The Trouble with Eleanor

Most automotive enthusiasts know what an Eleanor Mustang looks like. The iconic movie car from "Gone In 60 Seconds" is well known and popular among collectors and builders of muscle car clones. To thousands of movie fans, it's a perfect example of a 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang. That's the trouble with Eleanor, it is a movie prop, and not an accurate example of a 1967 GT500.
To those of us who have been Mustang fans from the start, Eleanor is not very close to a real "67" Shelby GT500. The hood and front end styling are all wrong. And, "67' GT500's never had side exhaust. Eleanor is simply a customized Mustang, with a few Shelby details, built as a movie "stand in" for the role of a Shelby GT500. In my opinion, the hood and front end are some of the best details of the original 1967 Shelby GT500. Sorry Eleanor fans, but I prefer the real thing.

Eleanor  movie Mustang

Real 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang

One in a Million

The streets these days are full of ordinary cars, transportation appliances, driven by people who care for little else from their vehicles.Typically, we see small, four door, 4-clyinder powered sedans, mini-vans, or crossover style vehicles. In some parts of the country, we also find plenty of pick-up trucks and sport utility vehicles. About half the time these vehicles aren't very well cared for, many not even clean, and some with faded or deteriorating paint.
Those of us who are car enthusiasts, on the streets in our pride and joy specialty cars, find ourselves pretty much the exception, sharing the road with hurds of ordinary transportation machines, literally "one in a million".
As I drive around the streets, it's easy for me to spot a fellow automotive enthusiast, we are so few and far between these days. It is a sad situation indeed, at a time in automotive history, when the best performance cars ever built, are available right now. Maybe I am just part of a dying breed. We can only hope that some of the younger generation will catch our enthusiasm and carry it into the future. Check out my book at;  Grab Some Gears .

My 2015 Mustang GT on the streets of Southern Utah.

We Lost a Car Guy

A couple weeks ago, we lost a "car guy". My nephew Rob passed away from a sudden heart attack at age 40. He lived his whole life in the small South Dakota farm town where I grew up.  He was a farmer, and also worked at the local Ford dealership, Bair Ford, a job he loved. Rob was a car enthusiast, and fellow Mustang owner.
As a teenager, Rob spent a summer with me at a time when I was finishing restoration of a 1970 Cobra-Jet Ranchero.  From that time on, Rob was a car guy. In the last 15 years, he has owned and enjoyed two Mustangs, along with several other cars, trucks, motorcycles, and ATV's.  Any time we've got together in recent years, we always talked car stuff.
At his funeral, we led the precession to the cemetery with Mustangs, his Mustang in the lead driven by a close friend. Rob would have liked that.  Rest in peace Rob, you will be missed.

Mustangs lead Rob's funeral precession, July 1, 2015.

50 Years of Mustang

Not many car models stay around for over 50 years. The Ford Mustang is the exception. Not only has it lasted for all this time, but has stayed very close to the original intent of the very first models introduced in the spring of 1964.
I was a teenager back then, and I can still remember when that exciting new car first hit the streets. It was different than almost anything else people were driving back then. It made an impression on me that has lasted over 50 years.
Over the years, I have owned many Mustangs, just about at least one of every different model they have produced. Some of them were high milage used cars, back when that's all I could afford to drive. And a few in recient times were new, top of the line, Shelby and Cobra models. They include a "96" Cobra, a 2003 "Terminator" Cobra, and a 2007 Shelby GT 500. All were driven and enjoyed, and some had performance upgrades to bring out even more power.
Last week we took delivery of a new 2015 Mustang GT. We had special ordered it back in February, so we could get the exact color and options we wanted. This new model is awesome. It is everything a performance coupe is supposed to be and more. The new styling will keep it fresh well into the future, for a whole new generation of Mustang enthusiasts to enjoy.
For more of my automotive history, check out my book at this link;  "Grab Some Gears" .

Our new 2015 Mustang GT.

Autumn Road Trip

In many parts of the country, autumn is a great time of the year for a road trip, in our favorite car, with our favorite travel partner. Even though many of the Northern areas have already seen snow, here in the American Southwest, we're getting into a very nice time of year. The air is a little cooler, and in many places, the fall colors are at their peek. I'm lucky enough to live in the middle of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and it doesn't take much prompting to get me out on the road anyway. Pack a light lunch, grab the camera and binoculars, and we're out the door. The spectacular Kolob Canyon, on the northwest corner of Zion National Park, is only about a 30 minute drive from our Southern Utah home. We had very nice weather, and had a very enjoyable time. Get out and see what adventures you can find in your area. Also, check out my book at;  Grab Some Gears

Our Mustang GT in Kolob Canyon.

Summer on the Road

I've spent a lot of time on the road this summer. I'm moving to a new home, and doing most of it, one trip at a time, in our cars. The Charger will haul a little larger items, but the Mustang is a little more fun to drive. They are both excellent road cars, and over the last few months, I have a whole new appreciation for that. I love these cars.
The Mustang has a little more noticable personnalized plate "FFFAAST' , and it has advertising for my book on the side back windows, so it gets more attention from car enthusiasts. The Charger looks like an un-marked police car, so it gets a different kind of attention from other motorists.
I've mentioned before in this blog that I love music, and especially when I'm driving. I've really used my Sirius satellite radio a lot, on every trip. If I'm in heavier traffic, I sometimes listen to a mix CD of my favorites, anyway the music never stops.
Even though it's been a lot of work, and a lot of driving, I have had an enjoyable summer - on the road.

Me and my Mustang, in Snow Canyon, in Southern Utah.

A Garage for Cars

Many car owners around the world don't have a garage, so parking out in the elements is the norm. Many people who have a garage just use it as a storage unit, so their car sets outdoors anyway. For me, I have had a garage at the last three homes I've owned, and I have been parking my cars indoors for the last 32 years. I wouldn't want it any other way.  If you live in a cold climate, it keeps your car out of the snow and ice. If you live in a hot climate, it keeps your car from baking in the sun. My garages have always been finished and painted inside, and decorated with memorabilia celebrating the performance cars, and drag racing, that have been such a big part of my life. They're a nice place to do mechanic work, or spend time enjoying my hobby, and pampering my cars. For more of the story, check out my book at; Grab-Some-Gears

The first "Darwin's Garage" from 27 years ago. Cobra-jet Ranchero and 5.0 Mustang.