RB Collection is proud to offer this rare, unique, and meticulously restored pre-production 1964 ½ Mustang convertible VIN#5F08F100140, DSO 89 (Transportation Services), and Date 05C. Almost all the 150-200 pre-production Mustang were used as race cars, destroyed, or ordered to be scrapped. A few went on dealer showroom tours. Only 12 of these vehicles have their current location known including two in England and one in France.
This piece of history was sold on May 31,1967 by Mathison Motor Company located in Ames, IA to Ben Buck (invoice available) who kept the car in his family for 39 years. Mr. Buck informed him that the car was being used by the dealer owner’s wife before he purchased it. In 2000, the car was sent to Georgia by Mr. Buck’s son, Brian Buck, who owned the car until 2006. The last owner, Bruce Beeghly, from Ohio, bought it in December 2006 through Fraser Dante Classic Cars in Atlanta GA, where Brian Buck consigned the car.
In 2008, Bruce commissioned the restorer Nate Miller, from Buckeye Muscle Car Restoration, in Canfield, OH, to perform a fastidious, nut-and-bolt, and MCA concours standards restoration. The restoration process includes months of research, discussions with experts and pre-production owners, in addition to a one year process of photographing pre-production cars, including an inspection, under special authorization by Ford, on the “Mustang #1”, displayed at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The restoration process is fully documented including pictures, invoices, and a “Concours Judging Aid” report attesting that this Mustang is a pre-production car and 99.9% of the car was untouched before the restoration process began.
The interior is restored to factory-correct standards, with original style vinyl trim, rally pac, and factory push button AM radio with antenna. As with the body, no detail has been overlooked in ensuring this is an authentic and beautifully restored car. Likewise, the underhood presentation is outstanding, with the original, numbers-matching 260 Cu.in V8 2V engine painted in factory-correct gray with blue heads and cruise-o-matic automatic transmission.
This iconic Ford Mustang is a historical automobile and deserves to be part of the best collections in the world, the sale being a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most significant automobiles of the American manufacturing history. Contact Alex Ruozzi for more information on this very unique pre-production Mustang.
