[robotworkshop]

Does anyone know if the mounts they added to the Worlds Fair Mustangs to pull them down the track would have been a couple of heavy metal plates added to the front frame rails? Actually welded to the bottom of them?

I actually hope the answer is no. I have a 1965 Mustang convertible that had some extra mounts underneath (two up front on the frame rails) that we cut off during the restoration to put the car back to what we thought was the original state. If you look at the car close you can still see a hint of where they were mounted. If I find out that those were put there by FORD and this car was one of the ones used I'll be sick that they were removed. I hadn't even heard of those cars until just recently reading about them on the forums.

I have no plans on selling the car but if it was something more than a regular 1965 convertible and had some history behind it I would like find out.

Robert

[67ragtopStang]

Very nice restoration you did on your car!

Is your car a 64 1/2? When was it built? Your car would have to have been built several weeks before April 17, 1964 to be a Worlds Fair Mustang. Also, I believe your engine would have to have been a 260 2V. In a previous post, you said you had a 289 2V.

From K.A.R. Auto Group website:

1964-1/2 WORLD'S FAIR
Twelve 1964-1/2 wimbledon white convertibles with red interiors, which were equipped with 260 V8, auto and front and rear seat belts, were used on the revolving line at the 1964 World's Fair. The DSO for all of these vehicles was 840027. After the fair, in November 1964, they were returned to Detroit for resale. Only one is known in existence.


From the Mustang and shelby Club of Long Island website:
The World’s Fair Mustangs ------Still a Mystery The Ford Mustang was introduced on April 17, 1964 at the New York World’s Fair at the Ford Pavilion known as the Ford and Disney Magic Skyway exhibit. The event was well covered by the press as well as Ford’s own public affairs people. Yet so many questions about these Mustangs remain unanswered. Two groups of Wimbledon White ’65 (actually ’64 ½) Mustang convertibles with red vinyl interiors were produced to transport World’s Fair visitors along Walt Disney’s Magic Skyway. Twelve were produced early in 1964, which were replaced by another dozen during the winter of 1964-1965. On Jan 1964, Ford created an internal order, with DSO 840027, for 12 Mustang convertibles. The order consisted of: Wimbledon White, Red Vinyl Interior, 260-2V V-8, Cruise-O-Matic, 3.00:1 Conventional Axle, 6.50x14 WSW Tires, AM Radio (do not drill or install antenna), Padded Sun visors, H.D. Battery, Spinner Wheel Covers, Heavy-Duty Seat Springs (later cancelled), Single key Ignition/Trunk Lock set (all 12 were keyed alike), Anchor Bolts for Seat Belts and Show Car treatment. The convertibles were shipped either to Dearborn Steel Tubing or Carron & Company for preparation prior to shipment to New York in an enclosed truck. Preparation included removing the engines, transmissions and fuel tanks for weight reduction. There was also the installation of special lighting and conveyor belt brackets underneath. The AM radio played the Disney narrative as the Mustangs and their occupants rolled through the Magic Skyway on conveyor belts. At the conclusion of the 1964 segment of the N Y World’s Fair, the first 12 Mustangs, as well as the other ’64 Fords and Mercury’s were shipped back to Dearborn, refurbished, and sold off the Ford Employee Resale Lot as program vehicles. Only one of the 12 (5F08F100006) has surfaced, found in a South Georgia salvage yard in 1981 by Ed White. Unfortunately the vehicle has never been restored. In fact, the barn where it was stored for many years burned, causing even more damage to what was left of it. Allan Shepley in South Georgia is now restoring it. On Nov 9, 1964, Ford initiated another order, with DSO 842011, for 12 more Wimbledon White Mustang convertibles with red vinyl interior. They were equipped identically to the previous 12 except for a 200 c.i. six, 2.83:1 Conventional Axle and Padded Sun visors. The later Mustangs were prepared by Carron & Company, receiving the same preparation as the first 12. Upon the completion of the Fair in 1965, these Mustangs were shipped back to Dearborn, where Carron & Co. reinstalled the drivelines and fuel tanks and refurbished as necessary. All were sold at the Ford Employee Resale Lot. Al and Gary Schweitzer, father and son of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan were the owners of a ’65 World’s Fair Mustang 5F08T383386 one of the second dozen produced for the 1965 portion of the Fair. Nothing has been heard from the Schweitzer’s since 1987. Where are the other 22 Mustangs? Because these Mustangs were sold in Detroit after the Fair, most of them were probably destroyed by road salt and rust if they remained in Michigan.


You probably removed the standard tie down brackets they use while transporting the car to the dealer.

[robotworkshop]

As I mentioned in the original post I think it is unlikely that this is one of them and a long shot but I want to find out if I may have made a mistake by removing the two extra brackets on the front of the frame rails.

They were NOT standard factory tie down brackets on the front. If they were I would have left those in place. These were something very different. So I am trying to find out if I did the right thing removing them or if the car may have a little more history than I am aware of. Or, they may have just been added for some unknown purpose and in that case I'll be glad they are gone!

According to the plate my car was built in May 13, 1965. After reading about the Worlds Fair Mustangs online it sounded like they were on display for a couple years and after the first year they were swapped out with another set. There is no way it could be in the first set but if they were swapped out then the second set would have had later build dates. Also from posted pictures there was at least one dark blue one used. I read that there were 3 white, 3 red, 3 blue, and 3 black in the second set.

My car has the following specs:

Body: 76A Convertible, Standard Interior
Color: H Caspian Blue Metallic
Trim: D2 White Crinkle Vinyl with Blue Appointments, Standard Interior
Date: 13S May 13, 1965
D.S.O: 75 Phoenix
Axle: 6 2.80:1, Conventional
Trans: 6 C4 Automatic

When I got the car it was painted a horrible shade of baby blue. When it was painted I had the color switched to Red. Although the interior should have been white it had a black Pony interior that was already in the car when I got it. There was also a new black top in a box ready to go on the car. That is one of the reasons for the switch to Red. The other is that I just happened to like the way Red looked on the car. Again, if I find out that this was a special car I may regret going to Red and would think about switching to Blue if it ever needs to be repainted.

In the truck was a brand new NOS GT rear panel with the trim rings and GT tips so they went on the car. It also got a set of fog lights for the grill.

Other than that it is a really basic car with manual steering, manual brakes, and manual top.

In one regard I feel I was very fortunate in that the chassis and car are extremely solid and rust/rot free. Original quarters still on the car and the floor pans are nice. The tops of the doors DO NOT hit the top of the rear quarter panels as I have seen on others. Even if is ends up being the plain 1965 Mustang I always thought it was I am totally ok with that. Just the fact that it is a nice solid car after over 40 years is pretty special!

Robert

[67ragtopStang]

Did you take photos of the brackets prior to cutting them off?

Do you still have them?

[robotworkshop]

I wish I had taken more pictures of the car when I first got it and started on the restoration. All I can find so far are 4 grainy Polaroid pictures. There may be a couple more. Looking back I should have taken some when I was getting the engine assembled and back in the car.

The two extra brackets that were welded on the front frame rails are long gone. I have a vague memory of what they looked like but I do know the EXACT location where there were mounted on the front frame rails. Someone may have added them for some unknown reason (perhaps for a towbar) they got pulled off during the restoration.

That story you posted about the Worlds fair Mustangs is one that I had read as well. There appears to be at least one mistake in there. According to that article all the Mustangs were white. There is at least one more article about them that states they had white, red, blue, and black ones. During some searches about the Worlds fair there is at least one that shows pictures of Mustangs in several colors so I don't believe they were all white during the entire two years of the show.

Too bad the guys in the article who have the one confirmed car from the Worlds fair moved up north. If they hadn't moved they would be right nearby and could try to meet up with them. I could have shown them where the brackets were on my car and asked if they were like their car. If they were then it would warrant a bit more research.

[watts428]

Take a look at this thread. About 5 paragraphs down.

Info On Early Mustangs - Vintage Mustang Forums

[67ragtopStang]

According to the post at VMF, the cars were muliple colors. They didn't dispute the engines. Your car has a 289 2V and they said World Fair cars all had a 260 2V. They all had seat belts and your car does not have them.

If the original cars were on display for a year or so, wouldn't Ford have changed them out with '66 models?

[robotworkshop]

There still seems to be some missing information about the Mustangs that were used at the show and hopefully it will all come out someday.

You raise a good point about the seat belts. My car had them in the front but there weren't any in the rear. I guess that would rule this one out. I have been looking for the proper mounting locations for the rear seat belts (still haven't found them yet) so I can add them. I need to get them in there so I can take the kids for a ride.

Anyone out there find the original dealer instructions they used to add rear seat belts?? I just met someone in the area who works at FORD and asked if he could try and find anything.

[wayne57]

I have a 64 1/2 Vintage Burgundy Convertible--White top (power),cruse o matic,power steering, padded visers, seat belts,2 speed elect. wipers,WH Covers Knock off Hubs,emg flashers,260 engine.
It was sold by "Mike Dorian Ford inc,in Detroit.on Aug. 10th ,1964
I have all the papers of the original sale including the Owners Manual and all papers on everything that has ever been done on the car. I bought the car from the original owners ( John Fair USN ret) grand daughter in Baton Rouge La.

Original sticker price $3,175.00

I understand that this car was one of the first Mustangs sold at that dealership---??
Site unseen by owner.

The vin # 5F08F215523
Code No. K 76A X 46 29G 33 16 FE 779 FN887
Comments welcome ---is this a car anybody has been looking for?

[66Sprint200]

I know my 1966 has hold downs on the rear frame rails. They were supposed to remove them at the dealer, but they didn't. They are plates that are bolted or welded (I don't know which) with holes in for the tie downs.

[Veronica]

Hello. The front tie-down brackets for the first world's fair cars were further back than what you describe. The brackets on your car sound like a race track thing that someone added somewhere down the line. Hope that helps.

[robotworkshop]

Hello Veronica,

Thanks for the clarification on the front brackets! I'm glad that I removed them and did the right thing by taking them off. I had completely forgotten about them and after reading about the early Mustangs used at the worlds fair and how those had extra brackets in the front thought it was worth looking into. My car matched some of the specs for the second batch in a lot of regards but mine has a 289 2V and never had rear seat belts.

No matter what I still think my Mustang is a pretty special car and I enjoy it a lot!

Robert