We resently purchased a 65 Mustang that was one on in a KY fair in 1965.  65A3D611T3631
The question is since it's (born) date is 11 June, does it make it a 64 1/2 or 65?  What confuses us is that it has all the qualities of a 65..200ci I6, alternator, etc..and the car warranty number is 5F077TF55986.  
Not knowing much about the Mustang (yet) we'd like to here back from you folks.  

I'm under the impression that March, April and May cars were the 1/2 years and later were 65's. I've seen the explaination somewhere but I can't recall where. Take a lookk here for further info:

http://www.classicponycars.com/history.html  

Your 5th digit is a D code.  Only in the early production Mustangs did they produde a D code low compression 289 V8.  In addition,that car was manufactured before August 1 of 1964 making it a 1964 1/2.  It most likely has a generator instead of an alternator too.  

The inst panl should have a gen and oil light on a gen car and the alternator car should have an amp and oil light. It's probable that even if the gen was replaced with an alt, the inst pnl would have the original light nomenclature  

There are some other differences between the 64 1/2 and the 65 as well as can be seen here.  However, officially, there is no 64 1/2 Mustang.  Your title will say it is a 65.
http://www.shnack.com/document.php?pid=31  

the first vin number is incorrect... but if it was "born" june 11th, it is a 64 1/2... all dates prior to july 31 1964 should qualify as a 64 1/2. if the correct vin number has a D for the engine code, it would be a 64 1/2 that came with a holley 4 barrel carbuerated 289 CID motor. if this vin is incorrect and has the engine you describe it could be a 65... there are qualities of both it sounds like. and all 64 1/2 were generator powered motors, the alternator could have been an upgrade from previous owner, i would suggest doing some research yourself regarding codings and such.

the first letter is the assembly plant

F= Dearborn, MI
R= San Jose, CA
T= Metuchen, NJ

07 stands for Coupe model, 08 stands for Convertible model, and 09 stands for the Fastback model


the second letter stand for the engine

A= 289 4V (V8)
C= 289 2V (V8)
K= 289 4v (V8) HiPo
T= 200 1V (I6)
U= 170 1V (I6) -64.5 ONLY
D= 289 4V (V8) -64.5 ONLY
F= 260 2V (V8) -64.5 ONLY

and the last numbers is the serial number representing what unit it is... ex: 254384= 254,384 car that rolled off the assembly line.

hope that helps a little bit, (my car is a 65 coupe made in Dearborn with a 289 2 barrel carb as the stock motor)  

You have a 64 1/2 the two giveaways are the engine code and build date. There is no such thing as a 64 1/2 fastback just hardtops and rag tops. Were the 64 1/2 made in Metuchen or did the start in the true 65's?


A lot of early 65's can have 64 1/2 stuff on them. My Sept Dearborn fastback is full of what would be considered 64 1/2 stuff.

Here is another cool website.

http://www.svs.com/zim/mustang/64faq.html  

I remember the 64 1/2 as having this: fixed passenger seat, air vent on the driver side had an A on it. They had a generator, plus They didn't have a brake light switch on the pedal, it had a pressure switch off the master cylinder. the inner radiator support had louvers cut into it instead of oval holes. the head light buckets were shaved and hood had a lip on them. The early ones had 260 v8 instead of a 289, thats about all I can remember off the top of my head.  

The 64 1/2 had three engine choices.  A 170 CID straight 6, a 260 two barrel V8 and a D code 289 4 barrel low compression V8.  

fixed passenger seat, air vent on the driver side had an A on it. They had a generator, plus They didn't have a brake light switch on the pedal, it had a pressure switch off the master cylinder. the inner radiator support had louvers cut into it instead of oval holes. the head light buckets were shaved and hood had a lip on them.

While indeed these are on the 64 1/2 cars some of these were carried over to the 65 models. I have a sept 64 2+2 and it is full of what would be considered 64 1/2 stuff. For example I have the hood, bezels, spare tire tie down ect.

Some more 64 1/2 stuff are horns on the A frame, tail lights with 3 pig tail wires, door switch contact plate, colored door knobs (falcon), chrome alligator seat belts, sill plates edge not rounded and no toe pad on the carpet.  

"fixed passenger seat, air vent on the driver side had an A on it. They had a generator, plus They didn't have a brake light switch on the pedal, it had a pressure switch off the master cylinder. the inner radiator support had louvers cut into it instead of oval holes. the head light buckets were shaved and hood had a lip on them."

While indeed these are on the 64 1/2 cars some of these were carried over to the 65 models. I have a sept 64 2+2 and it is full of what would be considered 64 1/2 stuff. For example I have the hood, bezels, spare tire tie down ect.

Some more 64 1/2 stuff are horns on the A frame, tail lights with 3 pig tail wires, door switch contact plate, colored door knobs (falcon), chrome alligator seat belts, sill plates edge not rounded and no toe pad on the carpet.  

1964 1/2 and 1965 Differences
Differences between the 1964 1/2 and 1965 Ford Mustangs

Page 1 of 1



The official production of the first mustangs started on Monday, the 9th of March, 1964 at Dearborn. Normaly it should be easy to dertermine the build date if you start checking the VIN of a car, but in this case it's not so easy. Ford decided that the early mustang will get the "65" status from beginng and so every serial number started with 5Fxxxxxx instead of 4Fxxxxxx. This caused a 18 month production time for the 65 mustang!

The official transition date from 1964 to 1965 is the 31st of July. The start of the second production of a 65 mustang was the 17th of August. Before that date a total of 121538 early-mustangs had been build. Ford never referred to Mustangs as "'64" or "'64 1/2" models. They were all considered 1965 models. Regardless what the official view of ford about the model year of these cars, there are differences between the first and second production run of Mustangs.

This is an overview to help determine if your car is a 1964 1/2 or not. The car may have all of the items listed, or just a few. This can be due to variations in production lines and parts supply at that plant. Some items can carry over into the 65 production line, as people on the line would use up what they had. There are be other detail items, such as casting numbers, that have been intentionally missed due to space.

Date codes used in this list are as Ford used in 1964 and 1965:

Jan. 1965 = A
Feb. 1965 = B
Mar. 1964 = C Mar. 1965 = Q
Apr. 1964 = D Apr. 1965 = R
May 1964 = E May 1965 = S
Jun. 1964 = F Jun. 1965 = T
Jul. 1964 = G Jul. 1965 = U
Aug. 1964 = H Aug. 1965 = V
Sep. 1964 = J  
Oct. 1964 = K  
Nov. 1964 = L  
Dec. 1964 = M  

Interior  
Vent knob Driver's side has white "A" on it  
Horn Ring with only one contact button (65/2)  
Horn Ring contact plate fits to 64 horn ring  
Horn brush completes special horn equipment  
Trunk Mats Convertibles normally had rubber plaid  
Caps on the door jambs were not painted bodycolor on some early cars  
Pedal Pads clutch, brake and gas pedal pads do not have indentation around edge for stainless trim  
Shifter Bezel 64.5 auto shifter bezel dial and console shifter dial do not have red arrows
Console auto console bezel does not have raised pointers for the shift position
Shift boot plate special for Man. Transmission w/o console option
Shift lever special for 4 spd  
Shifter T-handle smaller one on 64  
Door handles clip-on type instead of screw-on  
Door handle plate special plastic disk  
Door cranks clip-on type instead of screw-on  
Steering wheel can identified by the hole for the contact spring  
Contact plates for door light switches on inside door edge  
Lock knob  different and painted interior color  
Lock knob grommets black plastic instead of clear plastic
Instrument cluster with warning light "GEN"  
Headliner rods one end is removable on rear two rods  
Seats Black with cloth in the middle unique in 64
Carpet No toe pad and cut + serged edges on coupe  
Seat Belts front chrome buckles in alligator-skin style with eye bolt ends  
Seat Belts rear Not available; no holes or anchors  
Owners manual different cover and different content  
Passenger seat not adjustable until 5/08/64  
 
Body & Wheels  
Radiator Support air vent openings, no holes for mounting horns, voltage regulator holes  
Wheels 13" 4 lugs only on 170 CID available  
Wheel cover 13" only on 170 CID available  
Wired wheel cover with ford crest symbol  
Styled Steel wheels argent wheel with silver accents instead of charcoal  
Brake master cylinder two types differ on powerbrake  
Brake master cyl. cap jar cap stamped with "fill in heavy duty fluid only"  
Brake light switch mounts in special master cylinder  
Lines fuel and brake line clamps are screwed to floor, not clipped  
Hood angled edges not completely folded over
Head light buckets have beveled edges to match hood lip  
Headlights early 64.5 headlights have raised FoMoCo script  
Rear quarter extension does not have the channel for the rubber seal  
Hood bumpers have a recessed phillips head screw instead of solid rubber  
Hood underside of the hood does not have drill holes between vent openings folded over and headlight assemblies are beveled
Hood Hinges black not natural metal look
Engine Compartment bracket between inner fender apron and cowl cover have extra vertical tab  
Front Shock Towers no drain in frame rail under shock tower  
 
Engine & Transmission  
Engines V8 - 260 & 289 cubic inch (5 bolt); 6 cylinder - 170 cubic inch  
Transmission are close bellhousing pattern - no ears; smaller input bearing cover  
Timing cover V8 include oil filler tube and dipstick tube
Waterpump Aluminium and fit's only on early cover
Valve cover V8 No oil filler cap
Valve cover PCV small opening for PCV valve on passenger side and different valve
Valve cover PCV hose hose without turndown to valve and used of brass elbow instead
Oil Pan differnet location of oil drain hole
Dual exhaust with transverse muffler (before 8/15/64)
Mufflers Dual exhaust system mufflers were parallel but no resonators; pipes are turned down  
Pipe hangers Rear tail pipe hangers for dual exhaust are not through the frame  
Bellhousing V8 5 mounting bolt holes; not interchangeable with 65
Brake hose brackets Front have a hexagonal cut-out instead of star washer cut-out  
Kick down linkage rod linkage for all automatic  
Differential special U-Joint with all 170 CID
Radiator hose moulded hose with all 260/289 CID
Transmission unique mount insulators with all 260/170 CID
Air cleaner filter unique with all 260 CID  
PCV valve 64.5 uses a brass 90 degree elbow instead of a contoured hos  
Spark plugs BF42 plugs on 260 and 289, BF32 on hi-po  
Crank pulley tripple sheave slotted cast iron with all 260 CID
Waterpump pulley two sheave slotted cast iron with all gen engines
Front drive shaft  (HIPO/4spd) before 10/05/64 28 splines
Air conditioner compressor different bracket
Air conditioner idler special pulley and bracket assembly
No convertible reinforcement from fender apron to firewall  
Gas tank fill tube had 5 slotted holes  
Gas fill tube hose special clamps without screws  
 
Electric  
Taillight buckets wires to bucket are sealed instead of later snap on boots  
Convertible top top sides cables with studs and no springs
Fuse box All unique (longer)  
Turn signal switch differnt switch assembly on 64
Voltage regulator Autolite Black or FoMoCo
Generator for all 64 1/2 two type for 170 CID and 260/289 CID
Generator heat shield for all 64 1/2 without air cond.
Generator insulator for all 64 1/2 with heat shield
Generator rubber boot for all 64 1/2 mounts over generator
Windshield washer pump only one level  
Heater box no mounting for resistor circuitry
Heater blower fan two speed with circuitry inside motor; ground cable
Heater control switch two speed with off in center position
Horn Relay All with gen; mounts on radiator support
Power steering with early eaton pump only with special adaptor
 
Exterior  
Badges "Mustang" emblem on fender is 4-1/2" long  
Gas cap without retaining cable  
Horse and Corral Different retaining screw location  
Wiper arm winshield wiper has smooth cap instead of flanged  
Wiper post winshield wiper post has a chromed nut extension  
Door Outside door felts backing is black not chrome  
Door striker plate attached for door light switch
Distributor has a small oil filler cap
Distributor Rotor unique with all 170 CID
Distributor condenser unique with all 170 CID
Distributor vacuum line unique with all 170 CID
Fuel line to carb passes front of distributor with all V8
Oil filter rotunda red without "6000 mile type"
Spark plugs autolite BF32 star powerplugs
Wires the wirering is completly different; to much to list
Yellow Coil unique mounting point beside carb on manifold
Starter Solenoid brown body instead of black one
Headlight switch special before 8/17/64  
Parking light backing cups have no cut-out
Pedal Clutch and brake pedal secured with "E" clips  
 
Trunk  
Trunk Mat  Gray burtex in hardtops, and speckled grey rubber in convertibles
Spare tire  One straight bolt mounts in special bracket in trunk. Hold down is slotted for anchor bolt
Tail lights Have 3 wire pigtail assembly


For pictures of the differences, please visit Jason's 64 1/2 Mustang Restoration Project at http://www.svs.com/zim/mustang/64faq.html  

All the differences outlined in all previous posts do not identify a '64.5 vs. a '65.  Even the engine codes cannot uniquely identify a '64.5 because the K code engine began production in mid-June, 1964 and continued through the '67 models.  

Here is the bottom line:  Dearborn cars with sequence number below 250000 are '64.5; above 250001 are '65.  San Jose cars with sequence number below 125000 are '64.5; about 125001 are '65.  Metuchen cars did not begin production until February, 1965.  

The first series of numbers you posted is not the VIN number, it's the warranty plate numbers, and they decode as follows:

65A - '65 coupe, std. interior
3 - Poppy Red exterior
D6 - White vinyl w/ black appt. standard interior
11T - June 11, 1965 scheduled build date
36 - Louisville KY District Sales Office
3 - 3.20:1 axle ratio
1 - 3-speed manual trans.

The VIN number posted is not valid, but should decode as:

5 -'65 model year
F - Dearborn assembly plant
07 - coupe model
T - 200 ci six-cylinder engine
755986 - sequence number

You have a very late '65 model coupe, not a '64.5  

It has a D code 289 V8 engine which was only available in the pre-August '64 models.  You have a 64 1/2 Mustang, but your title will say it is a 65.