The Ford Mustang made its highly anticipated debut on April 17 at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Designed to appeal to the baby boomer generation, the new car was offered in a wide variety of color combinations, boasting sporty styling, impressive performance, and a litany of customizable added options to make the car your own. Between the 1964 World’s Fair debut, local dealership celebrations for the new model, and Ford’s own publicity stunts—including reassembling a Mustang Convertible on the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State building—Ford’s new model swept America off its feet and quickly became one of the most sought-after cars.

Initially offered in either a coupe or convertible body style, a fastback was added five months after its debut. The new Mustang was available with either a straight-six or a choice of V-8 engines, paired with either an automatic transmission or, for more spirited driving, three- or four-speed manual transmissions. By the end of the first calendar year over 420,000 Mustangs had been sold, making it the most successful car launch in the United States at the time. The Ford Mustang was even awarded the prestigious Tiffany Award for Excellence in American Design by Tiffany & Co., the first and only car to achieve the honor.

This 1965 Mustang Convertible was built at Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan factory on 10 November 1964. It left finished in Vintage Burgundy over black, powered by an A-code 289-cubic-inch V-8 backed by a four-speed manual transmission, which sent power to a 3.00:1 limited-slip differential. The car was offered new through the Philadelphia sales district.

Today the Mustang remains finished as it left the factory. Exterior features include fog lights, dual sideview mirrors, a white convertible top, and thin whitewall tires on steel wheels featuring wire wheel covers. Powering the Mustang is Ford’s legendary 289-cubic-inch V-8, fueled by an Edelbrock 1406 carburetor. The engine is backed by the desirable four-speed manual transmission. The Mustang is nicely equipped with power steering, bucket seats, a Rally Pac, wood-rimmed steering wheel, radio, air conditioning, and center console.

Celebrated since its debut, the Ford Mustang is an enduring icon of American car culture. This 1965 Mustang Convertible boasts a past Antique Automobile Club of America Senior National First Prize and the wonderful combination of Ford’s legendary 289 backed by a four-speed transmission, the optimal choice for spirited driving.