1964 Ford Mustang – Project Profile

Following on from our Independence Day collection we thought we would stay ensconced in the wealth of American metal available here at Car & Classic for this week’s Project Profile. In case you haven’t noticed, fervent patriotism is pretty much part of the national identity in the States and when it comes to celebrating important historical dates the Yanks go all out. For those that need a quick history lesson Independence Day celebrates the declaration on July the 4th 1776 meaning that the United States was free from the patronage of the monarch of Britain. So with that cleared up, let’s get on to the 1964 Ford Mustang in question, shall we?

For us, a project car doesn’t just mean a complete wreck in need of thousands of man hours of work and bankrupting levels of expenditure to get it back on the road. We see the term ‘project’ as running the gamut of conditions; from the aforementioned basket cases to those already perfectly usable vehicles that may just be in need of a little tidying, a bit of spit and polish to finish them off and give them the edge. Case in point is this very early, and very orange Ford Mustang.

Everybody knows about the Ford Mustang, whether you’re an American, a classic car enthusiast or a Polynesian pastry chef, it’s one of the most famous cars of all time. Fact. It’s a car that is still being built to this day, almost 60 years after its inception – testament to its appeal and enduring popularity. The format was simple enough: small, affordable, fun, and sporty. Lee Iacocca’s humble Mustang went on to become an iconic representation of freedom and youth in America, paving the way for the slew of imitators and muscle cars that followed in its wake. It’s quite the legacy and one that you can have a piece of should you decide to buy this Mustang we have for sale. And you most definitely should.

What is it? 

It’s a very early left-hand drive 1964 Ford Mustang, imported to and registered in the UK in 2021, that has been partially restored with numerous upgrades. The car looks great with its orange over black colour scheme and a lot of time, money and effort has already gone into making this Mustang an incredibly appealing proposition. It’s very much a usable car that reportedly drives well and comes with an impressive list of invoices for parts fitted by the current owner who was clearly on a mission to bring the Mustang up to modern standards, mechanically speaking. From performance carbs and a new exhaust, to a replacement alternator, power steering and all-new electrical system the list is a pretty long one but there are some areas that still need to be addressed, which is why we’re featuring it here today.

Why is it a project? 

Despite being lavished with so many new bits and bobs the car does still need a bit of work to bring it all up to scratch. There is a small hole in the top of the fuel tank which is currently plugged and the entire boot space could do with being stripped and painted. The shut lines need some attention, as do some of the window rubbers, and there is some minor play in the steering. Two of the factory wheels are missing their centre caps also. In the grand scheme of things, though these are minor issues which can easily and inexpensively be rectified.

What should I look for?

This 1964 Ford Mustang is listed on our auctions platform and as such we’ve done all the hard work for you. We would encourage you to examine all of the pictures and read the listing. All of the information you need is there. There are plenty of Mustang specialists and clubs out there too like The Mustang Workshop, for example, so if you wanted a second opinion or someone to go and view the car with in person then it’s easily done.

What should I do with it?

We would go full on show car with this particular 1964 Ford Mustang, if it were our money. It appears to be in great shape overall and being a very early model with so many new parts it just lends itself to being taken to the higher echelons of classic Mustang refinement. Sort out the few remaining niggles, as mentioned above, rub down and treat the undercarriage (ahem) and then get a full professional correction done on the paintwork. When all’s said and done you’ll have one hell of a pretty Mustang on your hands with the go to match its show. A proper head turner.