Made in Mexico story by MCSD member Art Castanares. Photos by Art Castanares and Kevin Foley.

One of the most rare examples of a 1965 Mustang now resides in San Diego after a long road from Mexico City to Texas and Detroit before landing here along the border.

The blue Coupe was made in Mexico City as one of the first Mustangs that bore the “Hecho en Mexico” stamp on its Spanish-language VIN plate.

Unknown to most Mustang fans, Ford maintained a factory in Mexico City since 1930, and began assembling Mustangs there in January, 1965 from parts sent from the US. Those cars built from American parts, were “Assemblado en Mexico” with export VINs starting with 5MEX.

Then, in June of 1965, the factory began building Mustangs from American bodies and limited American parts, but included Mexican-made 289 engines, transmissions, axles, and other components. In order to be “Hecho en Mexico”, more than 60% of the cars’ components had to be sourced in Mexico. Those VINs were assigned in Mexico and begin with AF07.

Although documentation is sketchy, experts estimate that only about 2,400 Mustangs were made in Mexico in 1965, and a similar number each year until production ended in 1971.

So far, only 8 of the Mexican-made 1965 Mustangs have been located, and this car is the only one registered in the US.

The Mustang featured here is owned by MCSD Member Art Castañares, a native San Diegan whose parents emigrated from Mexico in the early 1970s.

Art found the Mustang for sale in Detroit in 2016 and flew there to verify its authenticity. After driving
the car, Art purchased it on the spot and had it shipped back to San Diego.

“I had heard about the Mexican Mustangs, but had never seen one,” Castanares said. He added, “When I saw this car, I knew I had to bring it back to San Diego to let more Mustang fans know about this little quirk in the story of our favorite cars.”

Art’s ’65 was purchased new in Mexico City and kept there by the same family until the 1970s, when their oldest son brought it to California where he studied at USC. Since then, the car has been in Texas, Ohio, and Michigan.

The car was reconditioned in 2005 when it was repainted in its original blue color, and brought back to showroom condition. Under the hood, the car still has its original radiator, alternator, and fuel pump, along with nearly all its factory hard parts, with replacement disposables like hoses, shocks, wires, and a real Autolite battery.
As a base model coupe, the car has no power brakes, no power steering, and no a/c. The car is so bare, it doesn’t even have a heater/air blower motor or windshield wiper washer system.

One of the most unusual components on this Mustang is its factory Dana 44 differential usually used on Ford’s ½-ton trucks. Unlike the customary Ford 8”, the car’s axle has a rear cover, 30 splines, and a 3:1 ratio.

The coupe’s 3-speed manual transmission is a Mexican-made Spicer.

Inside, the car features a metric speedometer in kilometers, and the original AM radio that still works. The blue interior is nicely contrasted with a white headliner, and has all of its original glass except for a newer windshield.

The car is finished off with GT wheels, bias ply dual redline tires and spare, and both front and rear tube bumper overs and push guards unique to the Mexican Mustangs. The car also carries 64-65 license plates from Mexico, with a current, personalized black California plate in the window that reads “EL MSTNG”.

“The first visual clue that people notice are the factory double bumpers that were not used in the US,” Castanares said. “Most people jokingly ask me if I bought them through the JC Whitney catalog, and that usually starts the conversation about the origins of the car.”

Although he occasionally enjoys driving the ’65 to local meet ups and shows, Art keeps the car stored in his office’s lounge area as a show piece. The car’s rarity and lack of replacement parts keeps him from driving it too much for fear of wrecking it.

“There are no replacement parts from Mexico so it would be very difficult to repair this car in case of accident,” Art added. “For now, I’m just its caretaker until one of my four kids gets it when I’m too old to drive it,” he joked.

Art is not a new Mustang fan, having bought his first Mustang when he was a senior in high school. It was a1989 LX Hatchback 5.0 he drove to his prom, and is still in his stable of cars. It’s currently undergoing an engine rebuild and paint job. Art hopes to drive the ’89 again soon.

“I bought that car new and I never plan on selling it,” he said. “I know every car lover remembers what car they had in high school, but very few actually have their car from high school. This one is a keeper!”

Art occasionally drives the ‘65 to Club meetings, Gearhead Rendezvous events, and the Mustangs by the Bay show. This year he entered the Fabulous Fords Forever show and plans to attend the Galpin Ford show in October.

“I love explaining the history of these Mexican Mustangs to Ford fans because it’s such an iconic American car that very few people know was made in Mexico for a few years,” he said. “For me being bilingual and bicultural, I feel a real connection to this equally bicultural car and I feel lucky to own it.”