Alex & Wanda Kilpatrick’s 1969 T5
Ford T5 - original code name
for the top secret Mustang project of the early 1960s.
In 1964 and 65,
the Mustang was an instant hit. American servicemen were buying them and taking
them to 
wanted them too,
but had to pay a handsome fee to have them converted and certified before being
able to drive them on German highways. Herein then, a problem arose. American servicemen were expected and
required to pay for the same modifications as the German public as all cars
registered as T5s came only through German dealers throughout the land. They
were therefore all required to meet the same standards and have the same costs
added to the price. Though many were sold as T5s in the 1st few years,
Americans wanted MUSTANGS.
As this posed an ongoing problem
for American servicemen, an alternate means was devised and partially for this
reason, the American Forces Exchange system was created. Cars from
A 1968 Ford T5 convertible sold
Stateside for a suggested retail of $2,795. Delivered to a
The T5
nameplate went on for a full 25 years with this writers last experience
being working with the owner of a 1979 T5 brought back from
Interesting to note as well that
while all Mustangs are essentially T5s due to their origins, technically,
no T5 has ever been a Mustang. Your comments are welcome. Thank you -
Alex Kilpatrick
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1969 Ford T5 Cabriolet
(convertible) ~ owners Alex & Wanda Kilpatrick
Born on the 7th of October, 1968,
our 1969 Ford T5 Convertible was purchased by Hermann Meier of
It came to us with the original 30
day ownercard, the German government Kraftfahrzeugbrief, a 69 Mustang owners
manual in English and a 1970 T5 Owners manual in German. A letter to the Ford
Koeln head office in 1989 was answered with them sending the last original 1969
Ford T5 owners manual available. Apparently when the writer checked the filing
cabinet on T5s, there was one lone, near mint copy tucked away in the file.
The car was built in
Though ordered with the 302 2V
engine, the car came with the largest brakes available, an
oversized front stabilizer bar, heavy duty suspension (original
shocks replaced with adjustable KONI's) and 7 inch rims were refitted with
HR70X14 radials. (even though 390 and 428 Mustangs came with Es and Fs
back in those days) The German spec page
rates the power at 152 PS/ 4000 U/min. It was tested at idle and at
175 km per hour for noise levels. They were dB (A)73(10) and dB (A)81(10)
respectively.
Other modifications include, a 200
kph speedometer, added Ford/Hella rear reflectors, neutralized front side
marker lamps and no front park lights. In the speedometer, the signal light
markers are red and the high beam light which is usually in the form of a small
running horse, was cut out and is a (bright blue in color) rectangle to ensure
the driver would note the light position (high or low) on busy German
roads. One of the most innovative additions to the car is the red light mounted
on the dash at the lower left side of the steering wheel. The purpose being to
indicate that the electrical system is properly charging. When the light
is on and bright, the system is working great. When it gets dim or goes out
(and it has over the past 21 years) trouble soon follows. Amazing how even back
then, they recognized the inaccuracy or lack of dependability of the stock
Ford gauge and decided to supplement it.
As conversion was expensive in
itself, many T5s were ordered with the factory 3 spd standard
transmission. Originally equipped with Ford electrics, T5s were upgraded
to Bosche. On ours, the alternator, voltage regulator (added to
supplement; not replace), coil, plugs and even windshield wipers all carry
the Bosche label. Interestingly, our car still uses the original
4 Westinghouse bulbs that it arrived from
One of 94 recorded in the
production numbers, this car is one of only four that have turned up in
the T5 registry. It is to the best of
our knowledge, the only fully documented 1969 T5 convertible currently known to
exist on planet earth. Letters to international Mustang clubs in
To further identify the car, the
engine heads and shock tower were stamped with the car's serial number and a
unique identification plate was affixed to the passenger side fender apron just
ahead of the original Ford factory plate. The car even has it's own unique body
serial code of 976A and has all of the original factory plates still intact.
Other options on the car today include power steering, power brakes, power top,
standard clock (still working), map reading light, courtesy lights, driver
activated trunk light, dual racing mirrors with left side remote control, full
floor console and we have 2 sets of wheels which we rotate from time to time.
We have 5 Magnum 500s on it now and an optional set of 4 styled steel
chrome wheels with trim rings and hub caps.
The car has to date been shown in 4
provinces and 3 states and driven to every show. It has also been used for
weddings, graduations, parades, charity events, road ralleys, lapping race
tracks at Shannonville, Mosport and Watkins Glen, touring and just plain old
fashioned Sunday driving. Of the many vehicles owned since our first Mustang (a
67 Lime Gold Convertible), this car has been the most fun and
most versatile of them all. Just this year I was out cruising the
yard sales with it and brought home a complete stereo system with a glass door
cabinet and two huge 100 watt speakers in the back seat. Now that's
performance!
It is also the least expensive
vehicle to maintain due to it's 3 season only use and in over 21 years
we've logged just over 51,000 km. We sure do love our T5. It provides many
memories of good times shared with great car clubs, activities and
especially the people, over many years.
T5 was the original project name
for the first generation of Mustang. Can you tell us the name of the project
that gave us the second generation Mustang from 1974-1978?? If you think you
know it, email us at alexandwanda@nb.aibn.com .
Comments and/or questions are welcome. Thanks for sharing an interest in our
rare ponycar.