Classic Mustangs Offer the Best Form of ‘Throttle Therapy’
One particular 1965 Mustang Fastback is a Californian’s way to leave all stress and distractions in the rearview mirror.
Nathan Cali has always enjoyed the company of a Ford Mustang. Cali says, “My first car was a 1966 Mustang. I bought it when I was 15 for $1,500 dollars. It was a bad idea. It didn’t matter to me because I owned it, I loved it, and it became a part of me.” Cali experienced break downs every now and then, but he would have “four to five days of pure joy, and then four to five days of frustration.” With a car connection going back that far, it is no wonder that Cali saw refuge in the Ford Mustang when moments in life would be somewhat overwhelming.
After finding a gig in the auto media industry, Cali’s memories of that first car soon flooded back. It wasn’t long before Cali found himself wanting for another Mustang, this time, a 1965 Fastback. “Ten years ago I went back to the search of finding another classic car,” he recollects. “The purpose for me was to fulfill this memory again, and this thing that I knew always brought happiness to me.”
He soon found his dream car on Craigslist. This Mustang symbolized exactly what he was looking for. Of the previous owner, Cali says, “it was hard for him to part ways with it because it had the memories he grew up with. It had all these stories to go with it.” But the seller could see that the car had a new chapter ahead, and would be used properly; as a memory maker and an escape from everyday life.
The car wasn’t in great condition when Cali bought it, but that wasn’t an issue. With a car so simple to work on and upgrade, it did not take long before Cali started implementing his vision through various improvements. “We started with doing the Wilwood Brakes and then upgraded the tires to Bridgestone RE-71’s,” Cali notes.
Soon the engine came apart and received some upgrades. Retaining the engine block was important. “We wanted to take what we had and give it more life,” Cali notes. The interior was made all black using original pieces, and the overall look of the car was left simple. No badging on the sides, no stripes either. Stripes would only run from the nose to the tail.
“Every time I stop at a gas station, a kid who knows nothing of what it is will ask 100 questions. Those moments are the most special moments to me,” Cali gleams. In all, it makes for a great vehicle to escape from it all, and perhaps spark the passion in a new enthusiast.
Screengrabs: Throttle Therapy / YouTube
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