Vintage Grand Prix The Ford Mustang, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company was based on the platform of the second generation North American Ford Falcon. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, and commonly called the "1964½" model by Mustang fans. The 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch of vehicles in the 1960’s. The Mustang is synonymous with the "pony car" class of sports-car like coupes with long hoods and short rear decks

An interesting note to the history of the Mustang is that the first serial number was, sold to a Canadian airline pilot.

On April 14, 1964, Stanley Tucker walked into the George Parsons Ford dealership in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The 33 year old pilot made an immediate connection with the white convertible 1964 ½ Mustang. Somehow through persistent customer persuasion the Mustang was sold three days before the actual street date; mandated by Ford. This is how serial number 5F08F100001 ended up in private ownership instead of being shipped to the Ford museum.

A short while later, Ford realized they had a mistake in shipping the first serial number to a dealership. Ford then made an effort to track down the first customer and requested the return of the Mustang. This was subsequently declined by the owner who then went on to enjoy his purchase by putting 10,000 miles on his new purchase. In early 1966, Ford sweetened the offer to the first Mustang owner and offered the up the delivery of the One Millionth Mustang, equipped to his exact specifications.

Today as we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Mustang you can be assured that serial number 5F08F100001 is now in its final resting place at the Henry Ford Museum.

Soon after the introduction of the Mustang it started to show up at NHRA drag strips where it was entered by privateers and dealer sponsored teams. Ford used the company Holman & Moody to prepare its factory racing campaign by building 10 specially prepared prepare ten 427-powered Mustangs to contest the National Hot Rod Association's Factory Experimental class for the 1965 drag racing season.  

Through a collaboration between Ford and Shelby Racing the GT 350 R, a full racing version of the Shelby GT 350, went on to win five of the Sports Car Club of America's six divisions in 1965. Today the Mustang racing spirit is still alive through racing new versions of the car through sanctioned racing events and the vintage Mustangs are still racing at Vintage Road Racing events in the United States and Canada.

You can see more of the vintage racing Mustang’s in the photo Gallery.

To find out more about vintage racing in Canada contact the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada.

Here is another one for your bucket list, Rent a Ford Penske GT Mustand for the day.

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.