FEATURED CAR OF THE MONTH

1967 Ford Mustang Fastback

Owner: Jim Thell

THIS IS MY FIRST CAR THAT I’VE OWNED SINCE MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL 1975. IT WAS A SOUTHERN CAR SO THE BODY WAS IN VERY NICE SHAPE. OTHER THEN THE PREVIOUS OWNER DOING SOME RATTLE CAN PAINTING THAT KIND OF MATCHED IN AN ATTEMPT TO COVER UP SCRATCHES IN THE ORIGINAL PAINT. IT ALSO WAS IN NEED OF MECHANICAL REPAIRS THAT I DID MYSELF. I DROVE THE MUSTANG SUMMERS AND DROVE OTHER BEATER CARS DURING THE WINTERS. IN 1978 IT GOT A NEW PAINT JOB THAT IT STILL WEARS TO THIS DAY. IN THE MID 80’S LIFE GOT BUSY AND I JUST DIDN’T TAKE THE TIME TO DRIVE IT. I THEN ALWAYS STORED THE CAR INSIDE FOR OVER 30 YEARS. ABOUT 2018 I STARTED WORKING ON THE CAR TO GET IT ROAD WORTHY AGAIN FROM THE YEARS OF NOT BEING USED. COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIR, FUEL SYSTEM, COOLING SYSTEM, MOTOR REAR MAIN SEAL, AND GAVE IT A PERTRONIX IGNITION SYSTEM UPGRADE. I PULLED THE 4 SPD TRANSMISSION AND HAD IT REBUILT BECAUSE I REMEMBERED THAT BACK IN THE DAY IT WOULD POP OUT OF SECOND GEAR ONCE IN A WHILE. OTHER THEN THAT THE ENGINE RUNS GREAT. I GUESS BECAUSE I STORED IT PROPERLY WHEN I PARKED IT MANY YEARS AGO. THROUGH THE YEARS, I’D OCCASIONALLY GET A PHONE CALL FROM PEOPLE WONDERING IF I STILL HAD THE CAR AND IF I’D BE INTERESTED IN SELLING IT. LUCKILY, THE CALLS NEVER CAME AT A TIME WHEN I WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED IT. SOMETIMES IT WAS A PAIN HAVING INSIDE STORAGE FOR IT WHEN MY EVERYDAY CAR SAT OUTSIDE. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN COMPLETELY RESTORED BUT IT’S A GREAT WELL CARED FOR DRIVER THAT I HAVE ENJOYED MUCH MORE SINCE JOINING THE PANTOWNERS CAR CLUB IN 2023, WHERE THERE’S ALWAYS AN ABUNDANCE OF FRIENDLY PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE WHITE MUSTANG FAST BACK AS PANTOWERS JUNE CALENDAR CAR OF THE MONTH.

JIM