Ford Mustang 1965 V8 Driving Experiences

A year on from its first introduction in the last quarter of 1964, Ford offered a substantial upgrade on their Mustang model for the 1965 production year, solidifying its standing as an era defining car that ushered in the era of the all American muscle car.

The major difference to note in what were colloquially known as ‘late 65s’ is the upgrade of the engine, which was now boosted up to a 4.7 litre V8, substantially improving its powering and performance.

In fact, with 280 bhp, acceleration from 0 - 60 mph in under 8 seconds and a notable top speed of 120 mph, the 1965 Mustang was one of the most powerful cars for its time which is perhaps why it continues to be such a universal favourite across the generations of American motoring fans.

It was very clear from the off that Ford had a hit on their hands with the Mustang, taking over 22,000 orders on its first day from unveiling at the World’s Fair. Within a year, a total of 559,451 models had been produced - equivalent to 1,532 per day!

Within the two years that followed from its launch, across Ford’s production plants in California, Michigan and New Jersey, over 1.3 million Mustangs were made in total.