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April 17: Ford Mustangs sold like hotcakes on this date in 1964

Ford Mustang at 1964 World's Fair
Ford Mustang at 1964 World's Fair

"Get ready to meet the unexpected," the voice in the ad teased. But even the most optimistic Ford dealers could not have anticipated moving more than 22,000 Mustang coupes and convertibles on the car's first day in showrooms: April 17, 1964. Thanks to much manufactured hype, including appearances at the New York World's Fair and in TV commercials like the one below, Ford sold more than a quarter million Mustangs by year's end.