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This unrestored Shelby is sure to attract plenty of attention.
If you walk past the glitz of the weekend show field, beyond the glare of new chrome and flawless paint and just out of sight of discriminating judges, chances are good you’ll spot one…
In the parking lot.
Blue-collar cars that would rather show their history than tell it. Like an unshaven man emerging from a week in the woods, these cars rarely get the attention that their silver-spoon brethren so often taken for granted. They’re old, they know it, and they don’t give a damn what you think about their faded paint, split seats and cracked dash. Don’t dare call it patina within earshot. That’s just a fancy word for worn and they don’t use fancy words.
Cars like this Falcon and Edsel make look a little worse for wear, but they are only original once.
These are the cars that if they could talk, you’d be foolish not to pull up a chair, pour yourself a sweet tea, sit a spell, and just listen. Every dent, every scratch, every flaw has a story. Imagine the tales shared that could illicit disbelief or hearty laughter, and those that are never meant to leave the front porch.
Sounds a lot like the days of our youth doesn’t it? And who wouldn’t want to relive a couple of those? So let’s stop in a visit with a few examples of those real rides…
Bullet Proof
This Alabama-based, black-on-black ’66 Mustang GT still roams the Huntsville streets it calls home.
“I think these cars are very relatable to the common man,” said Patrick Stapler of Huntsville, Alabama. “A good friend of mine for many years purchased the car from the original owners over 35 years ago. One day he told me that he wanted to sell the car and that he didn’t want to sell the car to just anyone. He explained the car needs a lot of work and he wanted to sell the car to someone that would care for it, repair it properly, and continue its stewardship while enjoying it.”
One look at his original 238,000-mile ’66 Mustang GT coupe and it’s not hard to imagine that if could talk, it could spin a fine yarn about its travels, but you’d be hard pressed to get the truth about the bullet hole someone tried in vain to conceal so long ago.
If cars could talk, what would this one say about the .22 caliber bullet hole once hidden by a Bear Bryant style hat? (inset)
Patrick, who routinely puts the car through its daily paces, remains true to his word by enjoying the coupe and performing repairs and upkeep as promised.
“I don’t worry about a bicycle leaning against it or dropped a basketball on it,” he said.
But he admits “the downside is all the interest in buying it because many think it might sell cheap.”
Broomhilda Beckons
When not serving abroad with the U.S. Army, Joey Sites can be found wrenching on this ’64 Falcon.
Joey Sites of Hampton, Virginia, who is stationed at the Ft. Eustis U.S. Army base, has different plans for his ’64 Falcon Futura affectionately dubbed “Broomhilda.”
“I absolutely love the natural patina on the car,” Joey enthused. “The idea as a concept is to have a close to a budget pro-touring car that I can drive on the street and also take to the track and do solo, autocross, and some drag events.”
To that end he explains, “During my last deployment to Afghanistan I was able to do research and try to come up with a game plan.”
Having dropped considerable coin to jump start the project, Joey says “I’ve been slowly building the car in my garage when I am not out of the country..”
For now, Joey’s daughter looks right at home steering as Broomhilda gets moved about the garage, but soon it will be dad’s turn. The sleepy days of relics like this are just about over.
After hibernating under the deck of a house for years, this Falcon is ready for a new phase of its life.
Moody’s Blue
Claiming a V-8 as its only option, this ’69 Mustang was bought sight-unseen from its original owner.
North Carolina’s David Moody is the owner of this original Winter Blue ’69 Mustang. It may have a modest history, but it’s sure to garner plenty of attention both at home and in public.
“I bought the car sight unseen” David, who scoured over a year before locating the car, said. “I love the way the car looks, you can see where the driver’s arm sat outside the window when he drove the car. When the owner sent me over a hundred photos I knew this Mustang had never been altered or painted.”
When not wrenching on the car, David can be seen driving it regularly, usually with his three little girls in tow. “I try to include them in everything. When I first bought the car, they practically moved into it with stuffed animals and toys all over the inside. When I go to car shows they don’t mind the lack of air conditioning – they love having the window down and sticking their hands out”. Just like old times…
Working Steed
The ultimate workhorse, Tom deLyon’s steed just gets it done!
Pennsylvania’s Tom deLyon’s ’66 Mustang is the epitome of a working steed. No fancy stable or gimmicks for this pony, and that’s just the way he likes it.
“I’ve had my car about 23 years. It’s mostly a weekend toy and the bottom of the money tree. I spend money carefully and on what I need.” Tom explained.“This past summer I changed the worn out ’71 302 with a 1997 Explorer GT-40P, converted it from a C4 to a four-speed Toploader, and made all my own clutch linkage.”
A nod to its past, Tom’s Mustang still wears UCLA parking stickers from ’75-’76.
Tom’s future plans call for fresh rear leaf springs and a new exhaust, lending more credence to his function-first mantra. Beyond tired paint and imperfections lies the heart of this thoroughbred that continues to prove the adage, “You never know how a horse will pull until you hook him to a heavy load.”
