1st Gen (1965 to 1973)

Introduced in 1964 (with the unofficial 1964½ cars) and officially produced from 1965 to 1973, the first-generation Ford Mustang is one of the most important cars in automotive history, single-handedly creating the pony car segment and redefining affordable performance. Offered in hardtop, fastback, and convertible body styles with rear-wheel drive, the Mustang ranged from inline-six cruisers to fire-breathing V8s, spawning legendary variants such as the Boss 302, Boss 429, Mach 1, Boss 351, and the highly coveted Shelby Mustangs built by Shelby American. The generation evolved through four distinct phases (1965–66, 1967–68, 1969–70, and 1971–73), each bringing styling and mechanical changes. Over 2.9 million first-generation Mustangs were produced, making it a commercial phenomenon. In the Australian market, these cars were never officially sold new but have long been prized imports, with values driven by fastback body style, V8 specification, documented performance variants, and originality, firmly cementing the first-gen Mustang as blue-chip American muscle.