What did Ford Motor Company introduce as a custom audio option in 1965?

Ford Motor Company introduced 8-track tape players as a custom audio option in 1965.

Ford offered factory-installed and dealer-installed eight-track players beginning in September 1965, initially for three 1966 models: the Mustang, Thunderbird, and Lincoln. The move helped bring prerecorded music into the mainstream of car travel, where the compact cartridge was easier to use than handling a vinyl record.

The 8-track format, formally called Stereo 8, used magnetic tape arranged in four stereo programs. Its continuous loop allowed music to play without flipping the cartridge, although the format could not rewind. Drivers changed between programs with a control on the player, sometimes producing a brief interruption in the music.

Ford’s support was important to the format’s success. By the 1967 model year, every Ford vehicle offered an eight-track upgrade. A common mix-up is confusing the player with the cartridge: Ford introduced the in-car 8-track player option, while several companies collaborated on the broader format.