2016-02-PE - Vintage Mustang Owners Association

A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE VINTAGE MUSTANG OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION FEBRUARY 2016
The Pony Express
Celebrating Mustangs Hobbyists And Their Cars Since 1977
February Car of the Month
Steve Gilbert’s 1966 “A” Code Factory GT Fastback
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VOLUME 42
EDITION 31
PONY EXPRESS
FEBRUARY 2016
On the Upshift of Things. . .
Happy Valentine’s Day!
OFFICERS
President: Tom Hasenberg
Vice President: Pauline Maciel
Secretary: Cathy Hendrix
Treasurer: Dee Brown
BOARD
Bill Cinnamond
Cathy Hendrix
Carol Davison
John Gehring
Al Thomas
Linda Worth
Robert Wilson - Past President
VOLUNTEERS
Membership: Peggy Marple
Editor: Steve Gilbert
Newsletter: Rod Davison
Webmaster: Rick Rose
Events: Chuck Brown
Car Show: Al Thomas
Nominating: Rich Bellum
MCA: Phil Deardorf
Most agree that the first special order Pink
Mustang was the 1964 or 1965 convertible given
to the 1964 Playboy playmate of the year. This
was followed by groups of special order pink
Mustangs in at least 3 shades of pink: a light pink
(probably the original 1964/65 playmate Mustang
and special order variants), Tussy Lip Stick (5
Tussy Cosmetic contest winner 1967 Mustangs
each in one of 3 shades of pink), and Dusk Rose
(rumored to be added to the Ford special order
color list in at least 1966). The color code on the
door data tag will be blank and the two digit DSO
will be followed by a 4 digit special order number.
The paint color shades/codes are just now being
investigated by their owners. There is a lot of
confusion out there on what shade of pink was
used on each promotion and even which are 1967
Dusk Rose since Ford started putting the code
paint code of S on the door data tag for Dusk
Rose (production code M0835) mid 1967 which
differentiated it from 1967 Playboy pink (special
order WT9036). Earlier 1967, and before, pink
Mustangs all have blank paint codes; and
therefore, the confusion begins. Source:
mustangattitude.com
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I am not one to generally believe in fate. Rather, I would like to think that events occur
as a matter of connections. People decide on one of many possible choices, all
which lead to different outcomes. These decisions, in turn, lead to even more choices
and more possible outcomes. It is only the ones acted upon that are joined to create
the unique story of personal history. I suppose this best explains how I took
possession of my 1966 Mustang GT Fastback.
It was early in the year of 1917, approximately ninety-nine years ago that this story
truly begins. At this time, young man of eighteen named Louis Santa Maria left the
village of Chirles, Spain located in the rural southern province of Valencia. In his
desire to start a new life, Louis, my grandfather, began his adventure leaving his
village on the back of a mule headed to board a steamship bound for Ellis Island, the
gateway to America. Arriving on the east coast of the United States in March of 1917,
Louis embarked on a series of adventures. His travels took him to Pescadero’s Año
Nuevo Ranch to harvest artichokes, San Francisco’s piers as a longshoreman and
professional boxer during the 1930’s, and finally to St. Helena in the Napa Valley to
“retire”.
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There he continued his love of farming, raising sheep and spent his days producing
“Louis’ Red” wine and
chatting with the
valley’s locals such as
Rosa Mondavi, the
mother of famous
vintner, Robert
Mondavi. In 1969, my
family began taking
monthly trips to visit
my grandparents on
their ranch. During
these visits, my
grandfather had two
ground rules for my
brother and me: First,
we were to stay out of
the cellar where the
wine press was kept,
and second, not to go near the abandoned chicken houses where a young diesel
mechanic kept a small business. It was the later of these that would be directly
related obtaining my Mustang.
One afternoon during 1974, my father and an older cousin were sitting on the back
porch of the ranch. Soon, a car drove up the gravel road that connected the property
to Highway 29 and ran along its southern boundary. As the car approached, it
became apparent the driver was the mechanic to whom my grandfather rented the
chicken houses. As the man pulled forward and stopped for a chat, my father
commented on how the nice the car looked and asked what make it was. “ 1966
Mustang” was the reply. During the conversation, the mechanic explained he was
going though a divorce and needed funds to get to Southern California to defend his
case against his estranged wife. To cover his expenses he was actually interested in
selling the car. My father, in need of a new work car, asked the mechanic what he
would consider taking for it. To this, the man asked, “How’s $325?” Dad told the man
that he would consider buying the car at that price, but didn’t have the money on
hand. My cousin suggested a trip to the bank in downtown St. Helena to withdraw
the funds from his account. With this the deal was struck. The only caveat to the sale
was that the pink slip was not readily available, as it was located in a San Francisco
apartment. The mechanic did promise, however, that it would be mailed to my father
in San Jose within two-week’s time. This would be at least suspicious and at most
unacceptable by today’s standards, however a clear title arrived within the two
weeks, as agreed.
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From 1974-1976, the Mustang provided my father transportation to and from his
teaching job in Campbell, summer work at Richmond Chase Cannery in San Jose
and as a spare family car. Many times the car was left unattended, doors unlocked
and keys in the ignition. Although the car held no particular significance at the time,
certain events now lead to believe how lucky we were the car was never stolen. On
one occasion, we woke to find the GT gas cap removed. On another, we were
awoken by a phone call. It was the next-door neighbor. He said my father better get
outside. Someone had attempted to roll the Mustang down our driveway, ripping
the garage door from the frame. The thief was unsuccessful because my father
regularly chained the car to the garage; there had been a rash of car thefts that
year.
In 1977, the car was sent to the Central County Occupational Center (CCOC) auto
body division as a donor lab car for six months. Upon its return, the car was stored
until 1983. That year, the Mustang became my brother’s high school transportation,
then mine. With newer, more reliable cars within my reach, the Mustang was soon
relegated to the family garage to serve as an occasional conversation piece and
full-time storage facility for my mother’s outdated home furnishings. There it sat for
twenty-two years.
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I am not sure what exactly sparked my first interest in restoring our Mustang, as I
was not yet aware of its current desirability in 2009. I suppose it was a culmination
of conversations with others, Ford’s return to “classic” fastback design for their new
Mustangs, and simply not seeing classic Mustangs, much less fastbacks around
anymore. One day in 2009, I decided to try starting the car. My dad was mildly
interested in watching it turn over after so many years, but said the car was not a
“K” model, and therefore, not worth much. However, it was a fastback and a V-8 at
that. I eventually got the car started and believed a little research was in order. I
soon discovered the car was an “A” code. Further, all the common clues on the car
indicated it was a fairly rare factory GT built at the San Jose plant and sold through
S & C Ford of San Francisco. While I found that many people are making clones,
this car was in possession of my family since 1974 and I highly doubt the
technology existed to produce a foolproof clone at the time. So began my
restoration process.
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Over three years, I have worked with former Lockheed engineer, Danny Wiles on
general mechanics, Kenny body & Paint, Custom Alignment for suspension and
steering, Byron Robeck of Finish Line for interior restoration, and Jeff Twitchell of the
Hot Rod Service Company for engine rebuilding/ detailing. I greatly appreciate the
efforts of all the aforementioned to making my Mustang what it is today. As a tribute
to my father and memories riding in the car as a young child, the process has been a
true adventure as well as a trip down Memory Lane. Mostly, I am reminded that
connected events that were laid into place over ninety-nine ears ago, along a dirt
road in Chirles, Spain actually led me to share this story. I suppose even fate may
have played a small role, as well.
Chirles, Spain. The small south-eastern town Steve
Gilbert’s grandfather left in 1917 on his journey to the
United States and the rest of his life.
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February Birthdays!
Dennis Dietrich
2/3
Tom Hasenberg
2/4
Gail Cleveland
2/7
Myron Mareno
2/11
Bill Croxton
2/17
Mary Deardorf
2/18
Irene Taylor
2/20
Vicki Bellum
2/27
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The Wheels on these Vintage Buses Still Go Round and Round
Written by Cathy Hendrix, VMOA Board Member
November 7, 2015 was a beautiful day for a drive in
a Mustang and that we did. The destination was
the Pacific Bus Museum located in Fremont,
California, but with a few stops along the way.
Fellow club member, Chuck Brown, suggested the
event and thought club members might enjoy a
tour of the Pacific Bus Museum in Fremont, CA.
And since I currently work for VTA, a bus and
light rail company servicing the County of Santa
Clara, it seemed most fitting that Dan and I organize this event. This was in my wheel house, so
to speak. We decided to make public transportation the focus. Unfortunately, Chuck could not
be with us on this day as he was called out of the country.
Prior to the drive, all drivers of their Mustangs became “Operators,” like bus operators. I was
the “Lead Dispatcher” because I assigned the “work” for the Operators. Their first assignment
was for Operators to form into groups of up to 4 to 5 cars. Then the group selected a
“Transportation Supervisor”. The Supervisor’s job was to ensure the group stayed together
since it is somewhat difficult in the Bay Area to keep a large group of like vehicles together.
Each Operator and their immediate Supervisor was given a “pouch or paddle” which in this case
was a plastic folder with a flap that contained the day’s assignment. Also included in the pouch
was a detailed blue and white colored schedule showing the “Line” which for this trip was an
eastbound schedule, from Westmoor Village Shopping Center in Sunnyvale to Bosco’s Bones and
Brew Restaurant Saloon in Sunol, via the Pacific Bus Museum in Fremont. All Operators had to
adhere to “timepoints” or specific destinations that we had to be at by a certain time, in order to
keep our schedule to be at the Museum by 1100 hours.
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The timepoints on the schedule were the VTA North Bus Operating Division, the Sunol, Water
Temple, the Sunol Train Station, the Sunol US Post Office and Clock Tower, Statue of Bosco the
dog (former Mayor of Sunol), The Pacific Bus Museum, and finally Bosco’s Bones & Brew, the
final stop. The schedule also included the “fare,” which was the cost of entry into the Museum.
Our first scheduled stop was VTA’s North Bus Operating Division, located in Mountain View.
Operators pulled up in their Mustangs behind the division and by looking through the fence, we
were able to see a variety of equipment, standard 40’ buses and 60’ articulated buses (long buses
with an accordion flexible center section), the fueling station, the bus wash and the maintenance
facility. Then we all took a “Union Break”, me too, since Unions represent all Bus Operators
and most all VTA management.
In order to keep the schedule we got into our Mustangs and headed to the Sunol Water Temple.
We knew this was closed on Saturdays but we thought people might want to view this beautiful
historic structure from afar. Someone in the group with some mechanical genius figured out
how to jimmy open the locked gate and Chris Gehring made entry and trespassed, a violation of
CA Penal Code 602!!!! She couldn’t wait to go beyond the gates to get a closer view and take a
few pictures. Lucky for her there were no officers of the law anywhere in the area and she got
back to the group before the
lights or sirens. Unfortunately,
the birds favored the trees at the
gate entrance and began to
pummel our beautiful Mustangs
in the way birds sometimes do.
We could not get out of there
fast enough!
Our next timepoint took us to
the Sunol Train Station where
we snapped a few quick photos
of the entire group and took a
brief walking tour to see the
stature of Bosco the Dog.
The entire group! Thanks to the Goularts for getting us all together
for a photo opportunity! Sunol Train Station, Sunol, CA
Fortunately for us, the town of
Sunol had a number of people
who were out decorating the
streets for the upcoming holidays. We had a nice lady who took a break from hanging garland
on a fence to give us the rundown on Bosco the Dog, Sunol’s former Mayor. Google Bosco the
Dog when you have nothing else to do. It is a cute story.
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According to schedule, we arrived at the Pacific Bus Museum promptly at 1100 hours. This
group of bus experts is dedicated to preserving the history of bus transportation. And they do
that and more. Ron met us and gave us a wonderful explanation and tour of each bus in the
museum. He told us the history of each bus in the collection, showed us the power plants
(engines) and he even allowed us to board some of these buses, sit in the old seats, and try to
imagine what it would be like back in the day to ride in these old beauties. Some buses from the
1940s and 1950s still have the original upholstery. All buses in the exhibit are operational,
licensed and registered. Most of the collection is stored in an old warehouse. With the price of
land in Alameda County, they think their days at this location are numbered. I certainly hope
they find a new home for these buses, so people can continue to appreciate and learn about how
bus transportation has contributed to our history.
Statue of Bosco the Dog. Former Mayor of
Sunol 1981-1994, Sunol, CA
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Our tour guide Ron, providing some information about this
vintage bus.
Another massive engine in a vintage bus. And yes, it works!
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Another group photo. Pacific Bus Museum, Fremont, CA
After we thanked Ron for the educational tour, we headed back to Sunol to Bosco’s Bone & Brew
for a nice lunch. I am not sure if anyone ordered a beer from the bar but if they did, there is a
beer tap on the counter, designed in the true likeness of Bosco. This bar fixture would have had
something to do with filling the glass. I will leave the “how in the world does beer get into the
glass” to your imaginations. When all was said and done, it was a nice way to spend some time
with friends while driving beautiful Mustangs and even learning about some history along the
way.
Thank you Chuck for making this suggestion. Next time
we hope you are able to come too!
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UP COMING EVENTS 2016
February
20 – Running Rooster, Hollister
March
Xx – Daffodil days, possibly
Xx – Casa de Fruta, ride?
APRIL
17 - Celebration of Mustangs, Individual Club Participation
17 - *Fabulous Fords Forever, Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park
24 - *Pacific Coast Dream Machines, Half Moon Bay
29 – CCOC Adult Training Center on Hillsdale, San Jose 5-8:30 PM
30 – Trailer Museum Felton – possibly, to be confirmed
XX – Wine Tour Cruise – Tom & Liz (NOT the first weekend)
MAY
30 - Memorial Day Car Show & Parade, Gilroy (benefit supports our Military)
30 – 31 – *Good Guys, Pleasanton
JUNE
3 – 5 MCA National Car Show, Reno
4 – 5 *Capitola Car Show Rod & Custom Classics
18 - VMOA, Mustang Show, Home Church Campbell
JULY
9 - *Hot San Jose Nights
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Dues Are Due!
Please remember to pay your annual
VMOA club due if you have not done so
already. Your dues help to offset club
expenses and assure you are kept upto-date on club activities though the
club’s website and monthly newsletter.
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News You Can Use
VMOA CLUB BADGES
$10.00
Club badges may be ordered at any regular
club meeting. These badges feature an
updated magnetic clip which prevents
damage to clothing. Wearing a club badge at
events helps identify your membership in
VMOA to the community! For more
information, contact Pauline Maciel at:
President@vintagemustang.org
Refreshment List
Snacks are greatly appreciated at monthly club
meetings. Please locate the first letter of your
last name to find your month for snacks:
January....A-B
August........O-Q
Feb.......... C-D September..R- T
March...... E-F October......U-V
April........ G-H November...W-Z
May......... I-J
June......... K-L
July.......... M-N
Thank you,
Marilyn Brown
Refreshments Chair
Advertise in the Pony Express
Rates
Business Card...............$48.00/yr. or $5.00/issue
1/4 Page........................$96.00/yr. or $10.00/issue
1/2 Page......................$192.00/yr. or $20.00/issue
Please Mail Payment To:
VMOA
P.O. Box 5772
San Jose, CA 95150
Advertisement copy e-mailed to:
Editor@vintagemustang.org
in Word format would be greatly
appreciated!
Interesting Links
Vintage Mustang Owners Association
Homepage
Mustang Forums Homepage
Ford Mustang Main Page
VMOA on Facebook
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VMOA CLUB MEETINGS:
Every First Friday of the Month 7:30
Sunnyvale Ford
650 E. El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA
(800) 884-1809
If you would like to be featured in
future editions of the Pony Express,
please refer to our advertiser’s price
guide in this issue.
Thank you,
Steve Gilbert
Editor
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FEBRUARY 2016
Coming Next Month. . .
Coming Next Month . . .
Event Highlights
VMOA
P.O. Box 5772
San Jose, CA 95150
www.vintagemustang.org
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