six. Likewise, the 260-cubic-inch (4.3-liter) V8 was discontinued.

The third engine choice was a four-barrel 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8. Rated at 210 horsepower, it was replaced by a more potent 225-horsepower version at the start of the 1965 model year.

Due to the very short model year, the 1964 1/2 Mustang is much rarer than its successors. Ford put together only 121,538 cars before the 1965 production year began. That's still a lot of vehicles, but the figure is quite small compared to the nearly 438,000 examples delivered in 1965.

It's not exactly rare, but it's definitely more desirable. Much more so since many of these early Mustangs have succumbed to rust in junkyards and barns. Well, here's one that soldiered on without damage or rust. It's a true survivor with one repaint, and it's finished in a rare black-on-black color combo (with a white vinyl top).

This Mustang spent nearly its entire life with the same owner. The person who bought it back in 1964 owned it until he passed away in 2023. The pony remained with his wife until 2025, when she decided that the Mustang would be better off with a new owner.

While the exterior was repainted some two decades ago, and the top was replaced in recent months, the interior is still all-original and in very good condition. Likewise, the D-code 289-cubic-inch V8 engine is numbers matching. The latter mates with a four-speed manual, which makes for a relatively rare drivetrain combo (specific production figures are unknown). 

Although it doesn't have much to do with the car, it's worth pointing out that the owner worked as a stuntman for Hollywood legend Steve McQueen in the Oscar-winning film "The Sand Pebbles." The car comes with an autographed photo of the owner while working with McQueen.

The Mustang has only 80,155 miles (130,608 km) on the odometer, and the selling dealership says that it runs and drives like a true low-mileage vehicle. The V8 engine is 100% original and still sporting the original paint.

Currently parked in Scottsdale, Arizona, this 1964 1/2 Mustang has a $36,500 sticker. And needless to say, it's one of those pony cars that you simply don't find in this condition anymore. Is it worth the asking price?