Shows and Awards

I mentioned in my previous post that this car has gone to three shows and one cruise-in. It has won an award at every single one. I figured I should do a post about each of the shows since I haven't been really good about keeping this blog up.  So here it goes:

Tuacahn was the first show it went to in April 2012. I actually did an entire post on that which you can see here. That was the first show we took it too. The car got second place in it's class. This show had strict MCA judging, which I actually should have read more into before the show. I was told after the show that the car would have gotten first place had I taken out the floor mats (which I didn't know I had to take out). We also had little things we weren't able to correct since we had been rushing to finish the restoration. I still think 2nd place is great considering a few weeks earlier the car was just a shell. It was still exciting getting an award.

The next show it went to was IMAFS (Intermountain Mustangs and Fords Stampede) which is held in Park City, UT every year. This show was held in August of 2012. I actually talked a little bit about this show in a previous post you can get to from here. The car took home an Award of Excellence in it's class. This show did not have strict MCA judging so they didnt have 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. They picked the top cars in each class to receive an award of excellence:

We then took it to a Cruise-in that was held at a Scaddy's by our house. I was actually surprised to get the managers choice award. The manager came and chatted with us for a few and absolutely loved the car.

Yesterday we took it to the 2013 IMAFS in Park City. It was a really fun show. We actually just put a new brake booster in it since the one we had was not working very well. It is so nice having good working brakes now! Anyways we took home an award for "Best Interior".  I was incredibly shocked at this one. There were over 200 cars there. It was just crazy for me to think that my car had the best interior out of all of the cars there. We were around when it was being judged, and the judges had only good things to say about the car. I had hoped it would get an award, but never would have dreamed it would get "Best Interior". 

So far these are the shows we have made it to. I had hoped to be able to make it to more, but life gets busy. We are trying to get the car out and drive it as much as possible so we can be sure it will be ready for Mustangs Across America in April of next year. We plan to drive it across country to attend the Mustang 50th celebration in Charlotte. So  far the car seems to drive and handle well so hopefully it will make it!

Feeling Thankful

I know I haven't really posted much on my car, so I figured it was time to do a catch-up post. I have taken it to three shows and a cruise-in. It has actually taken home an award at every single one. It is crazy to me getting so much recognition for this car. I feel like every time I go up to accept an award, that there are so many other people that put work into this car that should actually be getting this award. I feel so incredibly thankful to everyone who helped with this car, and made it what it is.

I have to thank my dad for buying such a neat car in the first place. I love that I have this connection to him. It is so fun when I can take him to car shows, and being able to share the experience with him. Watching him drive the fully restored car for the first time was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. He had his doubts, and in fact, he tried to talk me out of buying the car in 2007. He felt it was too far gone. He has been able to watch the restoration over the years and was able to witness how a car that was "junkyard material" could be restored to it's former beauty. I know it is neat for him to see his first car resurrected.

I of course have to thank my aunt for holding onto the car for so many years. I know she always dreamed of the day she would be able to restore it. I am so thankful she allowed me to purchase the car from her, even though it broke her heart to sell it. She had many memories in this car. I am also so thankful to her for giving me copies of pictures she had of the car all decked out on her wedding day. It is incredible having pictures of the car through the years.

As far as the restoration, the biggest thanks goes to my husband Mike. He orchestrated the whole thing, and did most of the work. He is amazing in what he was able to do for this car. This restoration never would have happened without him. My father-in-law also spent numerous hours at our house welding and helping to put the car together. I love that this daddy-daughter car became a father-son project as well. It just adds to the sentimental value of the car.  I can never thank him enough for the time he volunteered in helping with this restoration.

We also had Gary who did body work and paint. Gary is incredible in his skills. He was also great to deal with. It was fun being able to drive up to his house to check the progress of the car. We spent endless hours chatting with him about all kinds of things. He really did an incredible job with what he did. We also had some help from other people, like the exhaust shop, or Ron who did an amazing job on the headliner and seats.

There were just so many people that helped with this that I feel need recognition. That's why every time I walk up to get an award, I always feel like it should be Mike, or his Dad, or one of these other people accepting it. They did all the work. I just supervised, took pictures, blogged about it, and occasionally jumped in and helped when I could. Without them, I wouldn't even have this car. So to everyone who has played a part in this car coming together, I just want to say Thanks!

Before and After Pictures

Update

I actually had not really planned on adding more to this blog since it was really just a way to track the restoration. My plan was to document the restoration so I could print it into a book (which I have done). I figured since the restoration is done, that would be that. I actually logged on here for the first time in months and I am shocked by the comments I have received and people asking for an update. I am honored that people have taken the time to read my blog and comment on it. It makes me feel special :-)

It is hard to say the restoration is done, since there is still more to be done. I guess I am realizing that a restoration is a lifelong thing. There will always be something more to do on it. We did figure out the engine problems. It was a headache trying to get it all figured out. We replaced everything you could imagine just trying to find the problem. We finally figured out it was a defective cam shaft. Once we replaced that, it ran with no problems. Unfortunately it was near the end of car show season by the time we got that figured out. We did manage to take it to the Northern Utah Mustang Owners Association (NUMOA) Park City car show. I came away from that show with an Award of Excellence in its class.

I do remember after we got home from that show my dad was able to drive the mustang for the first time in forty-something years. I made sure to have the Sgt Peppers Beatles album playing when he drove it. It would have been perfect had my mom been there. I had said from the very beginning of the restoration that I couldn't wait till my dad could take my mom for a drive in it with Sgt Peppers playing. My mom had memories of seeing my dad sitting in the car listening to that album. That was back in the day when she had a crush on him but they had yet to go out. Sadly my mom passed away in November of 2009, so she didn't ever get a chance to ride in this car. I am glad that my dad was able to take that literal drive down memory lane. We even went as far as to have him drive it through the neighborhood where he lived when he first bought this car. You could tell he really enjoyed driving it. It was an awesome moment.

The car has been parked all winter so nothing has happened for a few months. I am very anxious to get it out and take it to some car shows this year. We are in the preliminary stages of planning, but hope to take it to the Mustang 50th Anniversary next year. We would like to drive it with the Mustangs Across America group and head to the show in Charlotte, NC.

As for where things sit mechanically.... it is running good. We have to look into issues with the power booster on the power brakes. There is a vacuum issue on it. Also Mike bought a new transmission pan since the one on it is warped. So that will need to be put on it. For my birthday recently he also gave me some miscellaneous trim and chrome pieces that really needed to be replaced. So that is really all we have planned for it right now.

I guess I will plan on keeping this blog up since there is actually a bit of interest in it. I wont be posting nearly as much as I was during the restoration, but I can update on shows it goes to and all that fun stuff. I am really hoping that we can get it out to a lot of shows this year. Oh and thanks to everyone that has left comments on this blog. Reading them really makes my day.

Age Progression of the Car

One neat thing that happened on the St George trip, is my aunt giving me pictures of the car. I am incredibly thankful to my aunt for holding on to this car and allowing me to purchase it from her. I know she is still struggling with her decision to sell the car, which I completely understand. It honestly means so much to me to be able to have this car. I am so thankful she held on this car through the years so that it could be restored.

Anyways I figured I would show the age progression of the car so here it goes... 

These two pictures were taken in April 1967 (when the car was only 3 months old)

The next three were taken in May of 1974 on my aunts wedding day

 This picture was taken in the 1980's

This was April 2008

 And current day (April 2012)

Just for comparison sake...

It's Showtime!

The 28th was the show. We got there early and got the car nice and clean. This is the view looking over part of the Tuacahn parking lot.

This is me standing next to the car

 With my display (which I only put up after the car had been judged)

 We got a picture of my dad sitting in the car. It was so fun having him at the show with me. He seemed to really like the car and it was a trip down memory lane.

 Me and my dad with the car

 Me and Mike with the car

 Saturday night we had to move the car so it could stay over night. So we ended up towing the car with a golf cart. Someone has video footage of it which I really hope to get a copy of someday soon. Anyways this is the car tucked in for the night with the car cover over it.

 The next morning ready to be shown again. We ended up staying in the same place we moved it to so we didn't have to tow it back to our original spot.

 I was very surprised to get 2nd place in my class. The awards are made out of sandstone and are rather neat.  It was nice being able to get an award. We were told that there were two things that made the difference between us getting 2nd versus 1st place. We didn't have time to get a spare tire for the trunk, and I left the floor mats in the car. I had gone back and forth on if those had to come out or not but finally just decided to leave them. So lesson learned, those come out when being judged.

Anyways it was an awesome show and an awesome trip. I am really glad we were able to get the car there even though it wasn't running. The car turned out amazing and I feel like the award really should go to Mike for taking charge of this restoration and making this car what it is. I feel so lucky to have my dad's first car and to be able to have it restored. I really loved having my dad at the show with me. I feel like the luckiest person in the world!

Autocross and Pony Trails

The 26th was the autocross. Mike's parents had us drive their Cobra to St George so they could autocross it. Mike had some fun autocrossing it. This is the best picture I could get of him doing the autocross.  He made me go with him one round but I didn't like it. It scared the heck out of me! He said his goal was to make me squeal which I did. I will admit it, I am a chicken and going fast around a course with lots of skidding and sliding is not my cup of tea. Mike sure enjoyed it though.

 The 27th was the pony trails. The morning of the pony trails we went and got my car off the trailer and situated at Tuacahn and went through classification. It was decided my car would be in Occasionaly Driven - Trailerd  class. After getting that figured out we headed on the pony trails. Heather and Dana were in Nightmare and we were in the Cobra with the top down. We also stopped in Hurricane and picked up my dad so he could go with us.

 This is me and my dad sitting in the cobra in Zions.

 On the other side of Zions all the cars met for lunch at a ranch. It was a really good lunch. It was chicken or buffalo fajitas. I enjoyed it and I think my dad enjoyed it as well.

We then headed back to Harrisburg and I got showered and cleaned up before heading to Iceberg in St. George for a cruise in. It was fun!

Off we go to St. George

Tuesday, April 24th

Mike got straight to work on trying to get the car to run, since we were suppose to leave for St George later that day. He tried numerous things and ruled out everything,but then decided that there must have been bad gas in the used gas tank we had put in the car. So he pulled the gas tank. We couldn't find anywhere that had a gas tank in stock so we talked to Mustang Ranch which had one they said we could use if we bought a replacement for them when we got home.  So Mike and switched that out. They put new gas in but the car was still having problems so finally it was decided we would just trailer the car. Mike's parents were nice enough to trailer my car, even though it meant the Pace Car staying home.

Mike putting the car on the trailer.  

 We really tried everything we could think of on the car. We even stopped that evening in Springville and tried one last ditch effort to get it running but to no avail. So the next day (the 25th) we ended up taking the car to a mechanic shop in St George. $200 later we at least had an answer but no solution. So everything checked out ok so it has been deemed that the sludge from the bad gas is making the valves stick, therefore the car is backfiring. Mike did however get to drive the car down the street before it died and had to be towed back to the shop. It was frustrating not being able to get it run, but we decided that we could not put anymore money into the car and Mike would just fix it when we got home.

This is the car while at the shop.

 I realized I had not gotten a good picture of the car so I took a picture while the car was in the parking lot of the shop.

It still blows my mind how good the car turned out. I Love it!

Finishing Touches

This post is all the stuff that went on Monday, April 23rd

Gary came by with the remaining car parts. He helped line up the body panels, did some paint touch up, and put the stripes on. This is the hood waiting to be put on the car.

 The glove compartment and ash tray are now in place. The dash board is finished!

 The stripes going on

 Mike then put the door panels on

I love how the stripes turned out. It looks awesome!

Time is running out!!

The trunk is back now. So that is all installed and Mike put the lettering on it. The bumper also was put on. So the back end is complete.

 This is the trunk before the trunk mat went in.

 This is how it looks with the trunk mat, the jack pouch thingy and the spare tire cover. We actually need to get a spare tire for this car. We have the wheel and a tire, it's just a matter of having the tire put on the wheel.

 Another view of the complete back end.

The headlight trim is in place and the front bumper is on.

 Mike then put the trim around the windshield. It looks so much better with the trim on there!

 Complete with windshield wipers installed.

 A view of what the car looks like as of now.

Things are really coming together, but getting frustrating. The car will start but has a hard time starting and doesn't idle very well. So we are still trying to get that figured out. We did get the leaks addressed. Mike put a new gasket on the transmission pan and took care of that leak. He finally got to a breaking point and decided he needed to just buy a new intake manifold since it was leaking antifreeze but also letting air into the engine. It sucked having another unexpected expense but it solved both of those problems.

Today has been a frustrating day trying to get this thing to run right. Mike is on the verge of throwing in the towel but is still trying everything he can to get the car running. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will be able to get it running and will be able to drive it to Tuacahn on Tuesday. Time is quickly running out though. We still don't even have the hood. We should get that back tomorrow or Monday. We are going to try to meet up with Gary tomorrow to get the body panels lined up and the stripes put on the car. I can't wait for the stripes. That will be exciting! So it's still blows me away how nice this car is turning out, but I will be very happy when it's running right and it's finally done!