$5.5 Million Ford Mustang? (Update!)

Only a day after posting about this pretty expensive Mustang, I read it escaped a fire at the Northern Illinois Classic Auto Museum! Luckily it was saved from the fire:

“An early fire detection system and fast response from the Wauconda Fire Department saved one of the most iconic pieces of automotive Americana.  Damage to the museum is estimated to be about $250K with most of it being smoke related.”

I want to add that my blogpost so close to the fire is a pure coincidence ;)

A presidential Mustang ride

What was the hardest thing Bill Clinton had to leave behind when moving into the White House? Rumor goes it was his 1967 Mustang convertible.

“As the story goes, Clinton truly admired the Mustang. For starters, he had the car refurbished after taking ownership. Shortly thereafter he was regularly spotted cruising in the car from Little Rock to Hot Springs, then back again. In fact, on Sundays he would often take his family out for a cruise in the convertible. One notable instance of Clinton and his Mustang involves his 46th birthday. On that day he and Hillary Clinton are said to have gone for a ride, with Clinton wearing his Hot Springs High School sweater and Hillary wearing a vintage high-school skirt. There’s no doubt about it, Bill Clinton had caught the Mustang bug.”

As you probably know, presidents are not allowed to drive themselves around, and Clinton reportedly only drove his Mustang while being president in April 1994 at the Charlotte Speedway… during a celebration for the Mustangs 30th Anniversary.

The Mustang is now on display at the Museum of Automobiles in Morrilton, Ark. Read the full details behind this story here, or check out this page for the top 10 coolest presidential rides ever.

The original Pony Car

From 1967 Chevrolet, Pontiac, Dodge, … started making muscle cars eager to participate in the Mustang’s success. They were all dubbed Ponycars but we all know there can only be one original and that was the Mustang of course.

First Mustang off the assembly line

I found some interesting facts on this site during my last Mustang searches, the first one sounds a bit strange to me given the Mustang was released sometime mid 1964 so if you know what this is about let me know in the comments:

1962 – Ford unveils a new car at the start of the U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, the Mustang
1963 – While waiting for the introduction of the Mustang, Ford introduced the Falcon Sprint package with a V8, tachometer and special trim
1963 – Ford tries and fails to buy Ferrari
1965 – Ralph Nader’s “Unsafe at Any Speed” published
1966 – The millionth Mustang is built just before its second birthday in March
1966 – Wilson Pickett releases the hit single “Mustang Sally”
1966 – Mustang sales were over 6% of the total U.S. car market

Can you imagine that? Six percent of the total U.S. car market not to just one brand, but to one single model. If this is true it offers some good news for me. Meaning it’s okay if it takes some more time before I ever get to buy one as there are plenty of them ;)

One more note on that 1st Mustang. Did you know that was bought by an airline captain called Stanley Tucker who had seen the car at his local dealership and that he wasn’t even aware this was the first one? Apparently Ford tried to buy it back soon after it found out the car was sold but that Stanley Tucker didn’t let go until (after 2 years of driving and 10.000 miles) he got a new full-option 1966 model from Ford. And also not just ‘a’ 1966 model, but the millionth Mustang manufactured. You can now go see the 1st Mustang ever made – unrestored – in the Henry Ford Museum. You gotta love stories like these.

Mustang church

Say what?! Jalopnik said it best with their title to go with this story: “Mustang church puts the fun back in to fundamentalism“. Brilliant.

The initial story was reported by Tom Strongman about the 74 year old Charles Ales who built the Mustang Church of America and Museum on his property.

“This is “the only church in the world dedicated to the Mustang car and Jesus Christ,” Ales said. “I’m going to preach goodness. Treat other people like you want to be treated, make this a better planet and make this place a better world than when you found it.”

The church will not be complete and ready for dedication until late this summer or early fall when parking and landscaping are in place. Ales has commissioned an 8-by-10 foot mural to be mounted behind the altar showing Jesus Christ behind the wheel of a 1966 Mustang.”

The Museum/Church has a collection of about 8 Mustangs, both old and new. Last but not least, when asked about blessing other muscle cars as well, Ales replied “I bless only Fords”. Talk about a true Ford/Mustang evangelist.

Only in America.