Ford’s 1964 Model Lineup: What Was in Showrooms

In 1964, Ford’s U.S. lineup centered on the compact Falcon, mid-size Fairlane, full-size Galaxie (including Custom/Custom 500 and 500/XL), the personal-luxury Thunderbird, the Falcon-based Ranchero, full-size wagons (Ranch Wagon, Country Sedan, Country Squire), and the work-ready Econoline and F-Series trucks; the now-iconic Mustang debuted in April 1964 (commonly known as the 1964½, though officially a 1965 model). Globally, Ford also offered the Anglia, Cortina, Corsair, Zephyr/Zodiac, and Taunus families, among others, with availability varying by market.

United States: Passenger Cars

Ford’s U.S. passenger-car range in 1964 stretched from economy compacts to full-size family sedans and a high-style personal coupe. The models below reflect what buyers could typically find at Ford dealers during the 1964 model year, noting that body styles and trims varied by plant and region.

• Falcon (compact): Base, Futura, and Sprint trims; 2- and 4-door sedans, wagons, hardtops, and convertibles (Sprint V8 available).
• Fairlane (intermediate): Fairlane and Fairlane 500 series; 2- and 4-door sedans, wagons, and sporty 500 Sports Coupe.
• Full-size series: Custom and Custom 500 (fleet/value), Galaxie 500, and Galaxie 500/XL; body styles included sedans, hardtops, and convertibles.
• Full-size wagons: Ranch Wagon (base), Country Sedan (mid-trim), and Country Squire (woodgrain-trimmed premium).
• Thunderbird: Fourth-generation personal-luxury coupe/convertible introduced for 1964.
• Mustang: Launched April 17, 1964; commonly called “1964½” with early 170 I-6, 260 V8, and later 289 V8 options (officially a 1965 model).
• Ranchero: Falcon-based car-truck utility with various trim/equipment packages.

Together, these models gave Ford broad coverage across price points and tastes—from affordable compacts to upscale cruisers—while setting the stage for the Mustang’s breakout success late in the model year.

United States: Trucks, Vans, and Utilities

Beyond passenger cars, Ford’s commercial and utility lineup in 1964 focused on light-duty pickups, forward-control vans, and medium-duty cab-over trucks for work and fleet buyers.

• F-Series pickups: F-100, F-250, and F-350 in Styleside and Flareside beds, with 2WD and available 4×4 configurations.
• Econoline: Forward-control Econoline Van, Club Wagon (people mover), and Econoline Pickup.
• C-Series tilt-cab: Medium-duty cab-over-engine trucks widely used for delivery and vocational applications.
• Commercial/step-van chassis: Various P-/commercial series configurations offered for fleet and specialty bodies (availability varied by region).

This lineup covered everything from small business needs to heavier-duty vocational roles, complementing Ford’s mass-market car offerings.

Factory Performance and Racing Specials (1964)

Ford’s emphasis on performance and motorsport in 1964 yielded several notable high-horsepower and competition-oriented models and packages.

• Fairlane Thunderbolt 427: Limited-production, factory-built drag racer with a 427 V8, lightweight components, and NHRA dominance in mind.
• Galaxie 500 427 (R-Code): Street and competition configurations with 427-cubic-inch V8s, building on Ford’s big-car racing reputation.
• Falcon Sprint: V8-powered compact (260 V8) that previewed Ford’s small-car performance trend.
• Early Mustang V8s: Initial 260 V8 and 289 V8 options were introduced during 1964; the high-performance 289 “K-code” became available later in 1964 for 1965 model-year cars.

These specials underscored Ford’s “Total Performance” era, linking showrooms to the strip and speedways and enhancing the brand’s performance credentials.

Beyond the U.S.: Notable 1964 Ford Models by Market

United Kingdom

Ford of Britain’s 1964 range emphasized light, efficient family cars with growing international appeal, many of which were exported or assembled in other markets.

• Anglia 105E/123E: Distinctive small saloon and estate.
• Cortina Mk1: The era’s signature family car, widely sold and raced.
• Corsair: Mid-size model positioned above Cortina.
• Zephyr/Zodiac Mk3: Larger executive saloons (the Zodiac as the upscale variant).

These models anchored Ford’s UK volume and helped establish the Cortina as a global success through the mid-1960s.

Germany (Ford of Germany)

German-built Fords focused on the Taunus family, offering a range of sizes and displacements suited to Continental tastes.

• Taunus 12M/15M (P4): Front-wheel-drive small family cars.
• Taunus 17M (P3): Mid-size “Badewanne” model in its final year before replacement.

These Taunus models provided Ford with strong European coverage, with updates arriving later in the decade.

Australia

Ford Australia adapted U.S.-inspired designs to local conditions, emphasizing durability and a breadth of body styles for work and family use.

• Falcon XM: Sedan, wagon, utility (ute), and panel van, introduced in early 1964.

The XM helped Ford Australia strengthen its foothold with locally tuned engineering and body styles popular with Australian buyers.

How Model Years and Calendars Overlapped in 1964

Automakers traditionally launch “next” model-year vehicles before the calendar year ends, which is why the Mustang, introduced in April 1964, is officially a 1965 model despite its 1964 debut. Enthusiasts often call these early cars “1964½” because of distinctive early-production details (such as generators on some cars and specific engine offerings). Similarly, trims and availability could shift mid-year, so exact options varied by build date and assembly plant.

Summary

In 1964, American Ford buyers saw a compact-to-full-size lineup led by Falcon, Fairlane, Galaxie (including Custom/Custom 500 and 500/XL), Thunderbird, wagons (Ranch Wagon, Country Sedan, Country Squire), and the Falcon-based Ranchero—plus the work-oriented F-Series and Econoline. The Mustang’s April 1964 launch transformed the brand’s trajectory, while performance standouts like the Fairlane Thunderbolt and Galaxie 427 embodied Ford’s racing push. Internationally, key models such as the Cortina, Anglia, Corsair, Zephyr/Zodiac, and Taunus rounded out a global portfolio tailored to local markets.

What car did Ford introduce in 1964?

The Mustang’s
The Mustang’s grand debut came on April 14, 1964 for the press and April 17, 1964 for the general public. The official unveiling took place at the largest exhibit at the New York World’s Fair, the Ford Pavilion also known as the Wonder Rotunda.

What small car did Ford make in the 60s?

The Ford Falcon is a model line of cars that was produced by Ford from the 1960 to 1970 model years. Though preceded by the Rambler American, the Falcon was the first compact car marketed by the Big Three American manufacturers.

What cars did Ford make in 1964?

In 1964, Ford offered a range of popular car and truck models including the Mustang, Galaxie, Fairlane, Falcon, and the full-size Thunderbird. The commercial vehicle lineup featured the Econoline van and pickup, and the heavy-duty F-Series trucks (F-100, F-250).
 
Cars

• Ford Mustang: Debuted in April 1964, quickly becoming an iconic American car. 
• Ford Galaxie: The full-size offering, available in various trims including the Galaxie 500 and 500XL. 
• Ford Fairlane: A mid-size model, also available in different trim levels like the Fairlane 500. 
• Ford Falcon: A smaller compact car, with options such as the Futura and Ranchero. 
• Ford Thunderbird: Ford’s full-size luxury car. 
• Ford Cortina: A model of British Ford available in the US. 

Trucks & Vans

• Ford Econoline: Offered as a van and as a pickup truck. 
• Ford F-Series: Including the F-100 and F-250 pickup trucks. 

What was the coolest car in 1964?

Best classic cars of 1964

• Mini Moke (1964–1993)
• Ford Mustang (1964–1973)
• Reliant Scimitar GT (SE4) (1964–1970)
• Fiat 850 (1964–1973)
• Sunbeam Tiger (1964–1967)
• Ford Corsair (1964–1970)