1964 1/2 Mustang Convertible 0001-4638

This official archive image documents the 1964½ Ford Mustang convertible, the launch-era open car that created the pony car market. Developed in roughly 18 months from September 1962 to April 1964 and built on Falcon underpinnings to control cost, the Mustang reached nearly 1.3 million units produced by the end of its second year.

How Was the Mustang Developed So Quickly?

The Mustang went from programme approval to public launch in about 18 months, an extraordinarily short timeline. It was achieved by borrowing: the platform, chassis and most mechanical components came from the Ford Falcon, leaving the body and interior as the only genuinely new engineering.

Lee Iacocca championed the project and Donald Frey led the engineering. The design team under Joe Oros worked to a specific brief — four seats, bucket seats, floor shift, under 2,500 pounds, under 180 inches long, under $2,500.

Why Does the Convertible Matter?

The convertible was available from launch and became the body style most closely associated with the Mustang's image, appearing in advertising, film and press photography far out of proportion to its share of production.

It also fitted the car's commercial logic exactly. The Mustang was sold on personal expression, and an open car with a choice of trim, wheels, engines and colours was the purest expression of that idea.

What Were the Options That Made the Mustang?

The Mustang's option list was central to its success:

• Engines from a 170 cubic inch six up to the 289 cubic inch V8
• Three-speed and four-speed manual and automatic transmissions
• Rally-Pac instrumentation, console, wire wheel covers and vinyl or pony interiors
• Base price of $2,368 — roughly $24,600 in 2025 dollars
• 22,000 orders taken on the first day of sale

Who Is This Print For?

This 1964½ Mustang convertible print appeals to Mustang owners, early-car collectors, Ford enthusiasts, restoration shops, offices and garages. As vintage Ford wall art a launch-era convertible reads instantly to anyone who knows the marque. Choose framed, canvas, metal or Giclée formats for a home office, study, museum display or Ford wall decor programme.

Photograph Details

• Subject: Ford Mustang convertible
• Model year: 1964 and a half
• Body style: Convertible
• Development: September 1962 to April 1964
• Platform: Ford Falcon underpinnings
• Production: Close to 1.3 million by the end of the second year
• Archive reference: 0001-4638

This archival photograph is made available through Fordimages.com, the official Ford archive imagery licensee operated by Richard Weedn LLC. Each image is digitally restored before printing and handcrafted to order.

Available as:

• Framed Print — museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, hanging hardware included
• Stretched Canvas — hand-stretched over 1.25-inch pine bars, heavy cotton poly matte finish
• ChromaLuxe Metal Print — image infused directly onto sheets of alloy metal for maximum vibrancy and durability
• Giclée Art Print — 260gsm satin finish paper, finest archival inks, white border

Made in the USA or Europe depending on your location.

About the Artwork

Artwork in this collection comes from the Ford Motor Company Archives, The Henry Ford Museum, the Carroll Shelby Archives, and the collections of acclaimed photographers and painters from around the world. Reproduction rights are reserved by the respective copyright owners.

Our framed prints feature a black, hand-stained solid wood frame with a white mat, museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, and hanging hardware. The frame features a slim 0.8-inch face and projects 1.3 inches from the wall, creating a clean, contemporary shadow-box effect. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our stretched canvas prints are produced on acid-free, pH-neutral, and fade-resistant canvas. Each canvas is hand-glued to solid wood stretcher bars and stretched over 1.25-inch-thick pine bars. Mounting brackets are included. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our Giclée prints are produced using premium 200gsm semi-gloss paper and high-quality archival inks. Each print includes a white border around the perimeter.

For the 40 x 60 size, we use 250gsm museum-quality archival paper with an off-white, uncoated finish.

The listed size refers to the overall paper dimensions. The image is printed proportionally within the selected paper size. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

ChromaLuxe prints use a state-of-the-art coating process that infuses the image directly onto sheets of alloy metal. The result is photography with an exceptional combination of vibrancy, clarity, and durability.

Each print arrives ready to hang. An alloy subframe on the back allows the artwork to float away from the wall for a sleek, modern appearance. This is the finest-quality print we offer. Made in the USA.

All images are digitally restored before printing. Production location varies by product and destination. Shipping is calculated at checkout.