Jason Blick
1965 GT Fastback

I have been a "Mustang Guy" since I purchased my first Mustang 19 years ago. It was a 1983 GT Hatchback and it was sweet, especially for an 18 year old punk kid who was a Junior in High School and previously drove a gutless Volkswagen Rabbit! I had so much fun with that car and got into so much trouble with it that I could spend hours telling stories! Eventually, after several engine rebuilds, & basically replacing every part on the car with the exception of the transmission, I had driven it into the ground and I sold it for next to nothing. The day I gave up possession of that Mustang was indeed a sad day for me, but at the same time, it was time to move on.

About 5 years later, still passionate about Mustangs, I purchased a brand new 2001 GT Convertible. This car was perfect and I never got sick of driving it. At this point in my life I was now married and had 2 small children so having a fun car to drive to work and cruise around in was great, as it allowed me to escape the stresses of work and family life and to really enjoy myself when I needed some space. Then within the first two years of owning the car a guy rear ended me at 55 MPH on the freeway when I was stopped in traffic. Unfortunately, the insurance company wouldn’t total the vehicle out and I ended up doing over $15,000. in repairs. Needless to say, I no longer wanted the car after all of the repairs were done and my kids were also getting bigger, so I picked the car up from the body shop and went straight to the Ford Dealership and traded it in for an Expedition, the perfect family car!

I never stopped dreaming about owning another Mustang and for the next 5 years, I spent countless hours surfing the Internet, reading Mustang magazines, and renting Mustangs on work trips hoping that someday I would again have a Mustang of my own. The biggest issue was the fact that I couldn’t really have a Mustang as an everyday driver due to family considerations, work, and space constraints. So my plan was to purchase an older affordable classic Mustang that needed work and park it in my garage and spend a couple of years restoring it. I had $10,000.00 allocated to purchase a classic Mustang when my Dad offered to help me out with some of the costs so I could get something in better condition. So with my budget now basically tripled, I spent tons of time researching and looking for the Mustang that I wanted, which needed to be a Fastback V8 between 1965 and 1969. In April of this year my Dad and I went to Kassabian Motors in Dublin and I found the car that I wanted. It was a 1965 GT Fastback Restomod and it was clean! We then worked out a deal and I purchased the car that night. I still can’t believe that this Mustang is all mine and when I drive it on the weekends, I am in heaven! I plan on having a lot of fun in the Bay Area Mustang Association club as well as learning a lot from some of the more experienced Mustang enthusiasts.

Graig Webb
1966 Coupe

I wish this story was one of those really cool ones about how some guy sold his car and bought it back 20 yrs later. My story is one of errors made by me while purchasing this car from one of the classic car consignment shops.

It all started with a phone call from a lifetime friend in Bakersfield where I grew up. He requested that I go check out a car he had found on the internet site of a consignment shop. It was a 2nd generation Camaro that looked to be in great shape. I grabbed my creeper and a magnet (run the magnet along the body and the magnet won’t stick to bondo) and hit the road. The car was a steal and he put down a deposit. I had been looking for a muscle car and didn’t have any preference on make (sorry) but just wanted the most car for the money. With a budget, I knew I had to be patient but ready to pull the trigger. I was looking at this trick ‘67 fastback & asked the guy what he had around my budget. He advised that he had a ‘66 coupe that was getting some minor front-end work done and would I like to go take a look. When we got to the shop, the car was up on the rack which I thought was great. I walked underneath it and was amazed at how clean it was. A mechanic was changing the idler arm so I really didn’t get to look at the front of the car. I saw the sales guy talking to the mechanic and he came over and let me know they would be through in about 10 minutes. WHY DIDN’T I ASK TO SEE THE REPAIR INVOICE; I WOULD HAVE LEARNED ALL THE REASONS THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP (I spent $1,200. 3 weeks later rebuilding the front end). The car came down off the rack and the sales guy started the car and revved the engine to 3-4000 rpm with the motor stone cold. I wanted to yell at him but but he wouldn’t have heard me. As I cooled down, I wondered if he even liked cars.

Buying the car from a dealer ruled out any sales tax options, so I was looking at quite a chunk of my budget going to the State. I decided to make an offer. It was a Saturday evening and the banks were closed so I put $2,000. on a credit card and signed a contract stating that I had up to 7 days to pay the balance. My plan was to be back at 10a.m. Monday morning to pick up my new baby. I found a copy of an old registration in the glove box. It was shoved down between the cardboard and the dash. The car was from SoCal and started life Acapulco blue, the most unwanted color of any car in history (just my opinion and my apologies to any member with a car this color). I found the guy through search.com by paying $17.00. He actually sold the car to the consignment company but wouldn’t tell me any details. He did give me some great history. He had the car for over 10 years and had recently put a new crate motor in it. He ordered a 302 based upon the old BOSS specs. Nothing real fancy, the original BOSS as we all know was only 270-something horsepower but with proper gearing was a true muscle car. The motor came without the top and the guy was forced to sell due to a divorce situation. He put on whatever he could find or had lying around to sell the car. This was music to my ears as I am not as good as I would like to be turning a wrench and wanted something that looked good, sounded good, and would give the illusion of snapping your head back when getting on an on ramp!

Now things get weird:

I got a call on Sunday from the sales guy that sold me the car. He said he had a full price buyer from Japan and if I wanted the car I had to pay the balance right now on a credit card. I was so mad I couldn’t breathe, much less talk. I told him I would call him back in 10 minutes. After checking out my contract I knew he was trying to scare me off so he could make a few extra bucks on the car. I called the sales manager and he never knew what hit him. He finally had to tell me he’d call me back. It was about 30 minutes later (2 beers to settle down) he called back and advised that he had put the sales person on probation and was appalled by his actions. What made me so angry was that these guys were selling dreams and to let used car sales tactics ruin someone’s dream was inexcusable. Some guys care about your experience and some just want to make a buck. If you’re buying something 40 years old, check it out, if you don’t have the knowledge you need to find someone who does!!!! BAMA has been instrumental in both getting this car to the next level (Holley 600 intake, headers, electronic ignition, and something to do and someone to talk to during a long divorce. I can’t thank you enough!

James Weston
1965 Coupe

Before I bought my Mustang back in February 1999, I wasn’t what you would call a “Mustang Guy”. I was certainly a “Ford Guy”, a bit of a “Jeep Guy” maybe even considered a Mopar or two. After going round and round thinking of different cars for a project, I kept coming back to the Mustang. It just seemed like it was the best blend of something I could modify, tinker and learn from without going completely broke doing it, not to mention the Mustang Club (BAMA) that I found was right around the corner from my house and they seemed like a friendly group.

Ever since that rainy day that I towed it home and pushed it into my parents’ garage, the car has been in an almost constant state of change. A 351W gave way to a 302, a carburetor gave way to EFI, a basic suspension rebuild gave way to a bit sportier suspension with a few Maier and Shelby mods. I think over the years, the most important lesson I have learned about performance parts are that few, if any, meet their manufacturer’s claims and “bolt-on” parts are rarely bolt-on. Every change I make starts with the intention of making the car better, but in all honesty, not every change has accomplished that but it’s all part of the hobby that I love. When I first had the car everything was an effort to make the car go fast, but now it’s an effort to make it reliable, economical and just a really fun car to toss around. It’s also a lot of fun for my wife and I to scour the salvage yards looking for modern OEM parts that can be fitted to the old ’65. I’ve been through a lot of changes since my ’65 and I met, many of them directly because of my ’65.

Right now I’m very close to getting her back on the road again and I’m excited to be able to just drive it but I’m sure there will be changes again before too long.

Don & Sue Nunes
1991 GT

My wife, Sue bought her first Mustang in 1968, a white ‘65 and paid $1,200 for it. Unfortunately, someone else liked it and while stationed in Massachusetts, it was stolen. Since we had just had our first child, we went the family car route for a while. A few years later, we bought a ‘66, figuring it would fit two kids. Later, we bought a ‘69 Mach 1 Fastback. What the heck, it will fit three kids? Oops, time for the station wagon (Number 4 child just arrived!) No more Mustangs for us! I amused myself by putting a ‘65 Mustang 289 engine and transmission into a ‘72 Pinto. The only problem with it was keeping it on the ground !!!

The kids are now grown so it’s time for that Mustang. A brand new one is the only way to go. We bought our ‘91 GT Black on Black 5.0 5 speed. This is Sue’s baby. It’s her car; do not touch it! The kids weren’t allowed to drive it for any reason. They couldn’t even move it out of the driveway to wash their own cars. It stayed in the garage & got more attention than I did! The only time I could touch it was to wash it !! In 1994, on one of the rare occasions it was out at night, because our daughter was between apartments and had our garage crammed with her stuff, someone tried to steal it from the driveway at 3 AM. We heard them trying to crank the engine but, thankfully, it would not start. I flew out the front door and they bailed out down the street. The next morning it was at the Ford dealership to get the steering column repaired and from there to a shop for an alarm. Since that day, it has never been left outside. Oh, and our daughter’s stuff(?).... out of the garage the next day !!

We were introduced to Bay Area Mustangs by Pat & Joyce Sharpe and because of our love for the car joined in January 2006. It has been a great experience and we really enjoy the meetings and activities. The Wild West Nationals in Concord was the very first showing of our Mustang. What an experience! Thanks to Chuck Wiltens’ seminars on judging, we had 16 years of cleaning to catch up on. Sue did the interior while I did the exterior and chassis. It was hard work but paid off with a gold award! We had a great time and are looking forward to the Grand Nationals at Park City Utah. Guess I had better start cleaning for Utah…

Peter Doi
1965 Fastback 2+2

My Mustang story is one that is probably similar to many other car stories that have been told, but here it is anyway. Before I was even old enough to drive, my brother drove us by a house of someone he kind of knew. In the garage, which was open, sat a shiny black 1969 fastback (sportsroof) with flames on the sides. I later found out that it had been in several magazines and a Maier Racing catalog. Years later my brother would build his own 1969 fastback and it too, has been in several magazines and has won trophies at car shows. Now, fast forward 9 years or so to when the realization to build my very own hot rod came to be. It took 9 years because there always seemed to be one thing or another getting in the way of starting a project car. My original choice was a 1969 fastback like my brother’s, but it never materialized; too expensive, hard to find, etc. Then I happened upon a 1965 fastback 2+2 that needed a "little" work; it was dented but it was all there. The condition, however, was what you would expect a fastback for $2,000. to be, but this was the one for me. Anxiety, panic, and excitement, were a few of the emotions that I first experienced. Anger, disgust, and disappointment were to follow as this was my first serious attempt at a classic car restoration and was unsure of what to expect.

The first step I took was the steering and suspension along with a disc brake conversion kit to replace the front brakes, the engine was next. Wanting originally to keep the motor basically stock, I focused on typical upgrades: Tri -Y headers, aluminum intake, and 4 barrel carb. I took the engine to a rebuilder and found that it had a problem with oil circulation so a replacement motor was needed. The engine shop had a rebuilt 302 for sale at a reasonable price so I took it; one of a few regrets I have, since now I wished I had looked for a 289 instead. My original plan of wanting to keep the motor stock for reliability reasons was to be yet another of my regrets because a bright red fastback GT-350 replica with bold white Le Mans stripes and flared fenders, should have a bit more snarl, growl, and attitude to back up its appearance. But as it was, over the next two to three years, an assortment of more important tasks were to follow and the matter of the "correct engine" would have to wait. Work proceeded at a steady rate including a top loader 4-speed transmission swap and a 9 inch rear end with traction lock to replace the 8 inch. And finally, the long awaited body work, a very memorable part of the restoration project, as it took almost two years and a couple of thousand dollars only to have to take the car to a different shop to re-do the entire paint job due to a lack of attention and quality control from the body man. He couldn't understand what was wrong with crooked racing stripes due to the tape lifting in some parts, and bugs and lint visible in many places under the clearcoat. The bodywork was done expertly but to ruin the final finish because he was in a rush to go on vacation was inexcusable. It was a very expensive lesson to have learned, one that I will not soon forget. After what seemed like an eternity, the day came to finally get my car back from the new body shop. I could hardly believe it and I was beyond eager to get the car finished. The interior seemed to go in quickly and effortlessly, (but it wasn't), and all of the other tedious but necessary details were, at the time, a very arduous task but it taught me a valuable lesson in patience and left me with a feeling of great accomplishment and satisfaction after it was finally completed.

As I reflect on the years spent restoring my Mustang, it occurs to me that even though there have been enormous let downs, upsets and frustrations, I stop and think of all the positive things that I have experienced, things that I've discovered that I'm capable of doing, things I now know not to do, and the many great people my wife, my daughter and I have met, and the enjoyment we get from taking that "Pony ride", that all of the negative things seem somehow little and insignificant. I'm confident, that before long, after the bank account has had a chance to heal, there will be another classic Mustang or Ford parked at the house for me to tinker on and possibly write about, but mainly, to help keep the hobby alive. As my wife and I, and a few club members already know, that our daughter Ashley has stated unequivocally for the past year or so that she will be wanting her own classic car for a father-daughter project, and of course, she says it has to be a ‘65 Mustang.

Dave Sanchez
Member Since 2004
1965 Convertible

Our Mustang life began in 1990 when our son Jeff purchased a 1966 coupe (which has been to many BAMA events) as his first car shortly before his 16th birthday. Over the next several years, I started to bond (financially) with Jeff’s car. It was a good vehicle but it was still a FORD (fix or repair daily) with 180,000 miles on the original engine.

Fast forward to the new millennium. My niece had a 1965 Mustang convertible (born in San Jose) which was brown with Cougar tail lights at the time. The car had not been driven since 1986 and had been stored outside covered with tarps and was home to a nasty cat. Jeff began a campaign to encourage me to try to acquire this car. I sort of dragged my feet for a year or so but Jeff was persistent. We finally struck a deal in December 2001, which included my niece’s personal use of the convertible one day a year. She is one tough negotiator!

In May 2002, the car was steam cleaned motor, tranny and the entire under side of the car. Then, onto Mustang Fever in Santa Clara to see Mitch and Scott Jilg. We inspected the car front to back, top to bottom and decided it would be a good candidate to restore. Our goal was to restore the car to original or as close as practical adding a few conveniences like power steering and a CD player. We wanted to experience driving like it was in 1965.

In October 2002, the 289 motor and 4-speed transmission were pulled to rebuild. I was set to begin work on the car. Over the next eight months I made very little progress. In June of 2003, Judy gave me a fantastic birthday gift a blank check to seek professional help (automotive type) with the project. She feared we would be too old to enjoy the car at the rate I was going. The car went back to Mustang Fever and we developed a detailed plan. Over the next six months the car went from ugly (remember brown) to uglier to ugly again and then finally the car began to show its heritage and then it really started to sparkle. Just a few days before Thanksgiving 2003, the car was ready to test drive. I had never driven this car. Wow, what a blast it was!

Now Judy and I enjoy the car many a Friday evening we cruise down the El Camino Real in search of a place to dine enjoying the thumbs up from passing motorists. Participating in BAMA events has really added a new dimension to having fun with our Mustang.

Nafija Weston
Member Since 2004
2004 Mystichrome Mustang Cobra

By now, the story of how my husband and I came to own the Cobra is well-known amongst BAMA members, since I am so fond of telling the story. My husband (then boyfriend), James, was calling around to find donations for raffle prizes in anticipation of the Ponies & Snakes IV display. He happened to call Towne Ford in Redwood City, and spoke with the owner, who did generously offer to donate a prize for the raffle. Knowing that I loved the Mystichrome Cobra, James asked in passing whether Towne Ford had any coupes on the lot (we had only seen a few convertibles around Ford dealerships). Not only did he have a Mystichrome coupe on the lot, he offered to sell it for dealer invoice (evidently, Cobras are hard to move on the Peninsula - everyone wants an Evo or STI - no accounting for taste, I suppose).

I think James and I ended up at the dealership the next weekend. After a quick and, uh, spirited test drive, I was signing on the dotted line without a second thought. This was the fast, muscle-bound, exhilarating car I'd wanted since I was a little girl. I just hadn't realized until then that it would be this Mystichrome beauty.

Only 1,010 Mystichrome Cobras were produced in 2004 (a different color array Mystichrome was featured on some 1996 Cobras, but I digress), and of those cars, 515 were coupes and 495 were convertibles. The Mystichrome color-shifting effect - sometimes green, sometimes purple, sometimes blue, sometimes even a little black and silver - is achieved through particles in the pigment that act like prisms, splitting and reflecting the light to produce the same effect as is seen with soap bubbles or oil on water. In fact, the paint got the name "Mystichrome" because the beautiful effect brought to mind chrome headers that had been "blued" by intense heat.

James and I are always talking up the versatility of the Mustang, and the Cobra has certainly lived up to this reputation. The Cobra is truly a beast (did I mention that stock horsepower output is 390, with 390 lbs/ft. of torque on tap, which is fun for repeatedly leaving ambitious but uninformed BMW and Mercedes owners in the dust at stoplights - disclaimer: don't street race kids, you'll end up on my desk!). On the other hand, it is truly a "streetable," fun and easy to drive car with all the creature comforts of A/C and a thumpin' Mach stereo.

We have enjoyed many adventures in our awesome machine. The Cobra has cruised the strip in Vegas, and stared longingly and reverently out at the salt at Bonneville (which was unfortunately covered by a few inches of water in the late fall). We have taken the Cobra out to the ghost town Bodie - down three miles of dirt road rough enough to rattle your fillings loose - not once, but twice. While we do not necessarily recommend taking the dirt road to Bodie in a Cobra, it was sure entertaining to wave at Hummers and Silverados in 4-wheel low (likely for the first and only time in their lives) as they cruised by. We have been camping in the Cobra at Grover Hot Springs, and she willingly and commodiously acted as a mule for all our gear and supplies.

As is true for many Mustang owners (and certainly the Mustang owners in BAMA), the Cobra is not just a mode of transportation, she is a member of our family. Also, the Cobra is the best therapy you could ask for, all for the price of a tank of gas!

BAMA Officers & Board Members

Editor:
editor @BayAreaMustangAssociation.org

Web Master:
webmaster @BayAreaMustangAssociation.org

Bay Area Mustang Association
P.O. Box 20292
Castro Valley, CA 94546-8292
(510) 538-7866

Click HERE for a
downloadable
Acrobat PDF version