The first Ford Mustangs were released to the public in early 1965. The first model, colloquially known as the 1964 1/2 Mustang, had a body style based on the Falcon and Fairlane, was available as a coupe or convertible, and had a straight-6 engine.

A GT equipment package and a V8 block engine were introduced later in 1965, along with front fog lights and disc brakes. The coupe model continued to be the style of choice, but Ford introduced a fastback Mustang as well.

From 1967 to 1970, the Mustang got larger and larger to accommodate the bigger V8 block engines, and from 1971 to 1973 New product design manager Budie Knudsen saw the Mustang through it’s period of largest engine size. At this point in its history, the Mustang could accurately be called a “Gas Guzzler.”
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