• Some debate exists among Mustang purists as to whether the 1964-1/2 Mustang was actually just a 1965 model.mustang gt tail light image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
  
  The first Mustang was produced in March of 1964. Because production for the model-year typically started in the fall of the previous year, the 1964 Mustang was termed the "1964-1/2." A number of different engines were available for the first Mustangs but notably absent was a big block engine, which was not available in the Mustang until 1967. The base model engine was a six-cylinder. Two eight-cylinders were available as optional equipment. The larger of the two, the 289, was offered in three different configurations.
  
  

170 Cubic Inch Straight-Six

• The 170-cubic inch six-cylinder engine was standard equipment until the fall of 1964 when it was replaced with the 200 six-cylinder for the 1965 model-year. The 170 has a compression ratio of 9.1:1 and produces 105 horsepower and 156 ft.-lbs. of torque. The 170 was only available with a single-barrel carburetor. The 170 has a bore of 3.50 inches and a stroke of 2.94 inches.
  
  

260 Cubic Inch V-8

• The 260 engine was the smaller of the two eight-cylinder engine options for the 1964-1/2 Mustang. The engine has a mild compression ratio of 8.8:1 and produces 165 horsepower and 258 ft.-lbs. of torque. The 260 was only available with a two-barrel carburetor. The 260 has a bore of 3.80 inches and a stroke of 2.87 inches.
  
  

289 Cubic Inch V-8

• Three versions of the 289 engine were available. A 289 with a two-barrel carburetor has a compression ratio of 9.3:1 and produces 200 horsepower and 282 ft.-lbs. of torque. A four-barrel carbureted version of the 289 rates a compression ratio of 10.0:1 and produces 225 horsepower and 305 ft.-lbs. of torque. A high-performance version of the 289 was equipped with a four-barrel carburetor. This engine has a compression ratio of 10.0:1 and produces 271 horsepower and 312 ft.-lbs. of torque. All versions of the 289 have a bore of 4 inches and a stroke of 2.87 inches.