The difference between the '6411/42 and the '65 is easy to understand, because engine choices and charging systems differed between the two. All '6411/42 Mustangs were equipped with four engine choices: the 170ci six, the 260 2V, the 289 4V low-compression (a Mustang exclusive), and the 289 Hi-Po-and only a generator charging system was available. For the '65 only an alternator charging system was available with a different choice of engines: the 200ci six, the 289 2V, the 289 4V high-compression, and the 289 Hi-Po. This makes it easy to understand the differences.
But the differences get sticky when we dissect them. For example, there are "'6431/44" Mustangs out there with overlap differences. We have August and September '64 Mustangs out there with GEN instrument lights, '6411/42-style unimproved hood lips and headlight bezels, '6411/42-style carpeting, and other similar overlaps. None of these overlaps include the charging system or the engine type. Engine and charging system types remain faithful to either the '6411/42 or the '65.
What has stumped us are two November 1964-produced Mustangs (one in Indiana and one in California) with generator charging systems (including the huge strut rod-mounted horns and louvered radiator supports). In all of our years of research, we've never been able to explain this-no one else has either.
How the three assembly plants come into play is simple. Dearborn began Mustang production during the first week in March 1964 and has been building Mustangs ever since. San Jose, California, came online in mid-July 1964 and built Mustangs until 1971. Metuchen, New Jersey, came online on February 1, 1965, and built Mustangs until December 31, 1971. San Jose resumed building Mustangs in 1974-starting with the Mustang II-and continued building them until 1982, when the plant closed permanently. The San Jose assembly plant (actually located in Milpitas, California-a San Jose suburb) was gutted and became The Great Mall of Milpitas. Go shopping there and relive your own Mustang memories.
Metuchen moved on in 1972 to build the Pinto and the Bobcat, then later the Escort and the Lynx. Today, the Metuchen plant-where they build Ford Rangers-is called the Edison, New Jersey plant, due to boundary changes.
The Dearborn Rouge complex is about to undergo major changes under the direction of new Ford Chairman William Clay Ford II. Billy Ford has a new vision for the Rouge complex. The Dearborn assembly plant, which has been building Mustangs since the beginning, is scheduled to be demolished and replaced with a state-of-the-art assembly plant. Before you pen those nasty letters to Ford, consider this: The Dearborn assembly plant has been building new Fords since the Model A was being produced there in the '20s. It is an old, antiquated assembly plant that is a miserable place to work.
Although we have not confirmed this with Ford, word is the Mustang assembly will be moved to the Ford/Mazda Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly plant, where the Cougar is currently being assembled. The next-generation Mustang, due out in 2004, will be built on the same platform as the '02 Thunderbird, the Lincoln LS, and the Jaguar two-door coupe. The SN-95-bodied Mustang that Ford has been building since 1994 will be no more, and the new Mustang will emerge in a new plant with better technology. The new Dearborn assembly plant is expected to build-what else-only trucks and sport/utilities. We will keep you up to date in Mustang Monthly on any changes.
If you would like to know more about In Search of Mustangs, write to us at Dept. MM, P.O. Box 883, Annandale, VA 22003. For a faster response, e-mail smartj@emapUSA.com