That’s right, this isn’t a replica or a tribute of any kind, this is the real deal ‘64.5 Mustang Pace Car convertible that ran the circuit in 1the 1964 Indy 500. Having passed through a few different sets of hands over the years, the Mustang has reemerged out of hibernation, undergone a complete restoration, and is now back in its former glory.
But let’s also be clear about something; this isn’t a standard ‘64.5 Mustang convertible with some stickers and a standard 260- or 289-cube V8 under the hood, with only a brief cameo in the limelight 60-years ago. According to Bill Ford himself, it’s one of the very first Mustangs off of the line, ever. Although they’re not sure which build number it is, it is known that it was built sometime during the first hour of production on the first day.
Knowing what we know about assembly-lines over here, it’s probably car number 1-50, within that range. But to add to that early production build number, it was also modified to take on Indianapolis 500 pace car duties.
Like most cars throughout Indy 500 Pace Car history, it had received extensive modifications under the hood, and elsewhere throughout the car. The stock 210hp D-code 289 cubic-inch engine failed to achieve not only the rate of acceleration needed to get up to speed, but it wouldn’t reach the then-mandatory 140mph top speed, either. So, Ford teamed up with Holman Moody to build a “de-tuned GT40 engine” to remedy that issue. If they hadn’t, the rear end would have been too squirrelly around the corners for the driver. The end result was in the neighborhood of 450hp, in a car that could handle it.
To stiffen up the unibody chassis, a strut tower brace and a set of Koni shocks and struts went into the recipe, as well as a few other bits and pieces borrowed from the Falcon racing program. The exhaust was freed up, too, ditching the muffler entirely. This was done to free up some additional ponies, but mostly, to wow the crowd in the stands who some of which, were being introduced to Mustang for the first time. After all, it was the inaugural year for the Mustang, and Ford wanted to sell every one they built — which they did. Benson Ford, Henry Ford’s grandson and Henry II’s younger brother, was the man behind the wheel that day. This Wimbledon White one-off is a forever, timeless classic.
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of AutoCentric Media, the parent company to Timeless Muscle Magazine, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles. When he isn’t tuning, testing, or competing with the magazine’s current crop of project vehicles, he’s busy tinkering and planning the next round modifications for his own cars.
