Prototype Mustang built for Henry Ford II, what makes it so UNIQUE? | Barn Find Hunter
Episode 129: In this episode of "Barn Find Hunter," Tom has the pleasure of looking at a 1963 Mustang, yes, that's right, you heard me, a 1963 prototype Ford Mustang that was once owned by Henry Ford II. The current owner walks through the finer details of what exactly makes this Mustang so different from the rest.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:36 Ford Engineering Lab
1:33 1963 Prototype Mustang
2:10 History
3:54 Ownership
4:36 How he found out
7:22 Ford's PR Magic
8:20 Engine & Rare Parts
9:42 Paperwork & Unique parts
13:06 Interior
14:38 Trunk
15:12 Die Cast trim
15:38 Outro
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Great episode. My first car I bought in 1980 was a 1965 C code Mustang Fastback. I put a Shelby GT 350 suspension on it from Maier Racing with Koni Shocks, and I put 16 inch by 8 inch Enkei wheels with Pirelli P7 tires on it in late 1983, and painted it charcoal grey metallic, with black metallic GT 350 stripes, and shortly after it was finished hydroplaned in the rain into a tree and totaled the car in March 1984. I really miss it, I learned so much restoring it.
There's also an black "Henry Ford II" special in Italy. An italian guy showed up on an US Mustang forum and asked about the Italian '66 K code he just had brought, because it showed to have some weird not orginal options, like an leather interior. It also had similar Campagnolo mags as the Bertone Mustang prototype. Seems the story behind the car was that it was special ordered by Iacocca, modified in Fords prototype shop and shipped to a friend of Iaccoca in Italy. The new owner brought the car from a family that had it since the 60's, as the second owners.
thanks for sharing.
Here here
Nice! Probably sent over for him to drive during Lemans.
@@JohnnyAFG81 , can't remember how many details of the cars story the new owner actually was able to track down. But if you search on the vintage-mustang forum you will fnd a very long thread with pics. I guess "italian" will find it. The car was fairly untouched, but had been resprayed in the late 60s to white, since the owners then found an all black car to hot for the italian climate.
@@westmus thanks for the info.
You have to know that simply sets a new standard in 'barn finds'. The current owner was very wise, pulled out the stops and got this piece of history looking almost like she did the day she was given to Henry. Applause!
Just imagine it being driven in the salt mush of Michigan as a "has-been" beater then sold unwanted for $500 !
He should take it back to that car show.
@@big_fat_hen Take it back there, let the so-called 'judges' point out all the things 'wrong' with it, then produce all of the historical information. Their reaction would be priceless.
@@TIMEtoRIDE900 Last year, Henry Ford II 1-of-1 1966 Mustang K-Code sold for 330 000$ at Barett Jackson Vegas. Given that this one is a pre-production prototype, it's probably worth half a million?
He paid what I paid for my 1st Mustang, $500.00 for a 1971 brown Sportsroof 302 with a c4 trans...
I love that the car is still around and taken care of by a Genuine Ford Man!
So very proud to say that MY DAD worked on the interior sewing the seats. We lived across the road from the engineering lab. It is fulfilling to hear of my family's small part in American history 65 years later. Art I later had a 64 1/2 2+2 289HP, factory 4..if you would do an old man a favor, give your 'Stag a hug and a pat on the hood for my Dad and me, so much of his life went into the interior of that car, His name was Earl, he passed in 1965.
I have reupholstered the seat in my car in leather. It is a labor of love, but we'll worth it. After doing a few seats in vinyl I understand the value of leather. Leather is worth every penny and bit of effort because it lasts so much longer. I am sure your father had a great time on that pre- production Mustang.
Did you ever learn to do automotive upholstery? I went to the last two year school in the country. Automotive upholstery people are getting scarce in America these days.
@@georgem8042 No, But I did get an Airframe license and learned to do dope and fabric aircraft...but that was 50 years ago.
@@georgem8042 I agree. Just changed my worn out cloth seats with new padding and leather. Apart from looking so much better, they feel great. I am so glad I did it.
Isn't the car and your relationship great, I'm finding this so typical, the maverick had form molded door panels, after the cost marketing got done with it, they were pressed board, I met an engineer from that era, he designed the thick film module, the original was cast aluminum with cooling fins, it made production in plastic, with a tiny heat sink in the mounting,
The story behind that particular car is one of the best stories behind any car PERIOD
My mother and an uncle worked in that building (called the "EEE Building" back then. On the insides on one of the main support pillars a set of signatures was uncovered during renovations in the 1980s. It is (was?) framed and left exposed. The signatures/ Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Harvy Firestone!
Thanks for sharing that.
How would you like to have been the guy who found that??
Wow!!
I've never been the biggest Ford fan but, as a classic American muscle car lover...this is absolutely a fantastic historical piece of automotive history.
Same here, bud. I lean more towards the General & Ma Mopar, but having grown up in the greatest era of American horsepower performance cars, I totally RESPECT the CLASSICS & this one-off is right up there @ the top of the list.
@@ericblom9568 Make that three of us. My first car was a 1970 Galaxie 500 and I don't think I've owned a Ford since, but you can't help but appreciate this car. Truly one of a kind and so glad the current owner found it and brought it back to it's former glory.
Beutiful car.
Me too. My family had many GM employees.
Me too, this video could make me into a Ford lover
Man what a awesome Mustang. That guy definitely has a piece of automotive history.
That owner is one heck of a car guy. I could talk to him for hours.
I couldn't tell you how many times I uttered, "Wow," throughout this video. Every inch of this classic is utterly amazing. What a find!
Some people just don't know what they have. I can't believe he bought this for $500! What a great deal and what a great find. Such a fantastic story.
AND, he still negotiated the price down from $525 to $500...priceless !!
I can't believe Ford Motor Company hasn't offered this guy a new Ford GT and or plus a small fortune to reacquire this piece of Ford History for their museum...
My grandmother sold a used 67 Galaxy with a 390 in 71 or 73 for 200 USD. Stuff just didnt hold a lot of value.
$500 back then is equivalent to around $2800 today. Still a steal.
He did know though…he put it in his ad….at the time there were so many Mustangs I guess that’s all he thought it was worth? I am thinking this is probably at least a $1M car now due to the historical significance? If I were the owner I would take it to Mecam and share that windfall with your loved ones while you have your health. He has enjoyed it for 50 years…time for a new caretaker of history. I would never let it out of the garage because of what it is. Lol
Without doubt, this is the Holy Grail of Mustangs! Priceless!
Real wood. Experimental heads. Die cast trim. Outrageous !
And a cow seat
When that car does come up for sale it’s priceless. Absolutely priceless. The start of one the biggest makes in global history has to fetch big bucks.
I think this may be your BEST FIND,being around at that time as a 16 year old l would fell over to even to see IT . THANK YOU SIR
...Had a 64 1/2 my last 2 years of high school...Dad took me out one summer afternoon to a car lot and ...BINGO....Gold exterior, black interior, 289 V8; ps; pb; auto 3 speed; AM radio...I still think of it from time to time...why some kids are so lucky is beyond understanding....
Great episode, the owner is such a humble and cool guy, amazing car
I was a very small child when the Mustang was introduced, my dad was in the process of looking at buying a new car. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it, and begged my dad to buy one, number 1 he was a Chrysler/Plymouth man, number 2 there were five of us total, and he wanted/needed a family car, so the Mustang was not gonna happen. 😭 I promised myself I would own a 65 Mustang one day, hasn't happened yet, but that hope hasn't diminished since I was a kid, and hopefully one day I will. this is SO COOL, thank you for posting this video, and I sincerely appreciate this gentleman for his care of this piece of history.
Amazing car, amazing story. Congrats to the owner for preserving this piece of Mustang history.
thanks to this kind gentleman for taking the time. would love to see this immaculate piece of history in person.
This is one of the top episodes for me. What a unique car. Looks like the right guys owns it for sure! You can tell he is and will take special care of it. Thanks for showing us it.
Very nice vehicle. I have a 1966 mustang I rebuilt and even painted myself. It's not as special, clean, or original... but it's mine :)
And that's what matters the most!
@@rickd650 I think what matters most is that the manual drum brakes are in working order before leaving the garage each trip...but thanks for the sentiment :)
@@rpower1401 Oh I've been there. 1973 Maverick that had manual drums on all four. Brake fade is fun....
@@rickd650 Indeed. On one of my first rides I was doing 100kph on the highway in the passing lane. Got cut off by a couple of vehicles pulling out from behind a tanker truck doing 50kph uphill. Locked the brakes pretty good, released and reengaged while leaning on the horn. Definitely glad I replaced all the wear components.
I had a ‘66 in the 70’s … loved it!
That was a great episode. I like Art. He is the right owner for this car. Thank you.
Interesting story about this car. I read an article in the 90s that Henry II was complaining about the gas mileage. So Ford changed out the speedometer gears without telling Henry II so he got better gas mileage without knowing exactly why! Problem solved! Such a cool car, I had no idea it still existed.
Sounds similar to the story of stealing Bill Mitchell’s stuffed fish to paint it to match the color of the Mako Shark show Vette after his multiple complaints of the stylists not getting the color right.
@@mattkaustickomments hahaha. That’s good. Thinking outside the box.
One of the best episodes yet! Art seems like a genuine guy. Most people with one off cars like this are check writing braggarts. Nice to see a real car guy with one. Art is the exception to the rule.
Seriously the coolest owner for that car!
Okay ... I've enjoyed EVERY episode of Barn Find Hunter but this one is the best ever!! +++
When you own the company you can have it any way you want. That thing on the radio is a reverb unit. My first car when I was in high school was a 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie XL and it had the same radio setup. The single rear speaker is run thru a reverb unit that adds a couple of milliseconds delay to the sound and it tricks the ear into thinking it is stereo sound instead of mono.
Yep had a Sears aftermarket in mine. Right next to the 8 track with toggle and fader
@@gary3696 The old 8 track. Remember my dad's 69 Galaxie had one. Memories right there. Cheers
@@BatMan-oe2gh I now have a Ford Police Interceptor Utility (That's an Explorer to us normal folks)..wish I could find a reverb for it, the sound system sucks, LOL
I had the same car. Mine came ordered from the factory with a 427 with 2 Holly 4 barrels and 4 on the floor. It would pass everything on but the filling station. I also owned a 64 Mercury with the same reverb radio setup, This was all when AM radio was still the King.
Reverb and a 4 track tape player was pretty high tech back then.
Wow. You could talk days about the details with this great owner - and I would listen to every single word. What a story, what a beautiful Mustang! Keep on huntin'
I bet there are a lot of Mustang experts who can't believe they've never even heard of this car.
What a gem!! And the best owner for her.
Glad you got the pics and documentation for it now. I hate when car show judges think they know more then the owner
I'm a Ford Guy but not so much a Mustang Guy, but this is special. All I can say is WOW. 🤯 That has to be worth more than any Mustang ever sold at this point. I don't know how their could be one worth more.
Who was the 1st person to design a mustang?
wow that car is practically priceless. the resto work is perfect.
I thought I knew a lot about cars, specifically 1960’s vehicles, but after watching this apparently I know nothing 🤣. What a special car and owner
Thank you art and Tom for showing this vehicle and art you are a great caretaker
Wow - the red pinstripe on that black without the badging is beautiful.
Amazing. Glad this car has a great caretaker. Meticulous care and preservation of this ICONIC car is fantastic. I have always loved the Ford Mustang. Thank you for this video and cyber shake of the hand for the owner!
Another great episode and a piece of history that I would have missed if not for The Barn Finder. Thanks so much.
...when I was 11, my sister and her new husband bought a 1965 Mustang convertible. And I just fell in love with Mustangs. In September of '89, I was fortunate to obtain my own 1966 Mustang convertible.. When my daughter was just a few months old, I dropped the top and buckled her car seat in and we cruised around a nearby lake. ...As we had to drive about 10 miles an hour around the narrow road beside the lake, I got many looks from the Swimmers and lake-goers, for I believe not only the car, but the baby seat inside it. I think the message they got that day was " Yes, sometimes you Can Have children and a classic car. " ...We had that car for fifteen Summers and I think it gave my daughter a love for classic cars. Thanks for this truly Historic video.
Awesome find! So much History! So much backstory! Keep up the good work finding these gems of History!
This thing is spectacular. And also shows there’s always ways to improve our cars.
What a terrific person Art is. To not only have the insightfulness to buy the car, but to realise it was an absolute one off piece of Ford history. And to top it off he is perfectly comfortable allowing Hagerty to not only thoroughly inspect & film the car but to sit in it. Many owners of such vehicles won't even let you touch their cars. I have too many other subscriptions to add you Mr Hagerty but I do watch your channel occasionally & find that your feature vehicles are always special.
In 1964 I was friends with a teenage girl whose mother owned the local Ford dealership in La Junta, Colorado. One evening in late April she came around where a bunch of us guys were hanging out, driving the most incredible car I'd ever seen. It was called a Mustang and the first one available in Southeast Colorado. An orange convertible, it had black interior, bucket seats....and a factory four-on-the-floor mated to a 289! She wouldn't let any of us drive that stunner, but she gave us all a ride in it. Man, what a blast!
I bought my '66 notchback Mustang GT in April of 1974, my first car, third owner. Not a K model, but a 289 4 barrel with a stick, and FACTORY A/C! Tan with a white vinyl top, I had it for six years. And it had that metal spoke steering wheel with the holes in it and so many other things about this video were nostalgic for me. Beautiful car. Incredible fun to drive. I paid $650 for it, it only had 34,000 miles on it. I sold it for what I paid for it, to someone who would go on to restore it.
What an amazing find/car. The Holy Grail Mustang.
I love special cars with a great story. I'm sure glad this guy did his research and saved a one of a kind mustang.
Wow that's really special and the owner is such a gent
What an awesome guy, there's probably no one better to own this car.
I thought for sure this thing was long gone He's had it the whole time Lookin sharp mister!!!
I would like someone to do a follow up video on this car. Was there a serial number? Why couldn't anyone ever find the car? How was it registered to operate on the street? I know how determined collectors get when they desire a particular car. The number one Mustang ever built?
Unreal, what an awesome piece of history! Can’t imagine what that car would sell for at an auction!
This is a very historic car! I really appreciated the owner's attention to detail and his intention to keep it as authentic as possible, whatever the cost. He definitely knows what he has.
Wow . That's just crazy . It amazing to think all the other owner's before had no idea what they actually had . That thing is worth some crazy coin.
Henry, his chauffeur and the chauffeur's friend knew what they had. But just drove the crap out of the car and were too dumb to know it's true value.
Great story, Tom! Love the Pacer wagon, too.
Outstanding episode- automotive history and that Mustang is Automotive Royalty
For Me, and Many Others..... This Mustang is the Holy Grail. just amazing ! hope i get to touch it 1 Day !!!!
Thank you to this man for being a great caretaker of this gem.
Love your videos. This one is special for me. I lived near Gale Halderman and spoke with him several times. He always had car shows at his museum which I would attend. Great guy. Fantastic Mustang!
So much AWESOMENESS in this video!!!
What an amazing find. I'm at an absolute loss for words. Mark this day on your calendar.
Awesome episode! My dad bought a 64.5 Mustang coupe, 289, Auto w/T Shifter, Ford spinner hubcaps…I drove it for two years, 1969, 1970. I have wished many times that I had that car back. Lots of Memories including my first ticket on my Junior Prom night for 65mph/55mph zone. Dated my 1st girlfriend in that car. Wow, they were cool cars!
It is a beautiful car and the restoration done has been beautiful as well and I'm sure one pain in the tushy! I always get a kick at cruises and car shows when I see the "mustang and Camaro experts" talking about what is right and not right about our car. Our car my mom and dad special ordered in 1965, we still have the original purchase papers, canceled check, etc and I just love how the experts will tell you everything that is wrong and not right about your car until you pull out the factory documents and show it to them. Well it's true there's a lot of gaslighting that is done out there, there's also quite a few that are very legit and fairly easy to distinguish special production vehicles out there in this case non-production!
As a Mustang fan, thank you for sharing this car. A true piece of Mustang history.
Tom, congratulations on getting to see a one of a kind car like that in person. Art, you were a great host and a great story teller. Thanks for sharing with the world.
Not a Mustang guy, but this is the coolest history of a car I’ve ever heard. Very cool car. Personally I’d rather have the Pacer.
60 years old and still a stunner. 😍
I have been a Ford person ever since I could hold a little matchbox car. I thought I knew all about the Mustang's beginnings and Fords in general. This is a real good case of right man found a car that needed the right man to find it. Thank you to all who brought this to light. It is a truly amazing and very beautiful car.
I started working as a Tool and Die apprentice at the Dearborn Assembly plant Ford Rouge complex in Dearborn Michigan starting in September 1968 after mustering out of the Army. We were assembling all types of '69 Mustangs and Cougars. The gentleman is correct. There was a lot of special one-off cars for the Ford family & senior execs. Bunkie Knudsen's wife had a Black 428 CJ Cougar convertible with a custom tan leather interior built for her. Another exec's wife had a Mustang convertible built with the same color combination. There was the infamous Mustang 2 white prototype parked on the 12th floor of Hudson's department store downtown in '62. Great times & memories.
amazing , great to see someone who really is taking care of history
Just came from Royal Oak seeing my family and it's always a pleasure to see a Ford Mustang from that era and finding out and seeing that it was really Henry Ford's II just a delight to see how that car was made. The seams all lead-filled brings me back to my friend in the body shops that used to do with that way back in the 40s and 50s. But then it was built for the man whose name was on the car. And what's truly nice to know is that the car is still running and being driven just like it was back in December of 1963 what a great era what a great car and still around.
Amazing quality of the hand made prototypes love the smooth lines instead of spot welds
I've got a pretty early 64.5 (April 21) and this whole story just made me smile. Even the early production cars had unique quirks but this is something else!
I'm a simple man. I see a tom cotter video, I watch it. Great video!!!!
When you havent watched this channel for a while, and that intro hits and you see Tom driving along, you instantly feel right at home. 🙂
He drove a Pacer to make a video of the first Mustang in history. Time to make a video of the very first Pacer now. And drive a Mustang to make the video.
I love it that this guy drives an AMC Pacer! And mint condition, too.
Whoever has Edsel’s Fastback really needs that Owner’s Manual !
I literally had chills up and down the spine watching this. What an incredible piece of Ford Mustang history! Thanks so much guys for sharing this amazing story and history behind this prototype.
Me too! I’ve never lusted after a car so much…well, rarely.
Geez Tom. I've owned 4 Mustangs so far and pretty much "thought" I knew the history - but wow! Thank you for doing this!
When you wish you could high five people through the internet, such a nice car and the history alone is awesome
My college roommate's dad had Mustang #3 and Thunderbird #3 when they were new. He was a friend of the Ford family.
Wow, what a find! Beautiful car and wonderful owner!
Such an amazing story and great video. Got to be the holy grail of Mustangs!
My mom had a 64 1/2 Mustang 289 automatic, red with black interior had smaller wheels with knock off hub caps. Bought used in 65 and drove it for 17 years, 120,000 miles before engine was rebuilt. Great car!
Absolutely love this... the guy is so passionate after owning it for so long, great to see. Happy hunting!!
I was born in a Detroit Ford family 70 years ago. I vividly remember the extravagant marketing blitz in 1964; and I still learn of its history such as this. Thank you. 😊
I was in the 4th grade in a little Texas town and I remember the advertising blitz too. We received a color brochure in the mail one day. Beautiful color pictures of the 64 1/2 Mustang. I kept it as one of my prize possessions in my cigar box for many years. It finally wore out and I taped it back together.
Wow - thank you ART for sharing this with Tom and thereby with us ... blown away by this one ... I was geeking out like crazy ... and I am more of a chevy guy!
I was a freshman in college 63-64 when I saw my first one, a convertible. he had three girls sitting on the back driving around campus. That is, until the campus police put a stop to it. It was quite a hit!
That was stinkin' amazing! What a find, yours, Tom ... and Art's! Wow! Thank you, Tom and Hagerty!
What he switched on with the radio we called a reverberator. In the 60’s they were pretty popular to buy and install to give it the sound you can hear in this video. This is a really interesting video.
Wow! As a Chevy guy that has never owned or even wanted to own a Mustang...Just Wow! Thanks for another great video.
Wow that is super cool! I am not even a Ford fan, but I can appreciate the story and history! Thank you for posting!
It's best to be a Ford fan without actually owning a Ford. They were terrible to actually drive and fix. Antique suspension, brakes, steering. Just look at them is the best way to go.
Absolutely one of my favorite shows on KZhead. As always another amazing video get to learn something every time I watch it thank you Tom for bringing us along with your adventures.
This fellas house looks really familiar. Back in around 2005, Ford did a mini movie called "Homecoming". About a Marine coming home from tour, and his dad surprisingly him with a new Mustang.
I’ve never been a Ford fan, but this does interest me as l like any manufacturers Prototype vehicles. And would love to see the whole interview uninterrupted. The gentleman that owns it has a lot of information that is intriguing and downright neat.
Beauty Car, Love the red pinstriping, it totally makes the car. Mustang, an iconic American Muscle Car that lasts to this day. So much so for me that my first car as a teenager was a 65 restomod fastback when I was 17, my second mustang was a 92 5.0 LX Fastback that I bought in 95 at 25, and I currently own a 2018 5.0 GT premium with alot of added goodies to bring the HP to around 620hp, I am 52 now. Thanks Barn find Hunter!!!
What an incredible find!! It’s crazy that the car never left the area after all that time. Great video!!
That's funny judges docked him points cuz it was more valuable and original than they even knew.
This video brought back memories of the first new car I bought, in1965. I was 25, just got a masters from Stanford and fell in love with the new Mustang , and the one I wanted was a K Code. The first ones had generators and a T-10 trans, and front disc brakes were an option. After a couple months I started seeing them showing up with an alternator and some had the new top loader Ford 4 speed. One day I was driving along El Camino, a mile from the Stanford campus, and saw an ivy green notch back on a Ford lot and stopped to look at it. It was a K Code with alternator and top loader. Strangely, it had front discs standard and they weren't listed on the window sticker. I bought the car for $3000 out the door. There's more to tell but I've rambled on too much. Sorry for the typo in previous post.
Exemplary caretaker! Hats off to you sir! This is a special pony indeed. Hope to see it at a show someday.
Equal to the best classic car video i have seen. Thanks Tom & Hagerty, and especially to Art who is absolutely the right person to have found this to restore it the right way, and discovered along the way exactly what he has - simply spectacular . . . :>/