BaldGeorge

I hate to throw gas on the fire but I own a 64 1/2 convertible. The 64 1/2 has a unique gas cap as well. The title on my car says 1964 1/2. I also have advertising from 1963 and 1964 announcing the arrival of the new 1964 1/2 Mustang. Apparently there is such a thing as a 1964 1/2 Mustang. Ford advertised it as such. DMV's registered the cars as 1964 1/2's.

Dan66

Twister - I'm afraid you're only complicating matters for those that may not be as well-read as others...

True: Ford never sold a "1964" Mustang (although they did advertise it as the "new 1964 Mustang" before it was introduced). But they did produce the 1965 models for 6 months longer than other year models are made. Yes - new models are introduced in the Spring of the "previous" year; but then again, they'll only be made for one year.

It is because the 1965 model year was made for a full 18 months, and that there are significant differences in the ones made in the first 6 months, that enthusiasts coined the phrase "1964.5." Nobody actually thinks there was a 1964 Mustang, so your point is moot.

67t5ponycoupe

I think the real point is we had a poster trying to figure out if his car was a 64 1/2 or a 65 and I think the only thing we did was confuse him. I hope he got enough info to figure it out.

Twister

LMAO!!!! 90% of the people think that there is a 64 Mustang. Even Ford says that there isn't. It should be called Early 1965 and a Late 1965.

dvedoc

I don't know why so many people (who obviously do little research) are so quick to jump to conclusions or completely dismiss the 64 1/2 mustang. True, the major differences are easy to miss, however there are three main differences between the two. If yours has a 6 cylinder engine, a generator or clip on door handles,you definitely have a 64. Now 6 cylinder engines were rare in 64's, but that was the only year they appeared. Also, if the size of your 8 cylinder engine is a 289, but the insignia are not on the front fenders, you also may have a 64. 65's all came with 289 engines (and insignia), and alternators. I used to think mine was a 64 because it came w/o backup lights. But 65's came with and without. Trust me on this, I've owned mine since 1988 and got it from my grandmother who was the second owner.

2+2GT

Well, there was one going around ebaY for a while, obviously a mis-stamped 65 fastback, but the car was clearly a 65. Didn't keep the seller from claiming it was a "prototype". I knew a Ford engineer who was adamant that all March 64-August 65 built Mustangs were "1965" models. The Ford Master Parts Catalog lists the parts that way, too. If some advertising weenie got it wrong, too bad, the people who BUILT the car should know.

Well, as a matter of fact, if you talk to the owner of any R code 68, he will insist it IS a "68 1/2". You're wrong about the quarter panels, they did not "changed the entire quarter panel design", they simply went from the expensive flush-mount reflector to the cheaper Cougar surface mount. Had to save money after the strike. The lower dash pads and A pillar pads disappeared when stocks were depleted, too.

As for parts, sure, there were running changes, accidents, and so on. I once saw a 73 convertible with a standard interior. We all thought it was a project somebody had built wrong. The Ford engineer I knew smiled told us to check the build date. He was right. It was what he called "sweepings", built during the last week of production, and even though ALL 73 convertibles were supposed to have deluxe interiors, this one got the standard stuff because they were using up what they had.

Not all "64" Mustangs had the "eyebrow" hood and headlight buckets. On the other hand, many features of the "64", such as clip on door handles, vinyl rocker trim, and wiper bezels persisted well into "65" production.

In some ways 67 was worse. Multiple running changes, such as relocation of the fuel line, increased size of the PS pressure line, increased size of the steering sector shaft (67 cars could have any of SEVEN different steering gearboxes!) relocation of the proportioning valve, and late introduction of the safety steering column are a partial list.

Kinda right, but the U and T code 170 and 200 engines account for 40% of all 64-66 Mustangs. Dunno where you get the idea all 64's were 6's, or that the 6 cylinder Mustang was rare. V8 engines were optional from day one, even the K code 289 High Performance was available in the summer of 64.

The K code was the only engine that survived the August changeover. The "64" standard engine was the U code 170 I6. Optional engines were the F code 260 V8, D code 289 4V V8, and the K code. For "65", the U code 170 was replaced with the T code 200, the F code 260 was replaced with the C code 289 2V, and the D code 289 4V was replaced with the A code 289 4V. All V8 Mustangs had a fender emblem, 260, 289 or 289 High Performance, as appropriate. Any 260 or 289 with no emblem has been in a wreck, and the badges not replaced. Back-up lights were optional on ALL "1965" models, both the "64 1/2" and "65". The backups became standard safety equipment in 66, along with windshield washers.

The change from generator to alternator took place in August 64, since the alternator was superior, and lighter, than the generator, but mostly because it was cheaper.

ThetaTau87

The term 64 1/2 comes from the fact that the 65 Mustang (all 1st year Mustangs have a 1965 VIN) were introduced early. The normal time to introduce a 1965 model would have been mid summer 1964, but the Mustang was introduced in mid April several months ahead of the normal time to release a 65 model year car.

The early 65 cars had several differences from later cars giving rise to the term 64 1/2 to separate the early 65 cars from the later ones.

Tilley

This should answer all your questions:

http://www.mustangmonthly.com/thehis...964/index.html

MrMustangInc

Some more suttle differences between the 1964 1/2 and the 1965 are in the taillight wiring where the later cars had the housing boots built into the wiring and the earlier models did not and of course the hood if you know that it is original to the car. The hoods were rolled under on the leading edge distinguishing the differences between years. You can go to mrmustangparts.com and click on tech tips at the top of the home page to get more clues as to how to tell the difference.

RC65

I had a 65 vert that had an Aug. 28th. 1964 birth day, had some carry over parts which was not uncommon. To confuse matters more, I really think these should be called a 64-3/4 or not early 65, but not yet late 65!!