A little-known part throughout the entire existence of the principal Ford Mustang at any point constructed ends up at ground zero this week when the man who accidentally sold ? and perhaps spared ? the vehicle sees it showed in its place of respect at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
?It was a preproduction car, supposed to be a showroom model for display? before deals started March 17, 1964, Matt Anderson, guardian of transportation at the historical center, said of the vehicle ? Mustang Serial Number 1. ?Ford wanted them all shipped back to Dearborn. It could?ve been scrapped. Most of the others were.?
That reminder didn't get to the business group at George G.R. Parsons Ford in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, where Harry Phillips was a youthful sales rep. The primary vehicle constructed, a convertible with vehicle ID number 5F08F100001, was sent to Newfoundland since it took more time to get to St. John's from the Rouge get together plant in Dearborn than to some other vendor, and Ford needed each business to have a showcase model when deals started.
The subsequent Mustang manufactured ? a hardtop ? went to a business in the Yukon. It as of late sold at closeout for $175,000. Just a single other preproduction '65 Mustang is known to have endure.
'The most straightforward deal I at any point made'
?We had it on display in the outside lot close to the street where everybody could see it,? when carrier pilot Capt. Stanley Tucker strolled through the showroom entryway, said Phillips, presently 84.
?It was probably the easiest sale I ever made in my life. I just happened to be standing by the door. Capt. Tucker said, ?I want that car.? ?
Exhaust purchased Mustang No. 001 in spite of the way that deals wouldn't start for several days, Phillips stated, and the business would show the vehicle a couple more weeks to draw in clients.
Exhaust purchased Mustang No. 001 regardless of the way that deals wouldn't start for several days, Phillips stated, and the business would show the vehicle a couple more weeks to draw in clients.
He came in every day to look at it, and make sure nobody was kicking the tires, Phillips said.
Exhaust took conveyance of the main Mustang at any point fabricated ? and the last one Ford Motor Co. needed to sell ? in April.
It was a very long time before anyone at Ford HQ in Dearborn knew Mustang No. No. 001 had hopped the corral and was without running.
?The serial number didn?t mean anything to us,? Phillips said. ?We didn?t know it was the first one made.
?We didn?t realize the significance of the car 'til Ford came looking for it.?
None of this reduces the narrative of the main Mustang that was sold and driven on open streets, when youthful Chicago teacher Gail Wise drummed up some excitement by driving her new vehicle home a day ahead of schedule.
