Help A Cancer-Stricken Veteran Restore His Beloved Mustang II

Help A Cancer-Stricken Veteran Restore His Beloved Mustang II

Chris McCarragher and his beloved 1977 Mustang II have been through a lot together. Since he was just 15 years old, this car has been his baby. From a career in the Navy to starting a family, the II was there for it all. From Florida to Virginia and Wisconsin to South Carolina, Chris and his deuce have seen our great country.

The car was torn down several years back with plans of a restoration, but it has been sitting in the McCarragher family garage for some time now. It awaits the time and funding for a restoration. Sadly, last October, Chris was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer, limiting his ability to work on the car. It did not restrain his drive and passion to once again hear it run and take it for a drive.

Unable to do it alone, the family reached out to the online automotive world a few months back asking for help. The staff of Ponies In The Smokies caught wind of the project and immediately jumped on board. The staff quickly set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to fund the project.

Plans were quickly made for Chris’ car to represent the 1977 model year in The 55 Years Of Mustang display at the 2018 Ponies In The Smokies show. The staff loaded up the car and hauled it to the mountains all while making plans to get the car back on the road. Chris and his family were able to make the trip to Tennessee to see the car on display, all polished up under the convention center lights, sitting proudly among the other Mustangs of its generation.

It was an amazing experience for all involved to watch Chris McCarragher and his family make the trip to Ponies In The Smokies to see his Mustang II on display and to watch him sit behind the wheel once again, even if the car isn’t running yet.

While the car was in Tennessee on display, plans were made with Our Dream Auto Museum and Restorations to get the car back to running condition as soon as the show was over. The short-term plan is to get the car running and driving again so Chris can enjoy it. Long-term, the crew plans to go as far as money and time will allow.

If you would like to donate to the cause and help with the project, you can find the GoFundMe account here.

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About the author

Jeff Southard

Growing up with a dad who loved Corvettes, I was destined to be a gearhead from day one. Beyond that, my dad owned an auto parts business for over 25 years. There, I learned the automotive basics as a child, then began my professional career working there after high school. From Corvettes and Superbirds to Hemis and Cobra Jets, my dad has owned a little of everything over the years, so I've had my chance to get some quality seat time behind the wheel of some rare, unique, and sometimes, just odd automobiles. I have owned my share of toys, including over 20 Mustangs. I guess to make a long story short, if you look up "car crazy" you will probably find my photo listed pretty close to it!
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