Ford’s Pony Car Master Stroke – 1966 Ford Mustang Sprint 200

Ford’s Pony Car Master Stroke – 1966 Ford Mustang Sprint 200

In 1965, Ford was enjoying the overwhelming sales success of its new sporty Mustang, introduced the previous year. However, the company faced a significant dilemma. While it had anticipated selling 100,000 Mustangs in the first year of manufacture, it was instead confronted with an order book of more than 600,000 sales for its pony car!

At Ford dealers, the dream market for new car salesmen was becoming increasingly challenging as the company struggled to keep up with the demand for its 289ci V8 Mustang engine and other vehicles using the same engine.

CHANGING TIMES

Ford General Manager, Lee Iacocca, is credited with coming up with the idea of a ‘Sprint’ six-cylinder version as part of Ford’s “Millionth Mustang Success Sales’ programme in 1966, in an attempt to encourage sales of the less popular six- cylinder model.

Lacocca personally championed the Mustang project, with the car being developed in an amazing 18 months before its launch in April 1964. Led
by project design chief Joe Oros, the Mustang project had been known initially inside Ford’s design team as the ‘Cougar’. Petrol was cheap, so many asked why buy a budget six-cylinder sporting car when a V8 is so much fun?

Social changes brought on by the Second World War’s massive industrial demands in the US saw many thousands of women in production jobs formerly done by men who were then away fighting.

After the war, with an intact infrastructure and an industry ready to expand into peacetime activities,
the car industry was poised to benefit significantly from returning servicemen eager to enjoy their newfound freedom.

Hot rodding thrived in California, and V8 engines became dominant. Nascar developed throughout the 1950s, with women also achieving success in both the racing and automotive culture. America became fully captivated by all things automotive, and manufacturers realised that to achieve sales success, they needed to release a new model every year.

During wartime, women were called upon to take on roles in running the country. After the war, peace led to increased independence for women in society, accompanied by newfound wealth. This change helped break down barriers in areas that had previously been male-dominated.

The car was now a status symbol and a symbol of independence. Ford capitalised on the concept of creating a car subtly aimed at women, encouraging them to purchase and own their status symbol: the highly sought-after Mustang. This approach seemed like a logical way to maintain high Mustang sales while simultaneously boosting the popularity of the Sprint, as production of the crucial V8 engine caught up.

THE ‘SPRINGTIME SPRINT’

“Six and the single girl” was born with Ford determined to keep Mustang sales high, creating a springtime sales promotion designed to sell a lot of cars.

It would be twofold: great pricing on a six-cylinder Mustang along with a special- edition six-cylinder called the Sprint 200.

Available in coupe, convertible and fastback body styles (very few of the fastback models were made) when introduced in 1966, the Sprint 200 or ‘Springtime Sprint’ edition of the Mustang offered two Sprint packages with the options of manual or automatic transmissions. Both included extras such as a centre console fitted with courtesy lights, a body side stripe matching the colour of the interior trim and wire wheel covers. Under the bonnet, there was the addition of a chrome air cleaner with its special Sprint 200 decal. A notable exclusion on authentic Sprints was the distinctive rear quarter panel trim that adorned all Mustangs at the time.

“SIX AND THE SINGLE GIRL”

Its sales campaign of “Six and the single girl” proved to be a masterstroke for Ford in its sales campaign aimed at secretaries and receptionists, and it was a huge success.

Also included in the Sprint package was a Safety Equipment Group, consisting of emergency flashers, reversing lights and seatbelts for four occupants, and padded dashboards. Outside rear vision mirrors were also added.

It was a brilliant sales coup for Ford, targeting women who would appreciate the safety and lighting features, especially when transporting friends or younger family members. It also came at a modest price increase over a standard in-line six Mustang of US$163. Most of the items became federal requirements in 1966, but it helped sell Mustangs.

GORDY’S MUSTANG SPRINT 200
The first time I saw a photo of Gordy’s 1966 Ford Mustang Sprint 200, it looked stunning against a calm and sunny day over an almost tranquil Wellington Harbour. I thought, “What a classic Mustang.” Someone else thought so too, as the Mustang scooped up ‘Best Classic Car’ at the Levin Chrome and Classic Car show in 2024, and featured in a display at Capital City Ford’s showroom celebrating the introduction of Ford’s new Mustang in New Zealand that year. That is something Gordy is particularly proud of, as he recalls.

“Here’s some pics of my 1966 Mustang Sprint for you to ponder over as a possible addition to your magazine.” The pondering part was pretty instant, and Gordy relates what he knows about the car.

“It is a numbers-matching vehicle, not concours, but it’s in pretty good condition. I don’t have much info on its NZ history, but the ‘tags’ all line up and have been confirmed by associates in the States about its production dates, etc. It came off the assembly line on Monday, 13 December 1965, in Metuchen, New Jersey.”

Gordy is particularly proud of its show win and the fact that a local Ford dealer included it in its 2024 new generation Mustang display.

“Sprint models are becoming rarer as over the years the 200 motor has been ripped out and replaced by more horsepower. The Sprint was marketed at women back in the ’60s. A V8 289ci for the blokes and a 170ci or 200ci six- cylinder for the girls. I wonder how that would go down today in these modern PC times. I also have some posters, etc, about the marketing strategies back in the day, of ‘Six and the single girl’,” Gordy said.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Gordy has now owned his Mustang for ten years. “It was purchased from Rotorua and was very clean when I bought it. It came into NZ in March 1972.” Since then, he has steadily worked away at his Mustang and brought it back to its current impressive condition.

“I have done a fair bit of work on it over the years, the biggest job being replacing the glass. I was reluctant to replace it at first, but unfortunately, the front windscreen, both door glass and rear glass were in a bad state. It was severely scratched, and several repair shops advised that it was beyond repair. It drove me crazy looking at it on a sunny day. I replaced it and I’m very glad I did, as it now highlights the two-tone blue interior upholstery and light blue headliner.”

Minor bodywork has been done over the years, as Gordy explains. “Our friends at The Surgery (Wellington) have done some panel work and other bits and bobs over the years.”

A RARE STANDARD SPRINT
His car is an amazing survivor as it is still largely as it had left the factory, now almost 50 years ago.

“My Mustang is the most basic model that you could have purchased in 1966. It’s pretty cool that it has stayed relatively original for that time. It was also a factory-ordered vehicle, which makes it quite unique, in the fact that it was only a straight six-cylinder 200, three-speed manual. I suspect the new owner wanted the two-tone blue interior with the matching light blue headliner and silver- blue exterior to complement it.”

Very few, if any, were special order units with six-digit DSO codes. An interested buyer could order the Sprint 200 in the colour they wanted, optioned any way they liked, and it arrived with the standard two-digit DSO codes, Gordy said.

The Sprint was a big success, and Ford kept it in production and renamed it the Sports Sprint in 1967.

FORD GOT IT RIGHT!

Gordy enjoys driving the Mustang but admits there are moments.

“It has a new carburettor and it runs sweetly. It is still on drum brakes, which makes driving it pretty exciting! It can be a handful going down the Rimutaka Hills at times.”

He still has the special wire wheel covers that came with this model, now very rare and sought after.

“I usually only fit the deluxe wheels when I go to a show. I have lost two
of them in the past and have scratched another two, as they are very heavy and often come off. I usually run the ’66 hubcap with spinners, and I like that setup.”

Ford was very astute in their marketing and targeted the car for women, Gordy observes.

“The car certainly lives up to its character of being marketed to women in the ’60s, because whenever it is at a show or just cruising around, I get many compliments about the colour inside and out and how ‘cute’ the car is.”

It cruises nicely, he says.“The car is fun to drive and cruises along nicely at the highway speed limit for a little six-cylinder. The 200 motors are well-documented as being pretty bulletproof and have good overall gas economy.”

A member of Capital Rodders in Wellington, Gordy also helps administer the Wellington Mustang group on Facebook, so he is well immersed in the marque.

YOUNGER GENERATION APPEAL?
Gordy has a funny story relating to his Mustang. “My twin girls, Sophie and Holly, love the car these days, as do their boyfriends, but that wasn’t always the case. Both girls have been at Uni for a few years now, but when they were at college, they hated me picking them up after school and the drive home to Whitby. They thought it was really uncool and hated the attention it would get from fellow students.”

They preferred Gordy to wait until most students had left the school grounds, or they would lie low in the back seat to avoid detection from their mates, he said. “They laugh about that now,” he said. Gordy enjoys cruising in the Mustang, but when the occasion arises, there is something else in his garage guaranteed to raise the heart rate.

“I own a 2016 Shelby GT350 as well. I certainly love my Mustangs!”

Due to other commitments, only one of Gordy’s girls, Holly, was able to take part in the photoshoot for the Mustang.

Thanks, Holly, for being such a great sport and donning the period-correct gear appropriate for the era of the Mustang Sprint.

The younger generation’s attitude has surely changed

MUSTANG SIX ASSOCIATION

The Mustang Six Association (M6A) consists of over 2,000 members from 20 countries, including Gordy Crozier, who is part of the New Zealand chapter. Founded in 2012 by Rick Mitchell, the association was created for enthusiasts who appreciate six-cylinder Fords, including both inline and later V6 models, produced between 1964 and 2017.

The New Zealand chapter primarily focuses on inline six models from 1964 to 1973 and V6 models from 1974 to the present. The M6A in the US publishes a monthly newsletter called “The Six Banger” and has organised national and regional shows since 2015.