2015 Ford Mustang 50th Anniversary Edition: 1964 acquires a new meaning

It can be argued that every 2015 Mustang commemorates a half-century of America’s favorite pony car, but Ford Motor Company has blunted that argument with the introduction of a factory authentic 50th anniversary limited edition.

Revealed at the New York show, the anniversary edition is based on the Mustang GT fastback coupe with performance pack, and its details are all cosmetic. They include two color options-Wimbledon white and Kona blue-drawn from the original palette, plus additional chrome in the grille, chrome bezels for the tri-bar taillights, and a special badge on the faux fuel filler cap on the rear center deck lid.

V8 power and a choice of 6-speed transmissions

In addition to colors, the only other choice will be whether the GT’s 5.0-liter liter V8 engine (with an anticipated 420 horsepower) is backed by a manual or automatic transmission. Both are 6-speeds.

Other exterior distinctions: 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels design-specific to the anniversary edition and clad with Pirelli P-Zero performance tires, plus rear quarter window louvers fabricated from layered glass.

Interior embellishments include a dark aluminum finish on the dashboard trim strip, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather gearshift boot, leather-clad center armrest, and leather door panel inserts.

Also: Check out the cars from the 2014 New York Auto Show

The cashmere and black perforated leather bucket seats and wheel are picked out with cashmere stitching, which also appears on the binding of the carpeted floor mats. 

Each anniversary edition will have a numbered dashboard plaque, signed by company executive chairman Bill Ford, and a leather-bound owner’s manual with a 50-year badge.

Only 1,964 to be built

Pricing won’t be announced until later in the year, but it’s certain the anniversary edition will carry a higher MSRP than the standard GT fastback. It’s also likely that dealers will add their own substantial premium to the anniversary edition MSRP-dealers lucky enough to have one to sell, that is.

Limited edition in this case means 1,964 cars, commemorating the year the Mustang made its New York World’s Fair debut. This creates a problem that would defy even Solomon, because Ford has over 3000 dealers nationally.

Allocations are expected on the basis of dealers with top volume records. Whatever the solution, there are likely to be some unhappy dealers.

Recalling the sales launch of the original Mustang-some 22,000 orders the first day-buyers who want this special edition should find a likely dealer and get their orders in as soon as possible. Today would not be too soon.