The Ford Mustang turns 50 this month. While the first Mustang rolled off the Ford assembly line in March 1964, it wasn't introduced to the public until April 17, 1964, at the New York World’s Fair. Named after a World War II fighter plane, it was the first of a new type of car called the “Pony Car,” a low style with a sleek, long hood and short trunk, designed for four people. There was nothing else like it at the time, and more than 400,000 sold the first year.
Car enthusiasts and collectors refer to the earliest model year as 1964 1/2, since it was a mid-year release, but Ford sold it as a 1965. It was introduced in hardtop and convertible versions, with a fastback model added the next year. The sticker price of a 1964 1/2 Mustang started at $2,368, equivalent to almost $18,000 today. A vintage model can now sell in the tens of thousands, depending on condition. The die-cast metal 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang toy shown here was made by Welly and sells for about $14 in an eBay shop.
Find prices of other die cast metal toy cars in the FREE online Price Guide at Kovels.com.
I attended an auction on April 25th in Centre Hall, PA, and a ’69 Shelby Cobra with ~7,800 original miles sold for $280,000. Not a typo, $280,000…
I do not believe the #18,000 reference is to the current VALUE of a ’65 Mustang. It is an estimate of the equivalent as in purchasing a Mustang then is like purchasing an #18,000 car now. Obviously good value at the time since I dn’t think any of today’s cars at that price will have the lasting power of a Mustang.
Just sold my ’65 Mustang convertible (for more than twice what I paid for it in 1991, and a lot more than the equivalent $18,000 you quote). I miss it already, but we had great fun while it lasted.
my husband is doing a restoration on one of these now. Cost the owner $25,000, and its in pieces, rusty, $16,000 into it so far.. but when he is done..woo-hoo..something to talk about !! and it’s a convertible