Some people spend their whole lives chasing fame and a place as more than just a footnote in the grand scheme of things, while others just sort of stumble their way into the history books. Gail Wise was a 22-year old college graduate from teaching school with a new job and a need for a car. She went to a Chicago Ford dealership on April 15th, 1964, wanting a convertible .There were none on the showroom but the salesman, eager to make that commission, took her into the back room and showed her a baby blue 1965 Mustang convertible, a car not set to be unveiled for another two days.

Gail bought the car on the spot, and in doing so became the very first owner of a Ford Mustang. The Mustang Countdown interviews Gail as she relives the day when she became an important part of American car history.

As soon as Gail drove the Mustang off the lot, all the attention turned to her. Friends, family, and even police officers pulled her over to get a better look at the car, and Gail said she felt “like a celebrity” with all the attention the Mustang got her. Gail and her husband drove the Mustang until the early 70s, when a broken carburetor linkage sidelined the car. One thing turned into another, and soon the first Mustang ever sold to the public lay in pieces, and that’s how it sat for 27 years.

It wasn’t until late 2005 that the two finally decided to restore the car that Gail had bought for $3,100 in 1964. The salary of her first teaching job? $5,100 per year. Try doing that today. Thankfully, Gail and her husband proved to be excellent caretakers, and once restored the two delved deeper into the car’s history, learning that it was indeed the first one sold. Talking about the luck of the draw.

Sometimes all it takes is to be at the right place at the right time, looking for the right thing. If Gail had wanted a hardtop instead, chances are we’d be writing about someone else.