Mustang Named ‘America’s Favorite Classic Car’ By Hagerty Insurance
First revealed at the 1964 World’s Fair in April, the Mustang caused a type of sensation that hasn’t been seen since.
In 1964, the Ford Mustang single-handedly launched the ponycar segment. And since 1967 (or late 1966 if you want to be pedantic), it’s ruled the roost. By then American Motors, Mopar, and most importantly, Chevy and GM had plunged headlong into the segment. Since then, the segment has ebbed and flowed, but it’s rarely been boring.
So today, the base GT ‘Stang can rocket from zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds, while top-of-the-line versions of its arch-rival, the Camaro, chases Porsches around the Nürburgring. But what about the originators? What became of the original ponycars of the 1960s? Well, they’re some of the hottest collectible cars in America. And, of course, the Mustang is still kicking the tar out of the Camaro.
Classic car insurer Hagerty ran the numbers for all the quotes it gave in 2017. And overwhelmingly, 1965 and ’66 ‘Stangs are America’s favorite vintage vehicles. In fact, in 37 states, the Mustang is far and away the most popular oldtimer out there.
Of course, the 1965 Mustang was the one that started it all. Revealed at the 1964 World’s Fair in April of that year, Ford’s ponycar caused a sensation that hasn’t been seen since. Between March ’64 and August 1965, Ford built an impressive 559,451 first-year ponycars. While V8-powered, high-optioned, and early “1964 1/2” cars are among the most desirable out there, there are enough cars, from humble straight-six coupes to running projects out there to keep them available for collectors in any price range. It reigns supreme as Hagerty’s most popular classic in 21 states.
Coming in a relatively close second is the 1966 model. Ford knew not to mess with a good thing, so sophomore year cars aren’t much different. But by then, it had ramped up production to make sure that everyone who wanted a Mustang could get one. From August of ’65 to the summer of 1966, the Blue Oval built 607,568 ponycars. Amazingly, Ford found 1,000,000 buyers for Mustangs in its first 18 months of production alone. Second-year cars are the most popular classic in 16 states.
From the top two spots, it’s a long way down. The ’69 Camaro came in a very distant third, taking a top spot in eight states. The ’67 Camaro is the most popular classic in Delaware. Then there’s the ’55 Chevy in Maine, the ’77 Ford F-150 in North Dakota, the ’69 Chevelle in Nebraska, and the ’57 Chevy in Vermont.
From their timeless looks to their ease of availability and strong aftermarket support, it’s easy to see why original Mustangs are as popular as ever. And thanks to Hagerty, we now have the numbers to prove it.
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