HOW TO BUY THE PERFECT FIRST GENERATION MUSTANG (1964-’70)

The reasons for buying a Ford Mustang in 2019 are very similar to those 55 years ago in 1964. First, there’s the vast variety of Mustangs available to you – sporty or sensible; convertible, coupe or fastback; automatic or manual; V8 or straight six; luxurious or straightforward. Then there’s the price – Mustangs were cheap for what they offered in 1964 and they’re still available from a pretty low base compared to other icons of the Sixties like Jaguar E-types or Corvette Sting Rays. But if you can spend more, the most exciting models deservedly command big bucks.

There are 21st-century reasons to choose a Mustang, too. Aftermarket parts supply puts that of just about any other classic car in the shade. But don’t use this as reassurance and assume it’s painless buying a rough one. There are plenty of Mustang projects out there – some of them even have tax and an MoT – but this guide is firmly focused on buying a car to use and enjoy without the need for restoration.

We’ve settled on the 1965-’70 model years for their proven popularity and common underpinnings. Many mechanical and structural components were shared and the wheelbase