Harry Phillips, Man Who Sold First Mustang, to Be Reunited with Iconic Car
Photo: Ford Motor Company
On April 14, 1964, Harry Phillips made “the easiest sale” he had ever made in his career when he sold Capt. Stanley Tucker a Wimbledon White 1965 Ford Mustang convertible. But unbeknownst to Phillips at the time, his easiest sale ever was one of great historical significance because the vehicle in question bore the VIN 5F08F100001. This meant that Tucker had purchased the first Mustang ever built, and the date meant that he had been the first person on the planet to buy one.
“The serial number didn’t mean anything to us,” Phillips told USA Today. “We didn’t know it was the first one made. We didn’t realize the significance of the car ’til Ford came looking for it.”
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That Mustang was not supposed to have been sold. It was a preproduction vehicle intended to go back to Ford, and it ultimately ended up back with Ford in 1966 when Tucker exchanged it for the 1 millionth Mustang. While Stanley’s story is well-known among enthusiast, Harry Phillips role in history had been largely forgotten … until recently.
In all the years since, Phillips has not seen the car that he sold on that fateful day. But a social media campaign, “Send Harry to the Henry,” did exactly what it set out to — The Henry Ford Museum sent Phillips an official invite in August for him to be reunited with that car that was so easily sold over 50 years ago.
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Phillips is expected to visit the Henry Ford Museum on Friday with his granddaughter Stephanie Mealey, who organized the Facebook campaign behind the reunion, and Stephanie’s mother, Heather. They’ll take a VIP tour of the museum and visit the historic Rouge complex where that Mustang was built. Matt Anderson, curator of transportation at the Henry Ford, couldn’t be more thrilled to be doing his part.
“This has been great,” Anderson said. “I can’t wait to show Mr. Phillips the car, and the rest of the museum and talk to him. It’s a rare chance for me to meet somebody associated with one of our signature exhibits.”
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News Source: USA Today
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