DEARBORN/TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (July 1, 2026) – On the morning of April 17, 1964, visitors to the Ford Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair had a surprise.

Twelve Mustangs were added to the existing selection of Ford vehicles — Continentals, Galaxies, and Fairlanes — ready to carry guests on a groundbreaking journey designed by WED Enterprises, the Imagineering arm of The Walt Disney Company.

“Riding in Ford’s 1964 automobiles, transported on a version of WED’s recently developed ‘People–Mover,’ the highly versatile ‘WEDway Transit System,’ guests in the Ford pavilion are not hampered by time or space limitations. They begin their memorable ‘Magic Skyway’ adventure by erasing eons of time in a simulated ‘Time Tunnel.”

– A Disney press release

Today, that historic debut has been permanently honored: one of the World’s Fair Mustangs is being inducted into the prestigious National Historic Vehicle Register.

“The 1965 Mustang display at the World’s Fair wasn’t just a car launch, in many ways it was the launch of an entire generation. This particular car carried tens of thousands of enthusiasts into the future at the most celebrated exhibition of its era. Its story belongs to all Americans, and there is no better moment to make that official than America’s 250th birthday.”

– McKeel Hagerty, Chairman of Hagerty and the President of the Board of Directors of the Hagerty Drivers Foundation

The 1965 Ford Mustang, VIN 5F08T383386, is owned by Sam Pack of Texas and was treated to a careful restoration in 2015 that preserved its original components, including its factory 200 c.i. inline-6 engine and 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. The Hagerty Drivers Foundation is currently completing the full NHVR documentation package – including laser scanning, professional photography, and a written historic report – in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Historic American Engineering Record (HAER). The documentation will be permanently archived in the Library of Congress as HAER No. TX-3410. The documentation is underwritten by Ford Motor Company.

“Ford is honored to document this historic milestone in our heritage as part of the America 250 celebration. Ford put America on wheels, and the Mustang is the soul of that legacy,” said . “Its induction into our nation’s library ensures that the Mustang’s rich cultural impact will inspire generations to come.”

– Ted Ryan, Heritage Brand Manager and Archivist at Ford

“The Mustang is one of America’s most beloved automobiles, and this car represents its very birth – unveiled not in a showroom, but on the grandest stage imaginable, carrying tens of thousands of people through a vision of the future at the New York World’s Fair. It was an immediate, undeniable hit. The public didn’t just notice the Mustang, they fell in love with it on the spot. As we mark 250 years of American history, it’s worth remembering that for nearly half of that history, the automobile has been woven into the fabric of this country’s identity. What better way to honor that legacy than with this Mustang convertible, one of the most iconic enthusiast cars ever produced.”

– Casey Maxon, Director of Heritage, Hagerty Drivers Foundation

You can see the Mustang in Washington, D.C., now through July 14 at Driving America Forward: A Ford Experience at Union Station. This rare piece of automotive history, along with nine other vehicles, can be seen free of charge in the Main Hall of Union Station.

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Reserved for vehicles of extraordinary significance to American history and culture, the Register is a partnership between the Hagerty Drivers Foundation and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Historic American Engineering Record, with all documentation permanently archived in the Library of Congress.

When Ford and WED began creating a vision for the ride, the one dictate Henry Ford II had required was that guests would experience the pavilion inside a Ford — and that they did.

The technology that propelled these motorless ride cars was groundbreaking.

Metal plates and steering rods were attached to the bottom of each Mustang, placing them on a track where tires beneath the cars would propel them forward along a 12-minute journey showing the advancement of mankind over time.

It was the perfect coming-out party for the Mustang. Ford worked hard to design a car that was stylish, sporty, and appealing to the forthcoming Baby Boomer generation.

With its sleek, sporty look and a variety of engines to choose from, the Mustang was the perfect car for the under-30 set.

An estimated 15 million people visited the Ford Pavilion to enjoy the ride at the New York World’s Fair — one of whom was Jay Leno, who loaned Ford his 1934 Flathead Ford V-8 truck for this exhibit. He begged his parents to take him to the Fair so he could ride in a Mustang. While in line, he let other cars pass until he hopped in the Pony car to fulfill his wish.

Ford Motor Company, in a groundbreaking move, purchased airtime on all three networks at the same time to celebrate the Mustang with the low entry-level price of $2,368 FOB Detroit. “Mustang Mania” went into full swing, with people camping out at dealerships to be the first to purchase the cars.

Ford sold more than a million units in the first two years, with a whopping 43% of sales going to women. It’s hardly surprising that the Mustang became the first and only car to ever receive the prestigious Tiffany and Company Gold Medal Award for Excellence in American Design, citing the design, accessibility, and price.

After the Fair closed, all the cars used for the ride were sold to private individuals. The specific Mustang featured in this exhibit was part of the second wave of Mustangs installed for the 1965 season and is one of only four still known to exist.

It still has its original 6-cylinder, 120-hp engine and Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission. A 1966 AM radio with an 8-track player and a bench seat were added before it was sold off the Ford Resale “B” lot in December 1965.

While it has just over 35,000 miles on the odometer, if you added up all the circuits it made around the Ford Pavilion, that number would be much higher.

Now, as a newly minted member of the National Historic Vehicle Register, its incredible journey from a World’s Fair ride to an American treasure is officially preserved for generations to come.