A Psychological Assessment of Classic Mustang Owners

[dcohen]

ORIGINAL: Timelockmind dchoen: pictures please! http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...albumId=929131

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[fastbackford351]

I own my fastback because:

#1. It was a helluva deal. Got it off of my brother. Traded a 64 Fairlane for it.

#2. It was one of the first cars I ever saw that literally stopped me dead in my tracks with its unbelievalbly cool lines.

#3. It keeps me out of the bars. When my wife complains that I spend too much time working on the mustang, I remind her that I could be out practicing my drinking and pool playing.

#4. I love the smiles on my daughters faces when they are riding around with daddy in the "mutame".

As for the earlier posts about the drive-ins, aka. "The Finger-Bowl", aka."The Swerve-in". Ours closed down here in Deland in theearly 90's. Damn shame. My friend lives in Ruskin Florida and they still have a drive in there. The place is always packed to the gills, or at least it has been every time I have been there. I have to believe that if somebody brought the drive-in's back that they would make a killing.

The fold down rear seat in the fastbacksare the bomb. Fold both front seats forward and in the morning wipe the footprints off of the back of them and get the peter-tracks off of the carpet. Idid some of my prettiest work in a 64 Fairlane, a 66 El-Camino, a 67 Chevelle, 68 Firebird (that was the toughest to "work" in) and of course the 67 fastback.

As for the argument that the only reason one would drive a mustang is to compensate for some short-coming, that is complete balderdash and does not even warrant a response.

[Derf00]

ORIGINAL: Timelockmind

I had a long talk with some people about the pyschological underpinnings of owning a 40 year old Mustang.

We all know we could have transporation that is cheaper and more reliable.Then why do we devote all this time, attention, and money to these machines?

One person suggested ownership was a way of overcompensating for a lack of self-worth

Another suggested that, for us middle aged guys,it signalsan identity crisis. They "joked" about many Mustang owners being close to twice the age of their cars

One of the wives thought owning an "aged" car meant I couldn't let go of the past and it was sad attempt to be "cool" like Steve McQueen!

I simply said it was great fun and a very special conncetion with the past. And I do feel "oh-so-cool" when driving it!

Am I the only one that is surrounded by idiots (who dive new BMW/Lexus/Mercedes) who don't get it!!!

I have a degree in Psych but I don't make a living with it. I've always been into computers, cars, and have worked in sales all my life. Part of the reason I didn't go further than a B.S. in Psych is because those that are in the fieldfor the most part arecomplete morons and themselves are self-centered/ego-centric. Everything has to do with mother, father, or compensation issues. Incidently those three focuses of psychology have been deemed fall-back positions by modern psychologists. Meaning, that's what to look at when you haven't a real clue about what is going on with the person.

Dr. Phil believe it or not is what I consider a modern psychologist. Fug what happened to you in the past. You're aware of it and your an adult, make your own decisions.

I say people that like the mustang or classic cars in general have a healthy hobby. Ask one of those shrinks what kinds of hobbies they have...it will probably be something "inspirational" or "intellectual" akaboring.It's because their own world is pretty boring.

[gothand]

I've owned/own several Mustangs and have enjoyed them all. While somebody could try to find some psychological reason for it, it is much more basic than that ... I needed transportation and a classic Mustang was affordable at the time (1988), was easily modfied and was exempt from smog here in CA. For similar reasons, I've really enjoyed all the Jeeps I've owned/own ... they are fun to tinker with and the modification/restoration possibilities are only limited by your budget.

As for 'Muscle Cars', I'd be skeptical of any list as it seems about impossible to be all-inclusive. My late grandfather, who bought a new car just about every year of his life up until his 80's, once owned a 1970 AMC 'Machine', with a 390 V-8 and functional, vacuum operated hood scoop. I don't see it on the 'list', but I consider it a muscle car ... a rare one at that. BTW, he bought his with the stripe-delete so as to be a bit more 'stealth'.

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/...neArticle.html

[james_topless67]

ORIGINAL: Timelockmind

Mikethebike mentioned drive-in theaters. I grew up in the midwest and have amazing memories of these magical evenings with me, my girl of the week, and my ram air GTO!

Alas, there are no more drive-in's in LA (and if there were the character of them would surely not be the same).

Do any of you still have drive in's? And if you do, do you ever take you beloved Mustangs to them? How I envy those of you that still get to experience this. My kids have no idea what I am taking about when I tell them about wathcing movies outdoors (altough I rarely watched a WHOLE movie in my car!)

There is a drive in open by me. I was planning on taking the mustang there this past weekend but it rained here all weekend. I have been to the drive in several times. I have 4 kids we have been there in a ford expedition. I pull in backwards fold the seats down put down a few blankets open the back lift gate and watch the movie. Alas they do not have the old crappy speakers the sound is transmitted with a short range FM transmitter of 88.7
http://www.theshowboatdrivein.com/

I am 33 older than some on this board but younger than others. I am younger than my car. I drive it because I like the classics. They are fun to drive. The sound of an all American V8. You do not have to have metric tools to work on it.

[groho]

Why I love my mustang. . .
1)old mustangs are CRACK on four wheels. 2)it's cheaper then a shrink, but actually, when you add up the expenses, they're about the same.3) usually doesn't end in divorce.

[atomsk680]

ORIGINAL: 69boss429

I was there!
In 1969 there were plenty of "Muscle Cars" from all of the American automakers.I have seen my share of big block Fairlanes,Torino's,Mustangs,Camaros,AMX's,Cuda's and everything else you can imagine.Ford called their Mustang a "Pony Car" ,the name Muscle Car was born on the street.
And,I have 2 Holley 715's on mine,it runs great and gets 14mph (as long as you keep your foot out of it)

[IMG]local://upfiles/25247/735BB43045964CADB08B60115828D186.jpg[/IMG]

did you modify your shocktowers? they seem alot smaller then mine

[andrewmp6]

pammie your list has pony cars in it mustang camaro firebird cuda challenger duster

[MustangPammie]

I know -- but it's not "my list".

[blane17]

I'm 32 and I have an extremely small "hammer". That coupled with the fact that I enjoy driving an automobile that is not a computer. One that is meant to be tinkered with and built and rebuilt. One that needs its driver to know its intimate workings. I like driving it to experience the roar and rumble of an engine... I have a car for getting from point A to B... that gets me where I need to go. My Mustang gets me where I want to be.