Photography By Tyler Sorget

Most of us are fairly lucky when we’re born. The mere fact that you are reading this article means that you are healthy enough to see, and operate a computer in some capacity. Given the percentages you were likely born with full use of all your extremities, and learned to walk with easy. So far you could say that from a physical standpoint, you have lived what could be deemed a “normal” life.

For some however, life throws a curve-ball their way, often from the moment they were born, and such is the case for Tyler Sorget. Born with Cerebral Palsy, this 21 year old has to deal with obstacles on a daily basis that would likely cause many of us to simply stay at home on the couch, wallowing in self-pity rather than getting out to make the most of life.

Sorget’s story and love affair with cars begins with riding in his father’s 1969 Mustang, a Mach 1with the burly 390 cubic-inch engine, and four speed manual transmission. “I remember sitting in the passenger’s seat and not being able to see out the windshield, I was that little,“ he recalls.

The elder Sorget held onto the Mach 1 through the years, and in 2010, with Tyler nearing the end of high school, father and son began working on the old car together. This would seem to be nearly any teenage boys dream, and it may have been even more special for this young man.

After about 18 months of thrashing in the garage, the car was back to being a respectable driver. Enough so that Tyler says he could drive it, thanks to some extra work he and his father performed. “Now, the car was originally a 390, manual transmission car, but because of my Cerebral Palsy I do not have the coordination to drive it with that setup. In order to make it easier for me to drive we decided to put in an automatic transmission, fitted to a 428 engine that my dad had installed over the years. We also invested in an aftermarket power-steering setup, which allows me to steer it with ease,“ he says.

Tyler’s father had one more surprise for him, and that was handing the car down from father to son, as a high school graduation present, something we’d say almost every young man dreams of.

As you can imagine, Tyler immediately began using some of the cash given to him at graduation to further modify the car, and make it uniquely his. Today the car still wears the Lime Gold paint, shaker hoodscoop, and black accents. However, Sorget has also added a spoiler from a 1970 BOSS 302, that his uncle once owned. Wheels from American Racing, and new tires adorn the car as well. He turned to CJ Pony Parts for some upgraded tail lights, and has also updated the headlights, making the car safer to drive at night, and helping it to get noticed, even after the sun goes down.

Recently young Sorget has taken an interest in photography, and says his car is his go to subject. He’s produced a myriad of impressive photographs of the car and his work can be viewed at his Facebook page. We have no doubt this young has a future photographing cars, or whatever else he chooses. We know one thing for certain, he’ll be photographing this ’69 Mach 1 and enjoying that car for the rest of his life, and what else could anyone ask for.