[Miracle]

After a few people mentioned that they had a hard time telling old school Mustangs apart... I thought I'd throw together a little something to help everybody recognize what year Classic (64 1/2-73) Mustang they see at shows, cruises etc. Hope this is good enough for you guys... I'll work on a later and Shelby model guide too... when I get the chance.

This just applies to FACTORY FORD MUSTANGS... not Shelbys... Here ya go:

1. Major differences in the "first Generation", 1964.5 until 1967.

Only really small subtle body changes can give away what year the comes from... such as front bumpers, taillights, and body style. 1964's, and 1965's and 1966's are, GENERALLY, identical. Except for a few small things, like the "C-Scoop" trim was available as a different piece on each year, there really isn't MUCH way to tell them apart. In 1964, a coupe and convertible model was available, with a Fastback model appearing in 1965

1964.5 Model (The first ever) Pictured Below:

1965 Pictured Below:

1966 Pictured Below:

Here's the quickest way to tell a 65 and 66 Mustang apart:

65 had a honeycomb grille, the grille pony had chrome extensions across face of grille, side scoop accent was vertical and chrome (not installed on Fastback), Falcon style guage cluster (except Deluxe Interior aka Pony package had 5 guage cluster)

66 had a solid bar style grille with "floating" pony in corral, side scoop accent had 3 horizontal bars (not installed on fastback), and a 5 gauge cluster for all models.

Starting in 1967, the first REAL body makeover, however, the taillights were changed from the "EXTERNAL" facing lights:

To the "INTERNAL" facing lights:

As well as the front end receiving a slight makeover, making the leading edge of the hood stick out farther, raking out the gills in front of the headlights, and a new "C-Scoop" trim.

The Mustang pretty much stayed like the previous year for 1968, with, again, just a few subtle changes such as a new C-Scoop trim, new wheel models, and the most DEAD give away, the parking light/sidemarker location. In 1968, thee government enacted new legislation requiring manufacturers to add an amber colored light on the SIDES of cars, and for the Mustang, in 1968, it is located right below the front bumper, on the front fender... See this 1967?

Compared to the 1968, that DOES have the light below the bumper:

There you have it... the easier of the things to look for in differences in the EARLY, EARLY model Mustang classics.

Feel free to add something in, if it is for sure some difference in the models.

 

[Miracle]

2.The 1.5th Generation:

In 1969, the Mustang saw it's first full body revamp, introducing a totally new body for each of the Coupe, convertible, and Fastback models. This body style continued until 1972, when the Mustang saw it's then 3rd redesign.

The EASIEST, and fastest way to tell a 1969, from aa 1970 is the front headlamps/foglights, and thhe side scoops above and in front of the rear wheels.

1969 Pictured:

See how the front head lights, and the fog lamps are split apart, and there are a total of 4 lights? As well as there is a faux scoop abover the rear wheels? That's a DEAD giveaway that it is a 1969, EXCEPT unless it's a Boss 302. The Boss 302's of that same year did NOT have the scoops above the wheels.

For 1970, the front headlamps were moved INBOARD, the fog lights were REPLACED by a set of parking lamps, the side scoops were removed above the rear wheels, and there were faux air intakes added to the front clip.

1969 and 1970 also saw the return of the Coupe, and convertible models. The Fastback saw it's "name" death in the end of 1968, renamed "SportsRoof" for the 1969 Models.

 

[xigotboostx]

never liked the new mustangs.. but the older ones are hot.

 

[Miracle]

And last but not least:

3. The Second Generation:

The start of the 1971 model year, brought a TOTALLY new looking Mustang to the table. Most obvious of course, is the SIZE of the new model. Which swelled to over 2,900 lbs, as compared to the 1964.5's 2,500 or so pounds. That, along with a TOTALLY new front end, side profile, and rear end, you can REALLY tell these cars from the originals.

1971 Pictured Below:

1972 Pictured Below:

1973 Model Pictured Below:

Aside from ever so SLIGHT body changes, the 1971-1973 Mustangs remained mostly unchanged. The Hardtop Coupe, SportsRoof and Convertible models still lived on. Along with those, Ford also gave us a few different BOSS Models, as well as the venerable Mach 1, and the little known Grande.

 

[ramman434]

Fanboy....


So what year in the 60's did the Mustang recieve the Twin Turbo Inline-6 RB26?

 

[sprayN306]

o man memories!
my first car was a 70 fastback

....after i finish project fastfox
im kickin around the idea of a
efi turbo 70 fastback.... :]

 

[venom_5]

you had a 1970 fastback and then got a foxbody? .... failure

 

[sprayN306]

you had a 1970 fastback and then got a fox body? .... failure

not so much
it was a 70 w/ 302 and an auto
nothing special
i sold it and got my fox
fox is my personal favorite in the mustang body styles
so thats what i got

 

[jdmpwr07]

No 67 Shelby...no care.

 

[Miracle]

No 67 Shelby...no care.

NubZ:

This just applies to FACTORY FORD MUSTANGS... not Shelbys... Here ya go:

And:

I'll work on a later, and Shelby model guide too... when I get the chance.

 

[GivNoFuck]

good write up man