This is a superb model of the very first version of the enormously successful Ford Mustang. Introduced halfway through the 1964 model year (hence 1964 and a half!) the Mustang was a runaway success for Ford. A million of them were made in the first two years of production alone, making it one of the fastest selling new cars ever. Ford dealers were mobbed soon after it was launched by prospective purchasers wanting to buy the few they had in stock (to begin with). One successful customer reportedly slept in his new Mustang overnight at the dealership until his cheque cleared the next day so as to prevent the dealer selling the car to another customer with cash!
The secret to it's success seemed to be due to it's superb sporty looks and good performance, combined in a compact (by US standards of the time) sized car which could be specified to almost any budget. The options list was endless, with 3 main body styles available to begin with, a fastback, coupe and convertible (like this model). You could have a basic 4 cylinder engine (which few opted for) or for a few dollars more you could have a straight six or a 289ci/4.7 litre V8 (which was the most popular engine option). There was a huge variety of colours available for both the bodywork and the interior, and the car could be had with such extras as electric windows, air conditioning, automatic transmission and on the convertible, an electric hood. In fact, a Mustang with most of the options specified cost almost twice as much as a basic one with few options. The net result was huge profits for Ford, mostly made from the extra options most buyers added to the basic car. It also meant almost every Mustang was unique in some way, which was a huge selling point for the car.
Under the good looking body, the Mustang was a fairly crude car (which also made it cheap to make, thereby further increasing Ford's profit margin). It was based on the Ford Falcon, a humble family compact car with leaf spring live axle rear suspension, a simple steel frame chassis and so on. The Falcon was a worthy car, but it was a million miles away from it's glamourous cousin the Mustang.
The Mustang had no real competitor in the marketplace at first, but GM were quick to catch on and in 1967 introduced the new Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird sports cars, very much in the same mould as the Mustang. Since then, the Mustang and the Camaro/Firebird have been direct rivals in the US marketplace. These new compact US sports cars became know as "Pony cars".
The Ford motor company approached ERTL about making this model, the first in the "Precision 100" line of models by ERTL, meant to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ford Motor Company (which occurred in 2003). One of the best Mustang models made in 1:18th to date (although the AUTOart '67-'68 Mustangs run it close!) the detail packed into this model is incredible. Great touches include an actual set of keys dangling from the ignition, a movable gear selector, realistic bonnet/hood hinges, a central propshaft which turns when you turn the rear wheels, floor mats, door hinges which work like the real thing and of course an overall look to the model that is spot on. Even the edges of both doors look real. The weakest part of the model for me is the wheels which don't look quite right to me, but are not bad nonetheless! Brake detail is pretty non-existent, which is a shame, but the design of the wheels mean you wouldn't be able to see the front discs very well anyway. Overall this fine model gets 78.75%.
Australian company Classic Carlectables make a similar 1966 Mustang with the Coupe bodystyle, while Lane make the 1965-66 Fastback Mustang making it possible to own all 3 bodystyles of the original 1964-66 Mustang in 1:18th.
78.75%
