The first generation of the Mustang gained a worldwide cult-car status, and the convertible version became a hit just as much as the fastback version.
The original pony-car and the wild horse badge on its grille helped the car be recognized at a glance. Ford designed the Mustang for the younger generation. It was available either as a three-box sedan coupe grocery-getter with a six-cylinder under the hood or with a big V8 engine that could tear-up the tarmac and impress your friends. Regardless of the engine choice, the Mustang was a highly customizable vehicle.
The top-down version featured a power-roof that required some manual work to place a vinyl cover over the retracted canvas behind the rear seats. It was an era where a car had to show some drama to be taken into consideration by the market, and the Mustang convertible had it all: the easy to recognize front fascia, the open-top, and the specific taillights in the back with three vertical light strips. On its sides, a subtle combination of lines converged toward the rear quarter panels.
There were two bucket seats in the front with a floor-mounted gearshift and a backbench. In front of the driver, the complete dash-panel with its four round dials and a wide speedometer completed the image of that special car.
Ford offered the Mustang convertible with a wide choice of engines, starting with a low-powered inline-six that offered just 100 hp while the other option was a 4.3-liter V8 good for 164 hp. In the second half of 1964, Ford replaced these engines with a 3.3-liter and a 4.7-liter that offered 120hp and 210 hp, respectively.