Resto-Mod vs. Classic?

I recently met with a builder that had just completed a 63 “Split Window” Corvette Stingray; the car was an awesome display of muscle, then he tells me that the car has a full 2006 Z06 under carriage, chassis, and suspension. He describes how it performs like a new ‘Vette and gets 27 (MPG) miles per gallon.  Now to me that sounds exciting to know that this car has classic looks but will drive and handle like a new car with more modern technologies.  I imagine that there are the purists out there reading this article that will cry “foul” and say this is not how a classic sports car should be treated. 

But hold on before you throw this resto-mod crowd under the bus.  What’s wrong with a muscle car with modern car flair…….Isn't that taking a classic and making it better??

I understand that the true “old school” collector wants to restore the timeless classic to an all original condition and try their best to find period correct or OEM (Original equipment manufacturer) parts to bring their baby back to its original state.  Sometimes a car or truck cannot be restored to original condition and that is prime time for a resto-mod.  Many times a barn find is simply missing too many parts or they have rusted away with time.  Before we go much further, let’s define “resto-mod”:  a combination of the words “restore” and “modify”, which is a perfect way to describe what takes place.  The builder/collector decides to fully restore a vehicle but to modify it to meet his or her taste.  During this rebuild, it’s the perfect time to upgrade some of the parts and make the car more like new.  There are many after-market vendors out there today who cater to the builder who is looking for newer technology, ways to make their car handle like todays newer sports car, and provide a safer ride as well.  Another added bonus to this type of build is the quality and reliability of the newer parts.

These resto-mod builds can range from mild to wild and it basically depends on how deep your wallet is.  You can just add a few suspension goodies or install a whole new drivetrain and power plant!  The possibilities are endless and can reach as far as your imagination takes you.  I've recently seen some wild combinations that deserve a second look.  The crate engine packages that Ford and Chevy offer these days make it simple to drop instant power and torque into your ride.

In just the last few years there are companies offering retooled sheet metal that give you a giant leap forward in your build.  For instance, Dynacorn International Inc. now offers steel replacement body shells and chrome trim pieces for the classic Mustang and Camaro that will simplify your project and save you hours of labor and sweat!

I’m not trying to sway you away from restoring your favorite classic hot rod and bringing that “numbers matching” classic back to life, but if you find a non-original vehicle that is calling your name, then consider a resto-mod and make it your own.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy seeing a fully restored classic in its original condition because it has that fresh off the showroom look and can give you a sense of what the car looked like when it was new.  However, it is always cool to see a 67 Camaro with a LS7 Corvette engine, all new gauges, and a Z06 suspension or 67 Mustang with a 429 Crate engine and custom exhaust system under it.

Hopefully I've given you some insight on your next build or maybe you have been inspired to consider a resto-mod project, but just remember whatever you do, make it your own and enjoy the journey along the way. 

Mustang.....it's a Family Affair!

Reggie’s dad started buying and selling Mustangs in the 80’s and 90’s and at one point he must have had 15 Mustangs ranging from 1964 ½ to 1969.  He would purchase them and his son (Ronnie) would rebuild them to sale to the public. 

Reggie’s son James inherited the family’s love for Mustangs at a very early age.  He told his son “you can have most of the things you want in life if you are willing to put in the work to earn them”.  When he was about 12 years old James asked his dad what he needed to do to earn a Mustang, so Reggie gave him three requirements: (1) Obtain the Rank of Eagle Scout, (2) Memorize the entire Bible book of James (his namesake) (3) Make a 33 or better on the ACT test.  Now Reggie did not know if he could obtain these goals but knew it would set him on a good path and keep him out of trouble.  Here is how James set about achieving these goals.

James was active in his scout troop advancing in leadership from Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, and Senior Patrol Leader.  He went to all three of Scouting’s high adventure bases –Philmont, Seabase, and Northern Tier.  He had leadership roles on each of the high adventure outings and he was the Expedition Leader in a 150 mile canoe trip in the Canadian wilderness.  In just a short period of time, he had completed all the requirements for the Eagle Scout rank.

Reggie began working with him to memorize the book of James.  At the end of most every day, James and his dad would memorize a portion of the book.  Progress was slow at first, so he began to learn additional portions in secret.  On his next birthday, he surprised his parents by reciting the entire book of James from memory……they were floored.  They shared the story with their Pastor and he asked if James would recite the book for the Church.  Each Sunday, James would get on stage and recite a chapter of the book, and the Pastor would follow up with the sermon.

James had always been a good student.  He won several awards with the Math and Debate Teams and because of his earlier academic performance; he had been invited to join the Talent Identification Program (TIP) from Duke University.  This program gave him the opportunity to take the actual ACT exam starting in the 8^th Grade.   In his first attempt he made a 26, in the 9^th grade he made a 32, and it became clear he was closing in on his goal.  At this point, Reggie started making plans to fulfill his part of the deal.  James ultimately made a composite score of 35 which earned him scholarship offers from many Universities.

At this point, Reggie started looking for James a Mustang.  After talking to his brother Ronnie, who has always been a Mustang enthusiast, they began to put the plan in action.   Ronnie has rebuilt many Mustangs over the years and had always wanted to build a Mustang using the Cervini C-500 kit.  Since this kit comes with many exterior body panel parts; hood, front bumper kit, ducktail rear wing, upper window scoops, lower quarter scoops, and an upgraded side exhaust system with side skirts and rear valance, Ronnie suggested looking for a 2006 or 2007 that had been involved in a minor accident.  He quickly found a 2007 coupe that was being auctioned off and it had minimal front end damage.  It only had 37K miles, a well-kept black and gold interior and a V6 engine.  Mechanically, it was in very good shape and Ronnie knew he could rebuild it, so he purchased the wreck for $4600.  Most of the front end damage would be replaced with the new parts from the Cervini’s C-500 body kit.

Ronnie started work on this project car in August and enjoyed it so much that he had most of the work completed by the middle of October.   Reggie knew it was going to be a good looking Mustang but had no idea it would turn out as good as it did!  It was hard to keep the car hidden from everyone so word would not get back to James, so a big surprise party was planned as part of their yearly family Thanksgiving feast.  After the meal, they blindfolded James and took him out to meet his new car.  It was a day they all will remember for the rest of their lives.

The car and the goals Reggie set for James to obtain became a driving force for him.  It set him on a path that kept him out of trouble through his teenage years and laid a foundation for his future.  Because of his ACT scores and his Eagle Scout achievement, he received many college scholarship offers.  He ultimately accepted a Scholarship to Auburn University.  The scholarship was worth almost $50,000. Total expenses on the car were $17,000.  (Reggie came out way ahead!) 

As James walked out to the car blindfolded that day, his dad was excited to show him a special touch they had added to James’s Mustang.  On the side of the car, the normal kit has a “C-500” emblem.  We changed that emblem to read “C-323.”  The C-323 stands for Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”  Every time he approaches the car, James sees this reminder of how he should live his life.

(James with his Mustang)

For more info on having a custom car built or restored, call Ronnie Spivey at 334-441-6109

(This article is also in the May 2014 Issue of "Mustang Times" a publication of the MCA.)

Thanks, Joseph

The 2015 Mustang...is the 50th too European?

When most folks turn 50 years old it’s celebrated with black balloons and gloomy tombstone markers, but the Ford Mustang is still alive and running free as it always has.  To celebrate the Golden years of this pony car, Ford has decided it is such a big occasion that they needed to have two simultaneous events.  Beginning on Thursday April 17^th, Mustang fans from all over the country will flood into Charlotte, NC and Las Vegas, NV to participate in four days of nothing but Mustang pandemonium!  If you drive a Mustang or are just a fan, you do not want to miss these once in a lifetime events.

(Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company)

Now that the 2015 Ford Mustang has been revealed and the photos are everywhere, I wanted to address the styling/design and some of the negative feedback that is all over Facebook and the forums.  Some fans out there are totally not interested in this all new look that the Mustang is sporting.  To those folks, I say…….wait a minute!

Let’s go back a few years and reflect for a moment.  I was reading one of my numerous Mustang coffee table books the other night and I read some intriguing quotes I had never heard before.......John J. Telnack who was a designer with Ford from the 60's thru the 80's.  (He also had a successful career with Ford lasting some 39 years).  He tells a story of how he helped design the all-new European influenced 1979 Fox Mustang.  When he showed a "sneak peek" of the design to Henry Ford, He did not like the direction they were proposing.  John asked him to just think about it and they would do a few variations.....and the 2nd time he showed it to Henry he said "Boy.....I've got to tell you, it really works.....let's go with it".

What's very interesting is that the other design they were more strongly considering from the other competing design team was "Very-Very American and very boxy"  He goes on to recount how they decided to go with the design that was more European and how successful it became and still is today!!  It’s neat to hear those behind the scenes talks that go on to make history with good and bad design decisions.  I’m just glad that Henry Ford decided to let Lee Iaccoca act on his vision and proceed with production of the Mustang.

(Here is a custom version of the 1979 Mustang Indy Pace Car Edition)

I personally don't have any issues with a European designed 2015 as long as it keeps the American look with a slight European twist- like an Aston Martin-Vanquish look!

The Ford Mustang having a European influence is nothing new and it’s been a part of the car for a large portion of its history.  I think there were some classic Mustangs with some European design influence (maybe one-offs), and more recently there was the Giugiaro Mustang Concept from 2006.

This car did give us a few hints at what the 50^th Mustang might look like, but it was a one-off custom built concept car to stir the interest of Mustang fans worldwide.

Speaking of worldwide, Ford has made no excuses for the worldwide market they are trying to reach with this all new Mustang.  They are pushing the car into some of the Asian markets that have always been off the radar until now.

There will always be those Mustang purists who just will not warm up to this new 2015 design, but I feel like I need to share my experience to bring out an interesting perspective.  I am president of a very active Mustang car club in my local community and most of my friends know that I am Mustang Crazy!  In the months and days leading up to the “Official” reveal of this all new Mustang, many of my car club buddies and close friends kept asking me what I thought it was going to look like and did I think it would be too European and not “American looking”.  I continued to tell each one of them that Ford would deliver on this one and we would all love it.

Now after the photos of the car were posted and all the major news networks covered the big reveals, it was amazing to me to hear the feedback from my friends.   Of my friends who were “car guys” and Mustang fans, there were only about 50% who liked the new 2015 design, but of my friends who are not into cars or Mustangs at all, the numbers were almost 90% who loved it and even said, “WOW, I think I want one of those when it comes out!”  Now I’m not a numbers or marketing guy, but I would say that Ford has hit another homerun if they can get folks who had not previously even looked twice at buying a Mustang to now say they are seriously considering purchasing one. 

When the fanfare is over, the 50^th Mustang Celebration is finished, and the car has hit the dealerships, we will truly get a feel for how the public has responded to this worldwide Mustang.  Personally I feel most will be quick to fall in love all over again with this new Pony car just as they did back in 1964 when it was released.  The only question that will remain is…..”What color do I want to order it in”? 

Don’t forget you heard it here first-when Ford releases the next wave of special edition Mustangs (which rumor has it will include an all-new 2016 Mach I that will blow your socks off)…Ford will fill every order and might have to consider building even more to meet demands! 

Happy 50^th Birthday to the Ford Mustang…….keep running strong for another 50 years!!

Car Show vs. Cruise-in...what’s the difference?

I get this question all the time, so I decided to fill you in and then you will know what to expect.

A cruise-in is a more laid back type of event where you just drive your ride in and park, there is no fee to park and show your ride, there are no trophies given, and it is typically held on a Friday night or Saturday afternoon/night.  These cruise-in events are sometimes called “Show & Shine” because that’s all you do-shine your ride up and show it off.  There is sometimes music and door prizes but it’s just a little more easy going that a full blown car show.  Typically the cruise-in will only have 25-50 cars/trucks where everybody just wants to stroll around and see the vehicles and chat for a while.  Most of the time a cruise-in is held near or in the parking lot of a restaurant or business, that way the women can shop or the family can eat while they are there enjoying the rides.  Cruise-in’s typically only last 3-4 hours.

(Cruise-in a Dreamland BBQ in 2013)

Car shows are typically a lot larger in size and offer more for the serious car guy or gal.  The major differences are that there is usually a cost or entry fee to show your car and they usually judge the cars/trucks in some type of classes and give a few trophies at most shows.  A car show will also typically have vendors selling food/collectibles/parts/etc to help draw in a larger crowd. 

Most of the time a car show will attract more folks who just come by to see and admire the vehicles, as where a cruise-in is mostly just the folks who bring their rides.  At a typical car show, participants will arrive early to get their car/truck registered and then begin an hour (or longer) process of detailing their ride.  They will setup their chairs to relax in later in the day, but upon arrival they spend a good bit of time putting the final touches on the car/truck to make sure it’s ready for the judging.  A car show will typically last from 8:00 am till 3 or 4:00 pm.  The registration ends and judging begins at most shows around 12 to 1:00 pm.  Door prizes and other giveaways are always an attraction at car shows…….in fact a few of the larger show across the country give away an engine, a $5000 tool chest, or even a nice used car to help attract more folks.  Another great bonus to these events is that many shows are now charity events where most if not all of your entry fee is given to a local charity for a very worthy cause.

(Car Show in Somerset, KY in 2011)

Car show season is in full swing now that the weather is finally turning warmer, so now you have no excuse not to know the differences in car shows and cruise-ins.  The only question is now…….which one are you going to attend and when??

Joseph

“I Feel the Need……..The Need for Speed”

What is our fascination with speed?  It doesn't matter if its cars, motorcycles, planes, or even the latest track stars, we all love to see something go fast!  Maybe it’s a guy thing but we always want whatever we are driving to go faster…….we never seem to be satisfied with how fast it will go, we always want more.

The year was 1986 and a popular movie was released by the name of "Top Gun” starring Tom Cruise and it portrayed a Navy fighter pilot who loved to go fast and show out.  One famous line in the movie has been quoted for years by car guys everywhere……”I feel the need, the need for speed”.  Fast forward a few years and a new video game was released for the PlayStation and Sega called “Need for Speed” and it featured you in a role play game where you were behind the wheel driving some of the fastest cars of all time.  With each new release of the game, it allowed you to blast down the road in the most popular and exotic super cars of the world!  I can remember waiting for the next version of the game to come out each year, because you always wanted to see which new super cars would be on it.  A few years later they even had an edition call “Need for Speed-Hot Pursuit” where the goal was to drive it like you stole it and outrun the cops after they began chasing you.  (Note…..don’t try this in real life!)

Hollywood has now made a new movie called “Need for Speed” that tells the story of an underground street racer who was framed and has now been released from prison.  He joins a cross country race event to get revenge on the man who set him up.  Needless to say there will be lots of high speed car chases and tons of awesome looking cars.  There was even a specially designed 2014 Mustang custom built for this movie and it promises to do some stunts that will take our breath away.  Just in the last couple of weeks it has been revealed that the newly released 2015 Ford Mustang will also make a cameo appearance in the movie.  I’m sure this movie will pay tribute to all the classic car chase movies of recent fame (Bullitt, Gone in Sixty Seconds) that also featured famous Mustangs.

Now back to my original question……what is up with our obsession with speed?  The Bugatti Veyron has held the title of fastest production car for the past few years, but that record was just broken this year by a newcomer.  The Hennessey Venom GT set a new world record of 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h) for a 2-seater sports car.  Hats off to the Hennessey Performance team for such an incredible run and such a spectacular looking car!  I can’t wait to see what will break the record next.

So it matters not if you are driving a car, flying a plane, racing a horse, or even the neighborhood foot race…..everybody wants to be the fastest.  Some say it’s the adrenaline rush or just the thrill of going faster than what seems humanly possible.  I say that as long as people are traveling in some type of vehicle even if it’s in personal Spacecraft’s one day……..it’s always going to be a race to see who is the fastest as they satisfy their “Need for Speed”!

It’s almost time for car show season!

Warmer weather will be here before you know it and you will see local car shows and cruise-in’s everywhere.  Are you plugged into your local car show scene??  If not you might be asking what’s the big deal with car shows and why would I want to go to one?  Local car shows are always a great family friendly way to get outside and see some remarkable classic cars and trucks as well as the late model muscle cars of today. 

Going to car shows is one of the most fun memories I have spending time with my dad.  We would walk around and I would listen intently as he reminisced about the cars and hearing stories of which ones he had owned.  I would not trade those day with my dad for any amount!

These shows usually offer some great music and good food to enjoy as you stroll back in time and relive what my dad calls “the good-ol-days”.  Many times the local cars shows are raising money for a local charity or organization and they offer a great way to support your community.  It is wonderful to see money raised to help clubs or organizations in your town when in need.

A few years ago you had to search far and near each month to find a good car show to attend, but now days its hard each weekend to decide which show or cruise-in you are going to go to.  Sometimes there are multiple shows to attend the same day…….can you say road trip?

So if you have a classic car or truck get it shined up and ready to hit the shows and if you don’t, grab the wife and kids, get out and take in the sights and sounds of your local car show scene.  Kids are so into video games these days, it will be a great change for them to get out and experience an up close look and sounds of an American V8 engine as it fires to life!  It is such a wonderful site to see a family at a car show with the little boy in tow with his dad and the mom pushing the baby stroller and everyone having a great time as they enjoy the classic cars and trucks at a local car show………are you making plans to attend one now?

Buying a Classic car……..Hind sight is always 20/20!

The old saying “Hind sight is 20/20” is so true and when it comes to buying a classic car for an investment, you better do your homework.  If we only knew then what we know now!  Just think for a minute at the cars that were just average drivers that became an investment goldmine.   I still hear stories of guys who are cashing in their 401K plans to buy classic cars and sit on them as they increase in value.  I’m not sure if I’m ready to go that far with my retirement plans but the numbers do support this as being a smart move in some cases. 

CNN Money just posted an article listing the top 10 dirt cheap collectible cars.  The article outlines the idea that you don’t have to be rich to buy cars that are increasing in value.  The author says with as little as $5000 you can purchase a few cars today that will make decent money in the near future.  One of the examples he gives is the 1985-93 Fox Mustangs equipped with the 5.0 liter V8 engine.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/autos/1002/gallery.cheap_collector_cars/index.html

(1993 Cobra Mustang in rare Teal color)

Time coupled with the laws of supply and demand can change the value of a car in good ways and bad, but having forethought at which cars are going to be the most sought after ones is not an easy game to play.  Most of the articles I have read recently say the classic car market is on the move up again after skids over the last three years or so.  This rebound in the market may be due to the baby-boomers being able to go out and purchase the cars they wanted while in high school and college, the difference is now they can afford to buy one fully restored.  Better yet, they can buy one that has the gadgets and toys they wanted to have on it back in the day.

Again I remind you that hind sight is always 20/20 and we all know the cars now that we should have bought.  Many experts suggest that you buy a classic car today that is a good value, but that you also love and can enjoy as you wait for the value to increase.  Another article quoted stats on the 1970’s Porsche Turbo cars fetching approximately $20,000 over what they did just three years ago.  Classic pickup trucks have also been doing very well in the automobile auctions and seem to be bringing more money than ever. 

With all the tools we now have with the internet and websites devoted to collector cars and values, everybody can be an expert.  Collector car auctions like Barrett Jackson, Mecum, and RM Auctions have also kept buyers and sellers informed as to which cars are bringing the most and what type cars are not selling as well.  The only disadvantage to attending these auctions in person is that the excitement and passion can cause to you to make an emotional buy and not the wisest from an investment perspective.

Now I’m not advising you go out and cash in your retirement funds to go buy a classic car, but you might want to consider it as an option.  The more difficult task may be convincing your spouse that the classic Mustang or Camaro you are buying is purely for an investment!  (Good luck with that)

Ala. boy with cancer, 9, gets dream visit to Mustang plant - Fox 2 News Headlines

Ala. boy with cancer, 9, gets dream visit to Mustang plant - Fox 2 News Headlines

My Dream Team…….do you have one?

With the Winter Olympics approaching this week I began to reflect on some of the most memorable moments and the one that stands out to me as being the best has three words; “The Dream Team”.  The 1992 Olympic Basketball team was known as “The Dream Team” and was one of the best basketball teams that have ever been assembled.  This team had it all; it was the best of the best.  They had all the big names and the team was stacked with skills at every position.  You already knew the names and everyone was excited to see how they would perform together.  The team had Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkley, Stockton, Pippen, and Ewing just to name a few.  They overwhelmingly won the gold medal and made us proud to be from the USA.

By now you may be asking “What does this basketball team have to do with cars”?  Reminiscing about this team caused me to think about what if I was trying to assemble a team, who would, I choose.  After thinking about it for a few minutes I decided it would be more fun to try and assemble my Dream Team of cars!

After some time of research and decision making, here is my “Dream Team” of my favorite cars and why I would want to own them.  (They are not in any particular order)

(1965 Shelby 427 Cobra)

1. 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra – The Shelby name alone makes everyone want to own one of these, but this car may be on everybody’s list.  In 1965 this car was reported to have run a speed test from 0-100 mph, back to zero in 14.5 seconds…….I wonder how many cars today to beat that?  This car is loud, very small and most likely not the most comfortable car you will ever drive, but in spite of all those negatives……you still want one!
2. 1955 Chevy Bel-air – The 1955 Chevy was a departure from the look and style of the early 50’s cars and Chevy was ready to show it off.  It gained the V8 engine option and the ad campaign called it the “hot one” and that was a fitting name for this classic styling home-run that is still one of the most popular classic cars.  At car shows and cruise-ins today you still see younger kids gather around and admire these beautiful cars.  Like this car or not you have to respect the styling and classy lines of this Hot-Rod Chevy.
3. 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed – Seriously….the name of the car has speed in it, what else can I say, well with a 6.0 liter W12 (you will have to do your own research on that one) Twin Turbo engine with all-wheel drive, it has lots more to say.  This car will allow you to ride in sophisticated modern style and blow the doors off of most any car on the road with its 602 HP, 553 lb-ft of torque, and a 0-60 mph in the 4.3 sec.  Oh and in case you are still wondering why this made my list, it also boasts a 202 mph top speed!
4. 2005 Ford GT – This was the first mid-engine “super car” offering from Ford and it lived up to all the hype.  The car pays tribute to the Ford GT40 that gained so much fame during the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the late 60’s.  This two-seater came equipped with Ford’s 5.4 liter V8 and it was supercharged to boost the horsepower up to 500 and also 500 lb-ft of torque!  This car was capable of a 0-60 time of 3.5 sec.  From a collect-ability aspect, they only made 4038 of these cars, but if I owned one, I would drive it every day.
5. 1969 Mustang Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet – If you know me very well, you knew I could not leave this one off of my list.  This Mustang just had all the tough guy/muscle car goodies you could want.  From the hood pins to the flat black trim, this Mustang looked like it belong on the race track straight off the showroom floor.  It came with a front and rear spoiler that gave a hint to the beast under the hood.  The 428 Cobra Jet engine would shake and rattle as you revved the engine thanks to its ram-air shaker hood scoop.  Ford rated these cars at 335 HP but it’s been speculated for years that they were grossly underrated.  It may not have been the fastest car at the track on Friday nights, but it scored big with its looks. 

I had to cut my list off at five and I’m sure your list of “Dream Team” cars will be totally different, but if you are a car guy then I’m sure I will love yours also.  I tried to cover all the bases on my list but I could have easily made it a top 10.  Feel free to post up your list for us to drool over.  I guess I need to start my garage expansion plans before I start looking for my list of cars.  

Thanks, Joseph

The Eli Williams Mustangs and Muscle Car Show

The weather was cold but the warms hearts kept everybody feeling toasty inside.  On Saturday 25^th, 2014 a car show was held to benefit Eli Williams a 9 year boy from Athens, AL who is fighting brain cancer.  The parking lot of Lindsay Lane Baptist Church was almost full of Mustangs from the surrounding clubs (Athens, Huntsville, Shoals, Nashville, and Birmingham) as well as many other cars and trucks from all over North Alabama and Southern Tennessee.

Photo: SHOTbyTaco.com

The local celebrities were out in full force, Dan Williams former Athens Mayor and Alabama House of Representative/5^th District, Bill Holtzclaw-State Senator/2^nd District, ZTV’s Jamie and Gloria Cooper, Mustang Club of America (MCA)-President Steve Prewitt, and other MCA National Board Members were all there........even WAFF Channel 48 weatherman Brad Travis brought his Black Saleen Mustang, but the real Star of the show was young Eli.  The crowds rushed over to catch a glimpse and grab a photo of him as he got out of the 2014 Shelby GT500 Mustang he arrived in (on loan from McClary Ford). It was a special moment that all in attendance had waited for all week.

The car show started off as just a small private event just for Eli to view a few of the Mustangs from the Limestone Co. Mustang Club at his neighborhood club house.  Word quickly spread and the event was moved to his school (Athens Bible School), but when more folks begin to hear about why we were doing this and who Eli was, the event blossomed into a full blown car show open to all local cars and trucks.  A Face book event page was quickly created and thru word of mouth and the power of social media, the once small gathering became one of the largest car shows that Athens has seen in a while.  It’s estimated that close to 400 cars were in attendance and they all braved the chilly day outside just to show a little kindness and love to Eli and his family.

The outpouring of support for Eli, his family, and St. Jude’s (Gifts/donations totaling over $7000) was a perfect picture of just how caring our local car community is.  They traveled long distances and car club/car brand loyalties were set aside for one great cause.  It makes me proud to be a part of such a caring community.

The donations were almost too many to count but I must recognize Ben Tate at Tate’s Services for the use of four port-a-john’s, pizza from Pizza Hut, BBQ from Lawler’s, sandwiches from Chick-Fil-A, water from Publix and Sports-Med-Huntsville, and chips/goodies from Halsey’s and Frito-Lay.  A special thanks to Lindsay Lane Baptist Church for allowing us to use the large parking lot needed to hold this event. WHNT Channel 19 also covered the event with a great news story telling of how it all came together and those involved, including Lawrence Taylor-Duncan and Lisa Bass who were two key players in making this a special day for the Williams family happen.

The most special moment of the day came as Eli gave a speech that he had prepared just to say thanks to everyone who made this event an awesome day for him.  All I can say is I’m glad I was wearing sunglasses so everyone did not see my tears!  I couldn’t help but think how maybe this event and all the cool cars he got to see would bring a smile to his face on some of his tough days during treatments or weeks of feeling tired after long days of travel back and forth to St. Jude’s. 

Eli is a very special kid and I’m proud to call him my friend!!

For contributions visit: http://www.gofundme.com/6da7z4

Thanks, Joseph Scott

Father/Son project……do you have one?

There is just something about a father getting to share time with his son or daughter as they work on a car project together.  It’s an age old story of a dad who finds an old car that he wants to purchase and restore back to its original condition or hot-rod it to his liking.  After buying it he decides it would be a great way to work on it with his son and spend quality time as he teaches him about the workings of an automobile.  Now if you are like me your ability to do the restorations and/or modifications yourself may be limited, but it can still be fun to plan and strategize the project together.  There are so many things that can be decided on together like tires, wheels, paint, engine work, gears, etc. When you work on these things together your son will begin to take ownership in the project.  He may even decide he wants to drive it when you complete the work.

(Photo courtesy of Getty images)

It seems that time is our most valuable procession these days and everything is competing for it!  No matter how hard we try, there is still only 24 hours in a day and most of our weekends are filled to the max with other tasks and duties.  I've heard it said that the only thing you will wish you could have changed when you are old is to have spent more time with family and I am already old enough to agree with that.  It’s never too late to get started, so what are you waiting on??

A good project car or truck can also be a wise investment if you choose the correct vehicle and are willing to fix it up for the purpose of reselling it for profit.  Craigslist and e-bay are full of vehicles that can be turned or “flipped” for a decent profit if you find one that doesn't have too many issues.  Now keep in mind that those Saturday morning shows make it look easy, but you must be willing to take a gamble sometimes.  I guess the bottom line is win or lose, if you are spending more time with your son or daughter, it’s a success!

I currently have a car project (Mustang GT) and my son has had many good ideas and suggestions for modifications/upgrades……..I just hope when we are finished he’s not going to want to take it away from me!

Santa’s Naughty and Nice List (Mustang Style)!

While planning my Christmas list this year, I began to think about what if Santa made a “Naughty and Nice” List of Mustangs.  There are so many that could make that list but I decided to help Santa to make sure he doesn't miss any.

I’ve decided that the nice list should be a collections of Mustangs that over the years stood the test of time for the contribution they made or they brought about some nice new feature that had us saying “Hey…..that’s nice” but did so in a milder more calm “daily driver” manner than would the “Naughty” list.  The list below will chronicle each car and the reasons they made the list.

The “Nice” List;

1.      The 1964 ½ Mustang Coupe – This new car ushered in a new breed of cars coined as the “Pony” car, but it did so in a milder manner than what was in store for its near future.  The original classic Mustang came equipped with a mild 260 cu. In. V8, but did manage to turn lots of heads and sell at a record pace for the folks at Ford.

2.      The 1974 Mustang II – This car was a fresh update for the Mustang brand but it came during the genesis of the gas shortage and makes the “Nice” list due to the fact that it did receive the Motor Trend Car of the Year honors.  The new platform was even smaller than the original Mustang introduced in 1964 and was able to meet the new U.S. emissions and safety standards.

3.      1984 SVO Mustang – This car could also be considered for the “Naughty” list but I chose to keep it here for the reason that this new breed of Mustang brought some new technology to the table that was worthy of a second look.  This European-styled hatchback was equipped with a turbo-charged 4 cylinder engine that was as quick as the V8 GT’s!  It boasted a 0-60 time of 7.5 sec (fast for the day).  The SVO’s were only built for three years (84-86), but still remain very popular with collectors. 

4.      2005 Mustang – Retro was the word used to describe this “all new” Mustang that Ford brought to the public in the fall of 2004.  The car and the sales for this one was another home-run and the throwback styling was very popular with the older generation who was ready to buy a new Mustang again.  Many of the body lines rekindled the look of the 1967 fastback Mustangs.

5.      2011 Mustang V6 – How does 300 horsepower and 30 miles per gallon sound?  When the new 3.7 liter V6 Mustang was released it was rated at 305 HP and 31 MPG!  That was enough power to get the V8 guys to take notice and the 30 MPG was more than enough to get everybody talking.  These horsepower numbers of over 305 was equivalent to the output of the 1996 Cobra Mustang.

The Naughty List should be a collection of Mustangs that strike fear in the other drivers as you drive by and make you wonder if the guy behind the wheel can handle the beast he’s driving!  This list is not for the faint of heart, but more for those who dare to live on the edge and take a trip on the wild side from time to time. 

The Naughty List;

1.      1967 Shelby GT-500 “Eleanor” – Okay, it’s a movie car but it’s one of the most recognized Mustangs ever built.  This car was the star of the 2000 movie Gone in 60 seconds and was built by Classic Recreations in Oklahoma.  Each one came equipped with a NOS system in the trunk and its attached to an “Armed” toggle on the dash and a “Go Baby Go” red button on the shift knob.  If you wanted one of the movie cars built for you, they ran approx. $100,000 for the base model with 535 horsepower or open the wallet up a little wider and get the 770 horsepower version for approx. $189,000.

2.      1968 Cobra-Jet 428 Mustang – This mid-year offering from Ford was built for the drag strip and that’s just where it made most of its claim to fame.  It came equipped with all the upgrades, mods, and goodies for the strip.  With 11.5 second ¼ mile runs at 120 mph quickly earned top honors at the 1968 NHRA Winter-Nationals in the Super Stock Class.

3.      1970 BOSS 429 Mustang - This car was so “Hot” it had to be sent to an aftermarket company (Kar-Kraft) for the big bad 429 cu. in. engine to be shoe-horned into the engine bay.  The beast under the hood was believed to have a horsepower output somewhere between 500-600 HP!  Another reason these cars made the list is the eye popping colors Ford painted them (Grabber Orange, Grabber Green, Grabber Blue, Calypso Coral, and Pastel Blue) and the giant hood scoop was painted matte black. 

4.      2000 Cobra R Mustang – This limited edition Mustang (only 300 built) packs a 5.4 liter/385-horsepower engine under the hood that was capable of 170 mph!  With its bulging hood, lowered suspension, bigger brakes, large rear spoiler, and side exhaust it is clear that this Mustang was ahead of its time for performance.  By the way, it was only available in the color “Performance Red”.  

5.      2013 Shelby GT-500 Mustang – One phrase defines why this car makes the list……200 mph!  If that did not impress you I’ve got another number for you- 662 horsepower!  Do I have your attention now?   The 5.8 liter supercharged V8 power plant in this beast will propel it from zero to 60 in 3.5 seconds and the ¼ mile in a mere 11.8 seconds.  It also packs a ground pounding 631 lb-ft of torque! 

      

      I hope that each of you have been good this year and maybe Santa will bring you what you asked for……as for me, I’ve been nice this year, but my wishes are on the Naughty list! 

      What about you?

Paul Walker and James Dean……….Gone Too Soon!!

As I was reflecting this weekend about the very tragic death of another one of our Hollywood actors, I could not help but be reminded of another young actor who was taken from this earth too soon.  The striking similarities between the deaths of these two young men were eerie and I thought the two needed to be compared.  These two California born actors were lost before they had achieved their greatest accomplishments, but they both lived life to the fullest and made such an impact in a short time.

Quick Facts:

·         Age at time of death:  James Dean 24 years old, Paul Walker 40 years old.

·         Profession:  Both Hollywood actors

·         Movie Career: James Dean was the star of only two films at the time and had just finished his third when he was killed.  Dean made an impact on the teens of the 50’s and 60’s with his rolls on film and his off screen allure.  Paul Walker had been in many TV and movie rolls during his career, but gained the most success as the star of the very successful Fast and Furious movie series and was currently filming the 7^th instalment of this series.  Walker had a large impact on the street racing and tuner scene of today’s youth.

·         Hobby: Both Dean and Walker enjoyed driving race cars in their off time.  Dean had already owned a few sports cars and had begun competing in the Palm Springs Road Races and also at Bakersfield. His final race was at Santa Barbra where he drove a 1955 Porsche Super Speedster and was running 4^th when he had engine trouble.  His racing career was halted by Warner Brothers until he had finished filming Giant, his next film at the time (It would be his last).  Paul Walker also enjoyed weekend racing and had competed in the Redline Time Attack racing series with his BMW M3 E92.  He also was a member of the AE Performance Race Team (Always Evolving race team owned by Roger Rodas).

(This is believed to be the last photo of Dean by his 550 Spyder)

(This is thought to be the last known photo of Walker by his Carrera GT)

·         Car Wreck:  James Dean was killed in a Porsche 550 Spyder and Paul Walker was killed in a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, both were exotic sports cars capable of extremely high speed and acceleration!

·         Controversy: One big question in both deaths is whether speed was a factor.  It has always been assumed that the wreck that killed Dean was due to high speed and/or his daredevil lifestyle; however recent evidence suggests that Dean was driving the car and was only traveling approx. 70mph.  Prior investigations had suggested that Dean’s mechanic (Rolf Wutherich) was driving and that they were traveling in excess of 100mph.  Dean and his mechanic were actually driving to a car race in Salinas, California and decided to drive the 550 Spyder instead of towing it.  There is also a backstory of this Porsche 550 Spyder and the possible “curse” the car had.  In the case of Walker’s wreck there is also questions about what caused the wreck…..was it speed, who was driving, was it a mechanical failure?  If you have seen the crash photos it does seem that speed was most likely involved because the car was ripped up badly and then caught fire.  Initial investigations into Walker’s accident say that the driver of the Carrera GT was Roger Rodas, who was a close personal friend and financial advisor.  Roger was also an avid race car driver and owner/CEO of AE Performance Race Team.

It’s very odd that James Dean known for his “Rebel” type persona, and Walker known for his love of fast cars (on and off the screen) and that they both left this World in such a violent way-while in a sports car doing what they loved.  Call it irony or fate; these two men will always live on through the big screen as we relive their glory days on film.  But one thing is for sure……..they will forever be missed!

RIP: James Dean (Feb. 8, 1931 – Sep. 30, 1955)

RIP:  Paul Walker (Sep. 12, 1973 – Nov. 30, 2013)