After many posts about local car shows, show-n-shines, cruises, and parades, I am going to take a minute to talk about my own Mustang, and share with you a commercial that I found on You-Tube. I hope you enjoy my Mustang story and the commercial.
When my wife and I returned from Taipei, Taiwan in 1969, we needed a car for her, since I was going to my next duty station in Keflavic, Iceland and she would have to stay behind for the next year. So her brother and I went out looking and found a 1966 Mustang coupe. It was red with a landau top and six cylinder automatic. So it was great looking and just what my wife would like. So we bought it. It cost $1500.00 plus tax, title and plate. We financed it for 18 months and, if I remember correctly, our payment was $55.00 per month after putting down $600. I was so excited to drive it home and let my wife see what we had found! She was very happy!
Off I went to Keflavic. I came home in February of 1970. We kept the car for a couple of years, and traded it in and got $300 for trade on a 1968 Dodge Challenger, 383 4bbl, coupe, white interior and beautiful bright blue exterior. I loved the Challenger, but always missed the Mustang.
We went through a number of "classic cars", starting with a 1955 Studebaker President Speedster "Golden Hawk" (another story!) a 1977 Datsun 280Z, a 1929 Ford Model "A" business coupe, a 1946 Chevy pick-up with a 350 4bbl, bucket seats and a great stereo system, and a 1989 Mazda RX7 that we would drive to go "Mazdaing" to pick up ice cream. There were different reasons for selling each one, but it was never a "good day" in my life when they were sold.
Then, about six years ago, the itch came again. We were looking in the GR Press and found a Mustang in Whitehall, Michigan, and, although they said it needed work, we took a ride with my wife's mom and dad and went up to see it. Well, like they said, it needed work. It was all in parts and a real mess. Me, I am not up to that kind of work. But the man said his wife would like to sell her 64 1/2 Mustang. I had seen it when we opened the garage. RED! That was good. An automatic! That was good. Real spoke wheels! That was good. I was almost sold. "What engine does it have?" I asked. It had the 289 V-8 4bbl. Sold! I said....oops. Will you throw in the front license plate with it!? She said yes, I said (again) sold!
We paid them and headed for home. My wife followed me. I was so excited to drive it back home!
Since then we have fixed, repaired, and replaced many parts. Actually, it didn't need much, but it had rarely been driven since being restored 15 years prior to our purchase. The tires had the twin red-walls, which looked good, but slipped and spun with barely any acceleration. They were 15 years old! So, four new tires. Four new shocks, gas in front, air in back, two coil springs, two leaf springs. Headers, custom made exhaust, Flowmaster mufflers, new seat belts, and a few other minor items over the next five years.
One more major thing to be done, but, darn it, it costs lots to paint an entire car.
I could have it painted for a few thousand, but I really would like a complete job which means taking off all chrome, all trim, stripping it down to raw metal, and shooting it with high quality Dupont paint. At my age, and with my slightly worn out body, it has to be someone else to strip it and paint it.
So it goes to the car shows as a "driver" not a true show car. We will never win a trophy, although we did receive a "sponsors choice" award at the Zeeland Car Show three years ago. Will we ever be able to pull it off and have a professional paint our Mustang? Probably not. Will we enjoy driving it to car shows, show-n-shines, parades etc? You betcha!
So, come visit us when you are at the next car show and you spot us there. We will have the hood up (just an engine) and the trunk (nice display) and you can take a look. I display it with pride. Afterall, it is a 1964 1/2 Mustang! Red. 289. 4bbl. and real spoke wheels!
Hey, maybe someone wants to take on painting a car to help an old guy out! Who knows what kind of strange thing might happen! Maybe "Pimp My Ride" will call me! Maybe pigs can fly!
Now, let's take a look at an ad for a 1964 1/2 Mustang. You must turn off my music first- just go to the sidebar, find the listed music, and click on the "II" at the top, left. Then click on the arrow in the middle of the You-Tube square. You are in business. Enjoy! Mike
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Well, I'll be!
Just when I wrote that it would never happen, here it comes! My wife and I attended the Walker (MI) Auto Show this morning, sponsored by the Walker AMBUCS. Not a big show - maybe 30 or so cars. As the morning progressed, yours truly noticed the judges were visiting our Mustang a bit more than usual. You guessed it!! We won our first trophy! Best Classic Car! Our thanks to the Walker AMBUCS, the judges, the Walker Festival Auto Show and all of the volunteers who made this event possible. You can bet we will be there next year and try again to impress the judges.
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