In 1936, an engineer named Howard Forrest built a water-cooled four-cylinder engine, and in 1941, he designed a little motorcycle to ride to work at a company that was making products for the war effort. His boss took notice and, as they say, the rest is history. This restored 1958 Mustang Stallion motorcycle is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Edgerton, Minnesota, and they’re asking $7,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to NW Iowa Kevin for the tip!
Gladden Products out of Glendale, California, was one of many companies that made aircraft products for the war effort. Just before the war started for the U.S., Howard Forrest came up with a little motorcycle using his own engine, and John Gladden noticed how well it worked. As was often the case, things slowed down at Gladden Products after the war, and Mr. Gladden was thinking of something to turn things around. He had been interested in motorcycles and had an idea to have Howard and another engineer at Gladden design a little motorcycle using a small air-cooled engine they had been working on for the last few years.
The Mustang was born. It’s up in the air as to where the Mustang name came from, the P-51 Mustang, maybe? Was Mr. Gladden a fan of horses? Most of the Mustang’s model names are related to horses, like the Pony, Thoroughbred, and Stallion, as shown here. The original sales banner shown above comes with the sale, and it’s a fairly rare piece on its own. The Stallion is somewhat easy to pick out; it has a front brake and spoke wheels, rather than disc wheels. We’ve seen two Mustangs here on Barn Finds, an unusual pink scooter-type, and a mind-blowing top-of-the-line 1962 Thoroughbred.
You can see how incredibly nice this restored Stallion is. These bikes can sell for between $5,000 and $10,000, and some can go much higher with enough help from adult beverages at a national auction, or if they’re exceptionally well-restored. This one has the advantage of having an extra engine and transmission available, but it’s another $2,500. The engine in this bike should be a Mustang-designed 320-cc four-stroke single-cylinder with somewhere around 11 or 12 horsepower, and is backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. I have to believe that this example would be best sold at the annual Mecum Las Vegas motorcycle auction or a similar event, but maybe they’ll find a buyer on a Minnesota craigslist ad? Possibly? Have any of you heard of a Mustang motorcycle?
We didn’t see many of these around our town and didn’t know about them until much later. And that right side shift would separate the veteran riders from the rest.
Pretty bike and probably one of a very few especially this clean.
Thanks for spotting another good one NW Iowa Kevin. They’ve got you on a roll Scotty! Keep the momentum going-we’re eating it up.
Could be but there are alot of these restored ones around my area – they were restored bt the guys – like Model A’s -that enjoyed them as kids…..like some on here remind us…..their time is quickly passing….
Well, gotta admit, it’s a work of art, like an expensive timepiece, beautifully done. On that note… I just got off the phone with a guy who bought out all the remaining parts, from a guy who bought out the company that was producing, or, I should say, rebranding Indian Brave motorcycles on this side of the pond during the early 50s. I have a 53 Indian Brave, and I’m looking for parts… I bring this up because it’s not only the time and effort to rebuild these bikes, it’s also finding the parts. PS Guy I was speaking to, who gave me an education in 15 minutes, says, I have so many boxes of parts, I can’t take the time to see what I have… The hunt goes on… But, I might ask him how much he wants for his entire hoard…
Thanks for this post Rogue1.. I didn’t know Indians were exported it the UK back then or that these were even made but they’re very cool bikes. From what read in addition to your post it looks like buying the lot might be a good idea. I had a chance to buy a bunch of old Cushman scooters over two decades ago that were in various stages of completion and two that were fully restored, plus there was a ton of parts and it was all $5k. This was before Cushmans were selling for as much as I’ve seen since so I passed it up but now I wish I hadn’t. Btw.. I’m looking at getting an Indian Chief Classic and I’ve seen a couple of them with a similar Indian logo on the side of the tank. Very cool!
You know, growing up, I HATED my name, still do, but as an old man, meh, but in the 50s, my parents said Howard was actually a very prominent name. Yeah, tell me about it, mom, I was a total loser with the ladies because of it, still am.
Sorry, what now? Oh yeah, the only place I saw these was in an ad in my uncles Popular Science magazine, our “computer” of the time. Looks like something out of California, we had “real” motorcycles in Beer City. With this being about the same cost as a nice, barely used Electra-Glide, it has a small market. Knowing my views on small motorcycles, I’d have to pass on this.
Could have been a lot worse, Howard. They could have named you Jeeves. Destined to be a butler in the UK.
Well, certainly, the “value” in one of these antiques is in the eyes of the beer-holder.
I’m from an age when these were coveted by some of us “insignificant people” who didn’t have the means to buy one of our own, and during the rest of our lives, still would enjoy having one at our disposal, finally, just for the nostalgia of it. No way to justify it based on anything but nostalgia.
I’ve ridden motorcycles all my life, since age 13, and I still own and ride a Honda Goldwing, so it’s not out of my blood. But buying one of these toys for nostalgia’s sake challenges my good sense.
I also coveted a Mustang but in Oklahoma they had too much HP for a 14 year old, so I got a Cushion Eagle instead
Got a nice look to it but looks more like a mini bike. To bad they don’t have a picture of an adult sitting on it to get a better perspective of it’s size
From what I can tell they are basically a minibike. There’s a black one for sale in Tempe AZ sitting in a room full of motorcycles so it gives a pretty good idea of their size. It looks to me like it’s even smaller than my Cushman Eagle. https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/1963-Mustang-STALLION-5034922187#sid=388172
a bit larger than cushion eagle
Okay, is it cycle or sickle? Where I grew up in Northern California it was sickle and anyone saying cycle was considered a non biker. After all you wouldn’t say bi-cycle.
Anyway, this little bike wouldn’t get much riding time in, it’s a conversation piece.
God Bless America
Curious.. I grew up in the San Fransicko Bay Area 50’s and 60’s and all my buddies and I rode multiple motorCYCLES over the years. Only time I ever heard anyone say MotorSickle was when ridiculing hillbillies.
Sorry to hear that Greg, where I grew up anyone from San Francisco was called a sissy to be polite.
God Bless America
Fortunately for me I only us the SF Bay area so people will get a general idea…actually grew up in one of the toughest cities around, a Navy town, Richmond. I would hope my high school Triumph Bonneville qualifies me as a non-sissy….LOL
I now live in the free state of Florida. God Bless America!
when were you in Richmond? we were there in early 50s
Florida is a wonderful state. I lived in Miami and Naples from 85 -02. When my wife and I decided to move to the great Red state of Texas.
God Bless America
were you in Richmond early 50s
Hi Bill. Lived in Richmond from 1948 to 1974. Humphrey Ave between 32nd and 34th. then we moved to Lowell Ave basically around the corner and I bought my first house on Tulare near JO Ford (my grammer school). Graduated RUHS in 1965.
Greg: thanks for replying, we lived on 11th street and then15th street in Richmond from 1950 to 1954, my sister and I attended Nystrom elementary
Not only have I heard of a Mustang motorcycle I have actually HEARD one. Growing up in Miami, there were a couple that belonged to some “Junior High” school kids. I remember it being LOUD. Sadly, because I’m old, I had forgotten those bikes until I saw this post– and then it all came back– including the sound. :)
Around 1958 Gene Cannady had a Mustang, he was an excellent Rider, he won the Baja 500 over all in 1972, and best in class 1973. He started racing in about 1963 on a Honda 350, then he bought my Honda 250 which put him in a better Class.
He became a LAPD motorcycle officer, they called him affectionally the Flying Fuzz.
Whoa, this one took an interesting turn…
Appears to be a simple case of ADOS: Attention Deficit..Oh! Squirrel!
Regardless, this is an interesting bike to write up.
I have a 47 Mustang that’s all original it has like 13″ Centerline looking wheels. I believe its 340+cc.
It’s a nice little sporty. Looks like a triumph and Harley mix. And I believe that’s what he was after. Never seen or heard of one I’m a Harley guy but I’d ride the hell out of this sporty , well as long as my back could take it 🤣
Part of Hondas genius is they used full sized wheels on their early little bikes, made all the difference. Hindsight is easy but maybe Mustang should have done that.
I’ve only ever seen ONE Mustang motorcycle in my 68 years on the planet. Well, this planet at least. It was at what used to be the AMCA swapmeet, show and races in Davenport, Iowa. The largest motorcycle swapmeet in the world stopped being an AMCA event some years ago but still draws crowds from every state and several countries. I gave up my vending spot in 2009 thanks mostly to the Iowa DOT thinking (with tickets) that my Dodge one ton dually with unattached sleeper, flatbed and 11K GVWR deserved to have a driver with a CDL. I’ve owned it for 21 years w/o ever getting a CDL.
When I ran across this semi-local stunningly beautiful Mustang, I thought Scotty might appreciate it enough to showcase it in my daily BF email. I’m still drooling! A “minibike” it is NOT as you can ride it all day at highway speeds. I probably wouldn’t ride it on South Dakota’s interstates @ 80 MPH, though.
I’ve sent in dozens upon dozens of automotive tips, vehicles that I thought would make the cut. Precious few have though, so when one does, I get kinda excited. Thanks for another great write up Scotty!
Thanks for the great tips, Kevin! I’ve been a member of the AMCA for a couple of decades or more. We just had the big annual show here in MN a couple of weekends ago.
“Scooter” is what the seller calls it,
He’s right.
Funny fact:
Mustang was also 1969-1982 Jawa
– full name is Jawa 50 type 23 (A) Mustang