The brilliance of Ford naming this car after a wild pony can’t be overstated, especially at a time when the United States was in a full-blown fascination with the old west. Las Vegas still contains some of that brand of Americana, with the towering, neon-lit cowboy Vegas Vic still standing downtown above the Fremont Street Experience and gazing down on revelers below, even if arthritis has kept his arm from waving since 1991. Just two weeks ago, I was back in Vegas on my annual trip with friends, and the good times and opportunities for photos kept rolling, with one of those instances including this ’66 Mustang convertible I had spotted on my first night there, near the former Western Hotel & Casino.
It hadn’t occurred to me when I had snapped these photos that there were what looked like a bride and groom in the back seat. I only knew that I had to get my shots, especially given that I had thought I had lost that opportunity earlier in the evening as this car was headed eastbound on Fremont before I could get my lens cap off. I feel I have just as many married friends as I do singles, and I take it seriously to be protective of and encourage their bonds. I’ve never been married, though I was once engaged for about five minutes. I may be solo, but I do not feel alone. My life is rich with meaningful bonds and with family that I have chosen, and that has chosen me. I don’t know if married life is for me, but I do really respect the taking of the vows and the celebration of such a union.
There’s palpable excitement as the couple returns from the altar as official spouses. Everything is so new, and the vistas are wide open, especially if it’s the first marriage for one or both halves of the new couple. I can’t think of a better car to echo this joyful, ecstatic feeling than the first two model years of the Ford Mustang. Just like married life is so new to both individuals, the Mustang was the near perfection of a newish idea that had first been pioneered by the sporty Chevrolet Corvair Monza. One key difference was that the Mustang had its own name, body, and image, versus being a dressed-up version of an existing car.
I wasn’t alive at the time of the Mustang’s introduction, but my impression has always been that it was a new kind of car in a different way than the Corvair Monza, which also shared its basic styling with four-door and wagon variants. The fact that a mustang is a pony, a universally beloved animal, seemed to give life to the car named after it. While exploring the East Fremont area further (my photo mantra seemed to have been “the sketchier, the better”), I came across this car again as its apparent owner was parking it. He seemed like he was in a hurry, but if I recall correctly, he might have been a professional photographer. If so, squiring clients around in a classic Mustang is a brilliant calling card.
Missing the absence of the front fender callouts, I asked him if it had a 289 V8 under the hood. He advised that it had the 200 cubic-inch six, to which I gushed in response that this is how many of them were sold. It was finished in that creamy, vanilla-like Wimbledon White with the Deluxe “Pony” interior in Red Crinkle vinyl. Given that the gentleman seemed anxious to get to where he was going, and that he seemed to be waiting for me to be on my way (which might also have been my reaction if this car was mine), I thanked him, wished him a good night, and continued westward back to the downtown area to rejoin my friends.
The convertible outsold the fastback 2+2 for only the Mustang’s first two model years, with close to 102,000 sold for extended ’65 (close to 15% of the 681,000 units sold for the model year), and another 72,000 for ’66 (close to 12% of 608,000). It’s bonkers to think of the hardtop with the proper trunk selling close to 500,000 units in each of those first two years, when it’s the only body style that hasn’t survived into current production.
I suppose that having the standard, 120-horsepower six was also a good metaphor for how things start out for many at the beginning of their lives as official spouses. Some couples commence with a smaller footprint and with things that may not cost as much as they will later be able to afford, as their collective possessions continue to grow, swap out, and evolve. One doesn’t have to be in a relationship to understand the value of appreciating what one has, regardless of whether one’s possessions came from a high-end store, a small vintage shop, or a discount warehouse.
My last thoughts on Vegas and relationships center around the idea that both involve a gamble, or as I like to think about it, calculated risk management. (For the record, I netted $15 at a slot machine just once, which covered my Uber for part of the way to O’Hare, and I was done pulling the handle.) Even in my most recent, long-term relationship which ended over four years ago, I understood going into it that compromise would be necessary, and that if all worked out as planned, the proverbial payout could be great. As it turns out, returning to single life eventually felt like hitting the jackpot, facilitating time spent with loved ones, and doing things and going places I enjoy. My thoughts and best wishes are with the couple in the back seat of this white Mustang, and I hope their Las Vegas nuptials are part of a long and happy life adventure together.
Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.
Friday, October 14, 2022.
The 1966 Ford Mustang brochure pages were as sourced from www.oldcarbrochures.org.
I learned to drive on a 1970 Maverick with the 200 and column-shift 3 speed. I’ve read it’s the same car but with dramatically cheapened clothes vs 1964 1/2 Mustang. The driving experience was nothing to brag about but it was good enough to keep up with traffic. This Mustang convertible shows off well enough without having to impress with speed.
I was around (eight to be exact) when the Mustang debuted at the NYWF. It was a perfect juxtaposition – the limitless future portrayed at the Fair, and the perfect car to ride in to that future. We even got to “ride” in a Mustang convertible at the Ford Pavilion.
When you combine all that with the space age and recent arrival of the Beatles (we also happened to be at the Fair when the Beatles played Shea; I can still remember the Goodyear Blimp circling overhead flashing “HELP” on its side), you can forgive an eight year old boy’s belief that the 60’s were going to be wonderful. It seemed as though we had come out of the dark tunnel of JFK’s assassination into the light. Sadly, it was not to be; as the 60’s turned out to be a decidedly mixed bag, with triumph (Woodstock, the moon landing) shared with tragedy (more assassinations, Vietnam). Life, I guess.
I was ten when the Mustang was introduced. As you mention, “It seemed as though we had come out of the dark tunnel of JFK’s assassination into the light”, and yes, the Beatles were also a huge part of emerging from that post – assassination funk that had all of America virtually clinically depressed…
I’ll always fondly remember early 1964 – first in February the Beatles were a sensation *everywhere*, the country went Beatle – mad! Then in April came the Mustang. I remember going to the showroom of Henderson Ford in rural Aledo IL, and the place was *packed* with people ogling the single Mustang on display; we lined up just to *sit* in it (“It’s really *low*!”, said the older folks). The New York World’s Fair was another huge boost to our national ego, as was the introduction of the mini – skirt. The Space Race fueled further excitement – the nation’s mood really was on the upswing…
A young grade school teacher bought the first Mustang in our rural Western Illinois county. Hers was yellow, very basic with a six and no frills. But it was A Big Event – “Wow, that young teacher gal bought a Mustang!”. Us kids would go out into the school parking lot and just stare at it… Miss Johnson was average looking, but that Mustang turned her into almost as glamorous a personage as Jackie Kennedy or The Supremes or Ann – Margaret. Thede’s Chrysler – Plymouth (Aledo IL) got a new gold Barracuda, and there was some talk about that, but it could not nearly rival the Mustang’s “excitement quotient”.
Alas, that Space Age and optimistic “limitless future” suddenly started collapsing, what with Vietnam, the urban riots, mistrust of the authority of institutions, etc. But 1964 at least sure had a lot of “fun” new things going that made us feel good, and the Mustang was one of those prime morale – boosters.
He seemed like he was in a hurry as he probably does that ride 6 times a night. I’m surprised that Elvis had no visible role in the event; but they’d probably would have had to pay extra for that. Speaking of Elvis, that Mustang has lasted 14 years longer than Elvis. Let’s hope for that couple bests both Elvis and the car in terms of longevity.
Nice catch and good connections as always Joseph.
The lack of an Elvis might be explained by a recent pronouncement by the Elvis Estate that henceforth, Vegas Elvis impersonators would need to be licensed for a fee.
So, what?…they’re going to dispatch Elvis Inspectors from Memphis?
Maybe that’s a job I could sign up for. 🙂
“Honestly, Ma’am…I just LOOK like the King, but I am officially NOT the King.”
Thanks, Jeff.
And Alan, now that you both mention it, there was a conspicuous absence of Elvis impersonators in LV a couple of weeks ago, and now I understand what might have been at least partially behind that.
Thanks for visiting again, Mr. Dennis! We appreciate you!
Thanks so much, Evan! Your city is very much one of my happy places.
I was a tot who was just becoming really aware of cars when the Mustang was introduced. It seemed like they were to be found almost everywhere almost overnight. But all these years later I still get a charge out of seeing one out on the street or in a parking lot. They generally bore me at shows because there tend to be so many of them lumped together, but one at a time and out in their (original) native habitat, the perfection of their lines still grabs me.
But I feel a little sorry for the full-grown newlyweds being given the back seat for their ride – I have personal experience in that cramped space. This would actually be a perfect job for one of those 4 door Lincoln convertibles of the same era.
That was my immediate thought: they must feel mighty cramped back there. Not exactly my first choice for a wedding ride.
I’ll also bet the Mustang ride was probably also originally his idea and not hers, though the opposite may well have been true. Lots of people have family or personal history with these original Mustangs.
An early Mustang six-cylinder convertible is one of those rare instances where the six could be considered just as sporty as the more powerful small-block V8, mainly because it was closer to a six-cylinder British ‘pure’ sports car, something DeLorean always championed at Pontiac. Sadly, the OHC six in the Firebird just didn’t pan-out during those GTO-tiger musclecar days.
As the Mustang (and all ponycars) grew in size to accomodate bigger engines, it lost that sports-car appeal. It returned somewhat with Iacocca’s Pinto-based Mustang II and I’ve sometimes wondered how a convertible version might have sold.
I feel this. And it’s funny that you mention the M-II, because I had the thought when I got these pictures of: What if this had been a Mustang II convertible (for example, the Sportiva II concept)?
That sight wouldn’t have had the same, classic flavor of this ’66, but still would have been in keeping with the frozen-in-the-’70s quality of Las Vegas that I love so much
Wow! A Basket Handle Mustang II, in a nearly literal sense!
The shape of things to come? (The ’77 – ’79 T-Bird and my own Fairmont Futura Coupe come to mind here).
I had no idea this thing existed. Thanks for posting this picture, Joseph.
Too bad this car didn’t see production. If it had, maybe the typical Mustang enthusiast* wouldn’t deride the II so bad.
* I’m not a typical Mustang enthusiast. I do not hate the II. It served its purpose in the seventies just fine, IMHO.
Like you, I like the Mustang II, without qualifiers. Are there examples I would prefer over others? Absolutely. I have always thought the Sportiva II was way cool and obviously had zero chance of being built when it was conceived. I’ll say that in an alternate universe, and if it had reached production, I find it really appealing in a way that I don’t necessarily find other classic convertibles.
Back when the Mustang II came out my girlfriend got one as a loaner, 4 cylinder with three speed automatic ~ it was a slug, slower than my 4 cylinder Mercedes Diesel .
It couldn’t make it up the steep driveway of her work unless she began at the far side of the lot and pinned the throttle .
I remember she hated it and wanted her 1962 Ford Ranch Wagon back PDQ .
I thought it was okay being new and all until she took me to her work and showed me the problem .
The Ford dealer said “too bad, this is what it is” .
I too like the basket handle prototype .
-Nate
I don’t like the Mustang II but I like that. I think losing the convertible diminished the Mustang aura with the II, same as the 67 Thunderbird. Of all cars the Mustang was something that should have an open air option, it’s Ford’s 911(or that’s what the marketers would like you to think!), why not a Targa bodystyle? The baskethandle is a identifiably Ford take on the style too, tieing into the old crown Victoria and yet to be released 77 Tbird
It helps the style too, as awkward as the short wheelbase proportions are the design is still imbalanced with it photoshopped and I blame both rooflines, neither one really works, but this does!
An early Mustang six-cylinder convertible is one of those rare instances where the six could be considered just as sporty as the more powerful small-block V8, mainly because it was closer to a six-cylinder British ‘pure’ sports car,
If it had a four speed manual, and a two barrel carb (at the minimum), that might have been (sort of) the case, but in reality with the three speed and its large gap between 2nd and 3rd, it simply was not genuinely sporty.
“ It seemed as though we had come out of the dark tunnel of JFK’s assassination into the light.
I was in College in those dark times of 1962-66 and also thought that the fair in Flushing Queens was the beginning of the end of darkness.
Actually, it got worse; it got much worse.
The Vietnam war, the draft, then the lottery, then the added assassinations, the constant “light at the end of the tunnel” ; they all added to the gloom. Counter culture tried to raise resistance but they were mostly unsuccessful.
While it was the worst of times in my lifetime, those older or younger than I may have valid reasons to feel that their times were/are worse than mine. And yet strangely enough, we are also able to have our best times intermixed with all the rest.
Otherwise, there would be no good times.
When the first Mustang came out, I was a fan of the V8 Falcons that were slowly showing up on campus. There was a bit of stealthy (wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing) sense in those little Ford compacts that looked more genuine to me than the (sheep-in-wolf’s-clothing) Mustangs.
Clearly I was in the minority.
I can remember those “Mustang” commercials. First actual “Stang” I recall in the real world was a red one; parked in hospital parking lot. Would a been sometime in “65” (maybe “66”)
In the 1980s and 90s I operated a vintage Rolls-Royce style limo service, and one of the things we specialized in were weddings. We had 2 vehicles that were “open tops”; our 1947 Daimler landaulet [open roof over the rear seat only], and a 1973 Rolls-Royce Corniche, a fully open 2-door, 5 passenger car.
What we discovered from feedback submitted by our customers was 100% of the brides who used the Corniche regretted using an open car, because of the wind forces above about 30mph. Several said their head train came off in the wind, and all of them said they had to spend a lot of time in private, trying to fix the damage to their “looks”, caused by the wind. Plus, in cases where it rained, getting in & out of the rear seat with the top up, while wearing a long wedding dress, was difficult at best.
The Daimler faired far better in comments about the wind, as the front 3/4 of the roof broke the wind [not to be confused by “breaking wind”].
Since rentals of the Corniche were basically only weddings one day a week, we stopped renting it due to ever increasing commercial limo insurance rates. When we did have a request for a full open car, we suggested renting a horse-drawn carriage from a friend of ours.
Wow. This is really interesting firsthand account. I’m really trying to remember how fast (or slow) the car was going with the couple in the back seat. I can remember riding in the back of a convertible even at moderate speeds in city traffic, and there was usually enough wind stuff going on. I can’t imagine trying to stay looking nice back there, even if the idea does sound really cool, retro, and romantic on paper, to take this ride in a classic Mustang convertible.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
It will be remembered as being “perfect” and related as such. Aerodynamic realities aside.
“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”
LOL…
What happens in Vegas will be posted on social media within an hour and go viral before you wake up tomorrow morning…
In January of 1964, before the Mustang was launched and I had recently turned seven, our family took off for a 9 month trip to Europe. Before we left, I had gotten used to seeing the new more squared style Falcons, and the paradoxically more rounded new Galaxies, but I was totally unprepared for what I saw everywhere when we got back that Fall: the Mustang. My older sister soon invented a game we played in the car, where white Mustangs were the enemy and we had to turn the window winners to aim guns at them and shoot them off the road. Aside from sounding pretty weird in retrospect, I’m sure it bugged our folks to have those windows constantly open and closing a crack, and believe me they got well-used as there were already a lot of Mustangs on the road and many were white.
My brother and I played a variation of the same game – simply be the first to call out “Mustang!” when one came into view – any color. They were common enough to keep it interesting but not so common as to be yelling every minute. We passed a lot of time as fellow rear-seat travelers, playing this game. Good times, and great memories.
I remember that from when I was a little kid, except in instead of a Mustang it was a “beaver car”, which is what we called cars with DiNoc wood along their flanks. Someone pointed out to me that he’d noticed most Beaver Cars were station wagons. I wondered why that was.
That and a small chess set with magnetic pieces so they stayed put in a moving car, and those invisible-ink Yes and Know books (“for ages 7 to 107” or “6 to 106”). Some of those though had an upper age limit you had some realistic chance to live to, like “8 to 88”. They now remind me of how depressing it must be for a 93-year-old to hear Mel Torme’s “The Christmas Song” and realize they’re too old for Nat King Cole to wish them a merry Christmas anymore…
This was really fun to read. Anyone with a sibling who was used to riding in the back seat of a car on trips can relate to inventing little games to keep themselves occupied and have fun.
My parents with my Bro-in-Law’s 66 Mustang. Springtime yellow with Black interior and top Bought new in Autumn of 65. I was then 14, but at age 15, could get a learners permit in Missouri. Learned to drive in that car. It became my Sister’s car when he bought a 66 GTO.
Great picture! It shows how the early Mustang could really “dress up” with right accessories. The full wheelcovers on whitewall tires, the color scheme – it reads more “little luxury coupe” with a dash of sportiness versus the other way around, in a really appealing way.
“versus being a dressed-up version of an existing car.”
But it was an existing car, simply a re skinned Falcon .
I too remember these when new, I wasn’t impressed much but they did O.K. in the snow and looked good so a win for Ford I think .
Truly, the 1960’s were indeed the best and worst of times for those who lived them .
-Nate
It wasn’t “simply a re skinned Falcon”. Not by a long shot. It was a completely new unibody structure that utilized much of the Falcon’s suspension,and other chassis/drive train components. Good luck trying to interchange any inner or outer body parts.
A “re-skin” is just changing the outer non-structural sheet metal “skin”. The Comet was a re-skin of the Falcon; same doors and mostly all the inner body structure.
Okay ;
I’ll buy that .
I’d like to try an early Mustang coupe but they’re wildly priced these days .
-Nate
My first car was a ’66 Mustang hardtop. Even with a V8 I was not really impressed with it and surrendered to my Old Cadillac fixation that lasted over thirty years. I came back to the Mustang herd in 2007, when I bought a new 2007 V6 fastback. With this car, which is still in the family, I was open to appreciate the simple pleasures of the basic Mustang. Mustangs have always been quite acceptable to fans even without a performance engine. The image of the car didn’t depend on it being a fire breather, it was always seen as a fun car first. I added a ’96 GT, which I still have, and then a ’70 coupe, which has moved on. My most recent addition is a ’06 GT convertible, which brings back memories of the Mustangs that I lusted after, back when I was in high school. The ’69 and ’70 Mach One. I was relieved to see that there will be a refreshed model in 2024, as thjese types of cars have fallen out of general favor.
I would still love either a ’96 convertible, or an ’06 – which both appeal to me as Mustangs, but in different ways. The ’05 generation looks so perfect to me, 17 (gasp!) years later, with just a few stylistic niggles. Like, I don’t love how the headlight surrounds make its face look “sad”. But those still turn my head.
I also love the SN-95 generation for having so much reintroduced, classic Mustang “flavor” when it was first introduced for ’94.
Joseph, I agree with you on the ’05 generation. To me they are the best looking “modern” Mustangs, which I define as anything after the Fox bodies. They seem to evoke the original generation the best for reasons I can’t figure out; especially the fastback. I go back and forth as to whether the ’63 Vette or the first-generation Mustang fastback was the most perfect car shape of my youth. If pressed I might have to go with the Mustang, if only because there were more of them, and they thus populate more of my subliminal memories of the vistas of those days.
Great pics.
I still marvel at how nicely designed the ’65/’66 Mustangs are. Iacocca at his best.
Thanks, and I agree.
I’m amused at how Iacocca is often spoken of as if he were the actual stylist, at both Ford and Chrysler.
The Mustang validated the 55-57 thunderbird, going to four seats in 1958 was a smart decision, and obviously those squarebirds handily outsold the 2 seaters, but the two seaters size, proportions and style were right, and the Mustang which largely inherited those proportions but with 4 seats and a much more modest entry price blew all the Tbirds that preceded it out of the water. I think that early Tbird vibe is why the convertibles sold so well, the Mustang convertible was its spiritual successor.
I like all first gen Mustangs(even the 71-73) but even not being around at that time by a long shot there is a magicalness to the 65-66 that I get right away looking at them that I can’t explain, later ones look sleeker and more aggressive, but these exude coolness and confidence no matter what engine is in them, no matter what colors are chosen or if it has a vaunted Shelby badge on it or not. The only other car that I think does that for me is the 68-69 Dodge Charger. I’m a V8 guy through and through, and prefer a solid roof over my head but count me as a fan of this car, Wimbledon white on red and a 66 with it’s cleaner grille treatment is very fetching.
“Magicalness” is a great adjective to use. It’s the same thing for me when I see the very first Mazda MX-5 Miata, versus every single one that came later, even if I like some of them.
Looks like this is the car’s owner:
https://www.brazenhoneyfilms.com/hitched
Your guess was right — this photographer specializes in elopement planning (an amusing term, in my opinion), and one of his packages is called “Hitched in the ’66”.
“Run away to sin city with your love and drive around a vintage car and get the coolest photos.”
It’s a great idea, and I wish the newlywed couple a love that lasts as long as America’s love affair with the Mustang. And as usual, your photos are outstanding; they’d make a good addition to the couple’s album!
Wow – thank you for this sleuth work! And thanks RE: my photos. I hope I didn’t compromise the spontaneity of their moment by taking all those pictures. I’m sure he would have said something when I ran into him later.
I doubt you compromised anything. Seems like folks who opt to be driven around Las Vegas in an open car wearing wedding attire are reveling in their moment and would enjoy any attention that it may bring.
Here’s a better choice for a wedding getaway car IMO, one that was recently used for this purpose: a custom-bodied 1939 Packard Twelve Landaulet. It offers the newlyweds the choice of whether to be seen or not, while the driver remains always enclosed. Seems like a nicer place to be than a back of a Mustang!
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/jennifer-lopez-and-ben-affleck-s-wedding-getaway-car-was-a-packard-twelve-landaulet-197637.html#agal_1
A better view of the car: https://www.audrainautomuseum.org/horseless-to-horsepower/1938-packard-twelve-landaulet . The video on that page with Jay Leno and Donald Osborne shows off this amazing car at 19:30. How did Packard devolve from this to bathtubs in 10 years?
Probably not a good idea to use a classic Mustang as a daily driver today. Illustrative of how much progress we’ve made in automotive safety in the ensuing decades – the Camry driver survives:
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/ford-mustang-crash-mulholland-drive-woodland-hills/3023066/
This is a sad thing but living in fear isn’t living .
I wonder if the two who died were wearing safety belts ? .
The Mustang isn’t badly wrecked, I’ve had worse collisions in vintage vehicles that thanks to wearing safety belts I wasn’t badly injured at all .
-Nate
Seat belts probably would not have saved them. The Camry rear-ended the Mustang and its gas tank exploded. There is long history of early Mustangs involved in such accidents:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mustang-a-classic-danger/
The still pictures in this article show that the Mustang was destroyed in the crash:
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/2-people-die-after-fiery-crash-in-woodland-hills/
Some background info first: I am a court recognized forensic mechanic and vehicle accident investigator.
Mustangs, Falcons, and Comets all had a fuel tank with a flat top that had a wide flange on all 4 sides of the top. This fuel tank, when installed, became the actual trunk floor. This saved Ford $ in both materials and assembly line labor.
Other American cars typically suspended the fuel tank under the trunk floor, held in place by 2 sheet metal straps. In a collapsing rear end accident, other car designs would allow the tank to drop down, and even if the fuel sprayed out, it didn’t usually end up with burning fuel inside the trunk area. Mustangs, with the tank actually part of the structure, created a situation where the tank would crumple along with the other sheet metal body parts. This caused fuel pressure to rupture the rubber fill hose and spray pressurized fuel everywhere. [The actual fuel tanks usually didn’t rupture except in severe cases.]
There is no steel bulkhead between the trunk area and the passenger area. All it took was a brake light bulb fracturing along with the immediate flash of the incandescent bulb as the hot filament burned out, and the fuel vapor ignited.
Those guys really didn’t have a chance, especially if the tank was full.
70 lawsuits for a car Ford produced nearly 3 million of with that fuel tank. Personally I’d be more concerned with a fuel related fire from those cheap clear plastic fuel filters people love to equip classic cars with than the fuel tank
To adjudge the existence and seriousness of the problem by the number of lawsuits it generates is not the right way to do it, unless the goal is to pretend the problem doesn’t really exist, and if it does it isn’t that bad, and if it is there are other problems that are worse.
My understanding of this issue is based on engineering and physics, not on court dockets, and I think Bill McCoskey’s assessment is more realistic than yours.
But I’ll try on your lenses: I agree with you that plastic fuel filters are a bad risk. How many lawsuits have they generated, please?
I’m not at all saying the problem doesn’t exist, but it is one of a great many potential problems that can happen driving an old car, I wouldn’t drive a 66 Mustang in fear but drive a 66 Chevelle with a feeling of security based on the gas tank design being better. These old Mustangs(and most old cars in general) have body structures like tin cans, if you get hit hard enough the fuel tank rupturing may be the least of your problems.
Further I think the revised solid trunk pan is an overlooked merit to the “bloated” 71-73s. People cite weight statistics showing the difference between those and 65s but never take into account the numerous improvements to the unibody structure, including that one, that contribute to the weight gain. That’s not to give Ford credit for fixing a problem that shouldn’t have existed in the first place but that if one wants a classic Mustang as a driver without the poor tank design, then the 71-73 is the undisputed best of the original Mustangs! Who’s with me? … *crickets*
Great to see. I don’t remember when or how I first heard about the Mustang, being Australian, and only seven at the time, but I was excited to be given a model of one for Christmas that year. I was in a bit of a daze – such a hot car (as in, everyone knew what a Mustang was, even down here), so many ways to build it…
Long gone, alas. This one’s a much later build.
Thanx for the detailed replies, guys .
Pintos were supposedly fire bombs too yet plenty were rear ended and didn’t catch fire much less explode .
-Nate
Oh, boy. Plenty of cigarette smokers die of something other than lung cancer; emphysema; heart attack, or stroke, too. That does not mean cigarettes are safe. This is like that.
I hear you Daniel ;
I stopped smoking in my mid 20’s and my lungs are still shot, oops .
However, I’ve lived my entire life preferring older vehicles and I’m keenly aware I might die in a fireball (for real horror look into how you die in a fire, it’s _NOT_ from being burned) but I don’t allow the knowledge to scare me away from what I love .
I’m also a Motocyclist, a crippled one but so what ~ living in fear of maybes isn’t living , you of all people should grasp that at least as well as I .
Let’s not forget old pickup trucks shall we ? many had the gas tank underneath the seat then they moved it behind the seat and I’d like to think all here have seen the horrible side impact safety films where the cab gets sprayed full of fuel even if it doesn’t ignite .
-Nate
It’s astonishing for me how popular convertibles still were in the mid-’60s. Many cars don’t sell 75k to 100k per year, much less that many convertibles. In the U.S., the Miata sells 10,000 in a good year, and that seems to be the most popular convertible that’s not a Jeep Wrangler.
I’m also a member of the brief/broken engagement club. I can’t even recall the details of the situation anymore, it’s been such a long time and I’ve moved on. I tried back then to find out exactly what getting married legally entails, but it seems the only time many people look into that it is when they want to get divorced.
You said it Le ! .
I’m one of the lucky ones who married a cute girl at age 18 and was lucky enough to get out relatively unscathed .
We’re even still friends .
I like the look and idea of rag tops but apparently don’t like that much wind in my hair, every time I buy another I wind up selling it at a dead loss after a few years of rarely dropping the top .
-Nate