While there were a few concept cars in the early '60s, the fully-designed Ford Mustang was introduced to the public at the New York World's Fair on April 17, 1964. But two days earlier, 22-year-old Gail Brown was able to purchase one at a dealer in Chicago because the salesman felt sorry for her. She had her heart set on getting a Ford convertible and there were none on the sales floor, so the dealer relinquished one of his embargoed Mustangs. These 1965 Mustangs were called "1964½" models because they were rolled out so early in the year.
Brown (now Gail Wise) drove the Mustang to her job teaching at an elementary school. She got married, moved her household, raised four children, and drove the car until it began to wear out in the '70s. She and her husband Tom kept the Mustang in a garage for 27 years before he decided to restore it. They had no idea that it was the first Mustang sold in the US (one was sold early in Canada) until 2008, and could prove it by the bill of sale. By then, the car was restored and drivable, and its history has been recognized by Ford. Read the story of the first Mustang sold in the US 60 years ago, at the Chicago Sun-Times. -via Damn Interesting
(Image source: Gail Wise)