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This is my first car, purchased in 1981. I beat the crap out of it through high school and college, and am just now nearing the completion of it's restoration and resurrection. When I bought it I wanted a Shelby GT350, but at the time they cost $1-2k more, so I bought this one, then spent that difference turning it into a Shelby clone. Sure wish I bought the GT350, cuz I sure can't afford one now! Oh well, hindsight is 20/20!
As purchased in 1981. The car had been repainted once before, and the paint was badly faded and oxidized. I wet it down with the hose for this pic because it's the only time the car was shiny.
Here as a GT350 clone looking rather worn and tired - I use the term "clone" loosely because I wasn't willing to cut out the quarter vents or add side scoops - no mods to the body.
The day I dropped it off at the body shop...
Undercarriage restoration...
And at the Ironstone Concours last September...
I still need to finish installing the center console, Classic Auto Air HVAC under-dash vents, the rear interior, and resolve an electrical issue with my headlights. But, it's great to be driving it again!
I don't know much of the back story before I bought it, other than I purchased it from the 2nd owner I believe. He had it repainted but supposedly tried to "buff out the paint before it cured" which resulted in the flat burgundy primer look when I acquired it. I believe he had recently purchased a 240Z, and had another car or two, so the Mustang had to go. We agreed on a price, and when I came back with my cash to pick up the car a couple days later I think he was having seller's remorse because all of a sudden the factory AC unit (which he had acquired but not yet installed) was not included in the sale at our agreed upon purchase price. My dad insisted that it wasn't excluded when we agreed on a price and that it IS included, and was acting like we were going to walk away if not included. Frankly, I didn't care about the AC! This was my first car and the one I wanted, and I wasn't willing to walk away if the AC wasn't included - so we didn't. We concluded the transaction and left with the car, but no AC. I was happy and have never regretted my purchase!
When the body shop stripped my car to bare metal they called me and insisted I come see the car... The owner wanted to show me that the metal had "never been worked!" There was no prior accident damage and it was virgin factory steel. The prior paint job had apparently only been a scuff and respray, and nowhere on the body had the metal been sanded or worked beyond what the factory did.
That's about all I know. Somewhere in my garage I still have my original bill of sale with the seller's name. I'll have to see if I can find it and look him up sometime. He might enjoy seeing the car again after 41 years.
I don't know much of the back story before I bought it, other than I purchased it from the 2nd owner I believe. He had it repainted but supposedly tried to "buff out the paint before it cured" which resulted in the flat burgundy primer look when I acquired it. I believe he had recently purchased a 240Z, and had another car or two, so the Mustang had to go. We agreed on a price, and when I came back with my cash to pick up the car a couple days later I think he was having seller's remorse because all of a sudden the factory AC unit (which he had acquired but not yet installed) was not included in the sale at our agreed upon purchase price. My dad insisted that it wasn't excluded when we agreed on a price and that it IS included, and was acting like we were going to walk away if not included. Frankly, I didn't care about the AC! This was my first car and the one I wanted, and I wasn't willing to walk away if the AC wasn't included - so we didn't. We concluded the transaction and left with the car, but no AC. I was happy and have never regretted my purchase!
When the body shop stripped my car to bare metal they called me and insisted I come see the car... The owner wanted to show me that the metal had "never been worked!" There was no prior accident damage and it was virgin factory steel. The prior paint job had apparently only been a scuff and respray, and nowhere on the body had the metal been sanded or worked beyond what the factory did.
That's about all I know. Somewhere in my garage I still have my original bill of sale with the seller's name. I'll have to see if I can find it and look him up sometime. He might enjoy seeing the car again after 41 years.
It's a great story and no doubt some great memories!
It would surely be a nice surprise for him to see the car that belonged to him a long time ago, indeed!
02-23-2022, 12:25 PM
1966 Vintage Burgundy GT Fastback
