Where Mustangs Came From

When Ford decided to introduce a sporty new model, they found a great starting point in their Falcon line. The Falcon was the right size, the power train options were there, and the cost savings of using an existing platform would be great. The cars were a nice little car on their own, but a sporty new body would really ramp up the popularity. The Falcon Sprint, at the time, was their sportiest version, being V8 powered, and trimmed up with some sporty finishing touches. I owned a 1964 Sprint, back in the day, and it was a fun little car. It was the car we had when we got married. Beside the basic platform and drive train, the first Mustangs used the Falcon's basic dash structure and instrument panel. My "64" Falcon Sprint had the same speedometer and instruments as a "65" Mustang. The steering wheel was also the same, only the horn center emblem was changed. The sporty new Mustang model was a hit, and the rest is history. It became the Mustang we have loved for 50 years.

My V8 powered 1964 Falcon Sprint near Phoenix, Arizona, in 1970.