Picture this: It’s April 1964. The world hasn’t even met the Ford Mustang yet, but in a modest showroom in St. John’s, Newfoundland, a piece of automotive history is about to get its first set of keys—thanks to one persistent pilot and a pre-launch twist that Ford definitely didn’t plan for.
The Accidental Owner of a Legend
In spring 1964, Ford showrooms everywhere were staging their brand-new Mustangs, ready to sweep America off its feet. But one Mustang, gleaming under the not-so-dramatic Newfoundland sky, was different. This particular car in St. John’s wasn’t meant for a local driveway. It was a pre-production unit—one of only 180 built solely as a display model. Selling it? Absolutely not in the script.
Enter Stanley Tucker, a 33-year-old pilot with Eastern Provincial Airways and a keen eye for opportunity. When he set sights on the Mustang, it was love at first rev. On April 14—three days before the official Mustang launch—Tucker turned on the charm. The result? A check signed on the spot, and with that, history in motion: Tucker rolled away behind the wheel of Mustang Serial Number One. Yes, the very first one.
The Only Mustang Driver in Newfoundland
Tucker relished every minute with his one-of-a-kind ride. For a good while, he was a true rarity: « For a long time I was the only Mustang driver in Newfoundland, » he later recalled. Imagine that—people flagging him down, waving him roadside not for directions, but to ask life’s most important questions:
- What is this car?
- Who makes it?
- How much does it cost?
The Mustang wasn’t just a car—it was a curiosity. Strangers simply couldn’t help themselves. Tucker, no doubt, took great pleasure being the man with all the answers (and the only Mustang).
Ford Comes Knocking (And Knocking…)
But while Tucker was basking in his Mustang’s gleam, Ford was feeling the sting. Imagine the boardroom talk: the very first Mustang, a historical specimen, zipping around somewhere in Canada. Ford representatives soon tried to buy it back, but Tucker politely refused—he was having too much fun, and why give that up?
It wasn’t until the winter of 1965, after Tucker had already enjoyed more than 10,000 miles in the car, that Ford upped the ante with an offer too tempting to ignore. They proposed a deal: give back Serial Number One and, in return, choose a brand-new 1966 Mustang—any model, with as many options as his heart desired.
Tucker agreed. His pick? An opulent Silver Frost Mustang convertible, decked out with premium features—including, believe it or not, a television in the dashboard. Not just any replacement, but also (ironically) the one millionth Mustang ever produced.
A Legacy in Steel and Stories
Serial Number One found its forever home safe and sound in Dearborn, now displayed at the Henry Ford Museum. Tucker, for his part, got to drive away with a new trophy of automotive history. Yet, as the years rolled on and he cruised proudly in his luxurious 1966 convertible, Tucker admitted to occasional pangs of regret. Giving up « his » Serial Number One nagged at him. Still, he understood that it belonged in a museum, as an icon of a model that transformed the automotive world.
Today, the Mustang is more than a car—it’s a legend, with over ten million built and counting. But only one man can say he owned both the very first and, in a twist of fate, swapped it for the millionth. Stanley Tucker never broke distance records or logged millions of miles like other auto legends. Instead, by simply making the right purchase at the right (slightly sneaky) moment, he became an unwitting hero of car history. There’s something uniquely special about being in the right seat at the right time—and sometimes, that’s history you can’t measure in miles.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
