Ford Mustang The First Generation, The Early Years Podcast

Special thanks to episode guest Aaron Robinson, who wrote the article "2024 Road of the Year" for Hagerty Drivers Club Magazine.Hagerty:https://www.instagram.com/hagerty/ Hagerty Drivers Foundation:https://www.instagram.com/hagertydriversfoundation/  https://www.youtube.com/@HagertyDriversFoundation?app=desktop Bullitt, The MovieFor one night, Bullitt comes home. This is a rare opportunity: the 58th anniversary of Bullitt's original release—we will watch Bullitt on an original 35mm film print obtained from the Warner Bros. Archives, projected in one of the most sophisticated screening venues, the Steven J. Ross Theater on the backlot of Warner Bros. who co-produced the film with Steve McQueen’s Solar Productions. Greeting guests on the red carpet for a fantastic photo opportunity for all attendees is a film-accurate 1968 Bullitt Mustang & Dodge Charger, the physical embodiment of cinematic history, together in one extraordinary night.http://www.eventbrite.com/e/1996065801545/?discount=GACodeConnect with the show:@mustangpodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/mustangpodcast/Connect with [email protected] Interested in renting your Classic Ride for photo shoots?ClassicFordRentals.comGot a classic Ford in SoCal? A Mustang. F-Series, or Classic Falcon or Galaxy? Survivor? Showing lots of Patina? Or a Show truck. I’m looking to put real classics on real sets — photo shoots, commercials, film, and premium productions. You keep your ride. I handle the clients, bookings, and logistics. Turn your classic Ford into a paid, on-camera icon.Visit ClassicFordRentals.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and share your info with me— let’s get your truck or Mustang working.Want to be a guest on the show?Send an email to me: [email protected] Sponsored by: National Parts Depotwww.npdlink.comWith 4 warehouses nationwide, you’ll get your parts fast!"Keep it safe, keep it rollin’, and keep it on the road. Until next time!" 

Episode Guest: Charles Coats, serial first-generation Mustang ownerThe trifecta of classic Mustangs—the coupe, convertible, and fastback—captures the essence of 1960s American automotive culture. The coupe, with its sleek and timeless design, offered a balance of style and practicality. The convertible embodied freedom and the open road, perfect for those who wanted to feel the wind in their hair while cruising. The fastback, known for its sporty and aerodynamic silhouette, appealed to performance enthusiasts with its powerful presence and racing pedigree. Each model played a crucial role in establishing the Mustang as an iconic and beloved American muscle car.The first-generation Mustangs, produced from 1964.5 to 1967, marked the birth of one of America's most iconic cars. The Mustang was introduced by Ford on April 17, 1964, at the New York World's Fair. Initially dubbed the "1964.5" model, it was technically a 1965 model-year vehicle. The Mustang's launch was a groundbreaking moment in automotive history, creating the "pony car" class of American muscle cars—affordable, compact, and sporty cars with long hoods and short rear decks.The 1965 Mustang came in three body styles: coupe, convertible, and fastback, each offering a variety of engine options, from the economical inline-six to the powerful V8s. The car's design, affordability, and performance made it an instant hit, selling over 400,000 units in its first year and surpassing a million within two years.In 1966, the Mustang continued to evolve with minor aesthetic updates, including a new grille, side ornamentation, wheel covers, and gas cap. The car also became more customizable, with new interior and exterior options.By 1967, the Mustang received its first significant redesign to accommodate larger V8 engines and provide a more aggressive stance. The 1967 models featured a more robust front and rear end, revised interior, and improved suspension, making it a favorite among performance enthusiasts.Throughout its early years, the Mustang's combination of style, performance, and affordability cemented its status as a symbol of American automotive ingenuity and a cultural icon.Connect with the show:@mustangpodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/mustangpodcast/Connect with [email protected] Interested in renting your Classic Ride for photo shoots?ClassicFordRentals.comGot a classic Ford in SoCal? A Mustang. F-Series, or Classic Falcon or Galaxy? Survivor? Showing lots of Patina? Or a Show truck. I’m looking to put real classics on real sets — photo shoots, commercials, film, and premium productions. You keep your ride. I handle the clients, bookings, and logistics. Turn your classic Ford into a paid, on-camera icon.Visit ClassicFordRentals.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and share your info with me— let’s get your truck or Mustang working.Want to be a guest on the show?Send an email to me: [email protected] Sponsored by: National Parts Depotwww.npdlink.comWith 4 warehouses nationwide, you’ll get your parts fast!"Keep it safe, keep it rollin’, and keep it on the road. Until next time!" 

If you’ve ever caught Mustang fever, you know it doesn’t take much. Sometimes all it takes is one good friend, one beautiful ’65 Fastback, and one road trip through Chicago to make you realize there’s suddenly an empty space in your garage that desperately needs filling.That’s pretty much what happened to today’s guest, Ryan.After watching his friend restore a ’65 Fastback—and then seeing that car roll through Chicago on a road trip from Kansas back home to Richmond, Virginia—Ryan was officially infected. The cure? A 1966 Mustang coupe, finished in gorgeous Vintage Burgundy, with a 289 V8 and a three-speed manual.And here’s a connection I particularly like: Ryan found his Mustang in the San Francisco Bay Area, the same part of California where I found Jewel, my ’65 convertible.But buying the car was only the beginning. Ryan brought the Mustang home to the Chicago suburbs, and now, through a few trials, plenty of learning, and some modifications along the way, he’s turning it into a project he can share with his kids.Today we’re talking about catching Mustang fever, buying a classic from across the country, learning as you go, and why working on an old Mustang with your kids might be one of the best modifications you can make.Ryan, welcome to Ford Mustang: The Early Years.Connect with the show:@mustangpodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/mustangpodcast/Connect with [email protected] Interested in renting your Classic Ride for photo shoots?ClassicFordRentals.comGot a classic Ford in SoCal? A Mustang. F-Series, or Classic Falcon or Galaxy? Survivor? Showing lots of Patina? Or a Show truck. I’m looking to put real classics on real sets — photo shoots, commercials, film, and premium productions. You keep your ride. I handle the clients, bookings, and logistics. Turn your classic Ford into a paid, on-camera icon.Visit ClassicFordRentals.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and share your info with me— let’s get your truck or Mustang working.Want to be a guest on the show?Send an email to me: [email protected] Sponsored by: National Parts Depotwww.npdlink.comWith 4 warehouses nationwide, you’ll get your parts fast!"Keep it safe, keep it rollin’, and keep it on the road. Until next time!" 

Some Mustang stories are about horsepower, some about restorations, and others, family traditions. Rick's story is about love, determination, and keeping a promise. When his aging mother shared one final wish—to ride once more in the 1965 Mustang convertible she had owned before it was sold while his father was serving in Vietnam—Rick set out on an incredible mission. Against the odds, he tracked down her original car, brought it back into the family, and later honored her memory by taking one final ride with her ashes resting on the console, alongside his sons. It's a story that spans generations and reminds us that sometimes a classic Mustang becomes much more than a car—it becomes the keeper of a family's most treasured memories. Rick has owned that special Mustang for the past eight years, and today he's here to share the remarkable journey behind it. Rick, welcome to Ford Mustang: The Early Years.Connect with the show:@mustangpodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/mustangpodcast/Connect with [email protected] Interested in renting your Classic Ride for photo shoots?ClassicFordRentals.comGot a classic Ford in SoCal? A Mustang. F-Series, or Classic Falcon or Galaxy? Survivor? Showing lots of Patina? Or a Show truck. I’m looking to put real classics on real sets — photo shoots, commercials, film, and premium productions. You keep your ride. I handle the clients, bookings, and logistics. Turn your classic Ford into a paid, on-camera icon.Visit ClassicFordRentals.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and share your info with me— let’s get your truck or Mustang working.Want to be a guest on the show?Send an email to me: [email protected] Sponsored by: National Parts Depotwww.npdlink.comWith 4 warehouses nationwide, you’ll get your parts fast!

Some Mustangs are bought. Some are built. And then there are the rare ones that become part of a family's story for generations.Today's guest is Robert, the caretaker of a very special 1966 Mustang that has been in his family since it rolled off the showroom floor. Originally purchased new by his grandfather, the car found its way to Robert when his grandfather passed away, making it much more than a classic Mustang—it's a family legacy on four wheels.Although Robert has only been the owner for a few years, he's continuing a story that began nearly 60 years ago. Today we'll talk about his grandfather, the memories tied to the car, what it's like preserving an original family Mustang, and why some cars become part of who we are.Robert, welcome to Ford Mustang: The Early Years. We're glad you're here.Connect with the show:@mustangpodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/mustangpodcast/Connect with [email protected] Interested in renting your Classic Ride for photo shoots?ClassicFordRentals.comGot a classic Ford in SoCal? A Mustang. F-Series, or Classic Falcon or Galaxy? Survivor? Showing lots of Patina? Or a Show truck. I’m looking to put real classics on real sets — photo shoots, commercials, film, and premium productions. You keep your ride. I handle the clients, bookings, and logistics. Turn your classic Ford into a paid, on-camera icon.Visit ClassicFordRentals.com, scroll to the bottom of the page, and share your info with me— let’s get your truck or Mustang working.Want to be a guest on the show?Send an email to me: [email protected] Sponsored by: National Parts Depotwww.npdlink.comWith 4 warehouses nationwide, you’ll get your parts fast!"Keep it safe, keep it rollin’, and keep it on the road. Until next time!" Doug Sandler