At the launch of the 2015 Mustang in Dearborn, Ford Chief Operating Officer Mark Fields invited a very special guest onto the stage to talk about her Mustang ownership experience. Gail Wise, a 72-year old woman from Park Ridge, IL has the distinction of being the first person to ever purchase a Ford Mustang. In addition to recognizing her for this distinction, Ford also had the 1964.5 baby blue convertible on display in the main pavilion of the Conference and Event Center.

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Gail Wise’s 1964.5 Ford Mustang Convertible

Gail purchased her Mustang at her local dealership after looking at several other models of Ford convertibles. “My family all had convertibles,” she said. “I felt that I deserved a convertible as well.” The 22 year old, recent college graduate of teaching college, was then told that there was a special car in the back that he’d like to show her.

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Gail Wise speaking with Ford Chief Operating Officer Mark Fields.

The date was April 15th, which was two days before the official launch of the Mustang. After pulling the cover off of the car, Gail decided that it was the vehicle that she had to have. At the time, she had no idea about the significance of the name Mustang, but was strongly driven to the car. She bought the car on the spot.

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This Mustang was sold two days prior to the official on-sale date.

Later in the week, she started to realize how significant her purchase was. “People were waving at me and giving me thumbs up,” she said. Selling a car before the official on-sale date can have serious repercussions for the dealership. Motor Review asked our resident expert, Mike Correra, on the subject. “A dealership could lose its franchise if something like that were that to occur,” he said. “However, a sale like that would be impossible to pull off today.” Mike continues, “I tried to once sell a vehicle early, and the regional representative called and stopped it right then and there. I like to ‘push the envelope.” Mike goes on to say that the inventory systems are completely computerized now, and that would prevent an early on-sale date.

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We lament Ford’s decision to discontinue light blue for the 2015 Mustang. We like the looks on this classic.

Motor Review spoke with Gail’s husband, and asked the one question that is on everyone’s minds. Did Gail get a deal? He laughed, “No. Of course not. Some people in the Mustang enthusiast community believes she paid too much, even for the first one.” We like to tell people that if they like the terms of the deal they have, then it’s a good deal (regardless of what someone else may have paid).

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They also both like the new Mustang, but her husband told Motor Review, “We’d like to get a Lincoln Town Car.” While we do not see it in Lincoln’s future, it’s not the first time we’ve heard people lament that they could no longer get the Town Car.

Gail has owned the Mustang for 50 years now, and has had it completely restored. She has had the Mustang three years longer than she’s been married. She likes the new Mustang, and doesn’t seem to have any plans of selling her classic. We commend her.