I attended a "Toys-for-Tots" autoshow today at House of Hotrods in Mansfield, TX (pretty cool operation, btw- they have dedicated buildings for powdercoating, fabrication, interiors, etc.). There were a lot of nice cars there (not as many Mustangs as one might expect), including a '65 fastback that was in decent condition...
I complimented the guy sitting behind the car, and didn't call "BS" when he stated his was a "a pre-GT, GT" because it came with disc brakes and dual exhaust.
He finally asks if I have a Mustang (my "Ride the Pony" shirt usually gives that away)... I tell him I have a '65, and he asks if its a fastback. When I say no, he gets this crestfallen look and says (drumroll please for the phrase that pays)- "Oh, so its just a coupe?"
"Yep, just a straight six coupe, well- that's a nice Mustang you have there- have a nice day..."
An hour or so later, I'm sitting behind my car and the same guy wanders by with his friend (who has a nice '69, btw). I guess he doesn't see me, because he looks the car over and says to his friend "Well, this is really nice- but why would anyone dump so much into a 6cyl coupe?"
Look, I get it- fastbacks and 289s are really cool. Still, every time I hear the phrase "its just a coupe" (usually said in response to a picture showing a flooded, wrecked, crushed, junked, awfully-customized, etc. early Mustang), it just hacks me off. My coupe's like me- just an average guy who is super-dependable and always eventually gets the job done! Okay, rant over!
PS- After talking with a couple of Falcon owners today, I realize owning a 6cyl Mustang coupe is a piece of cake in comparison. Heck, they're just happy that most of the repro parts made for the Stang fit their cars!
__________________ '65 coupe, 200ci, T5spd, Silver Smoke Gray, Std Red Interior '03 convertible, V6, auto, Silver Metallic, Black Top '14 coupe (on order- ETA 05/30/13), Sterling Gray, 5.0, 6spd, Track Pack, Glass Roof, Brick Red interior
Should've took a picture of the guy and say "hey, go check vintage mustang.com and check out my write up on you" and post his picture up. LOL. What a d***! Sounds like he's one of those "get the best one" type of person.
__________________
Dave
2004 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
1966 Ford Mustang Original 289
Edelbrock RPM Performer Heads; bored .30 over
Weiand Stealth Intake, Holley 600 CFM Carb.
Comp Cam 268H 9.5:1 Speed Pro Pistons
Patriot Tri-Y Headers w/ 2.5" H Pipe, Flowmaster 40S
620 1" drop in front, CSRP Front Disk Brakes.
Ford 8 3.40 trac-loc rear end
People like that have to say that stuff to make THEMSELVES feel more "special" than they really are. Maybe in a year or so you'll see him again and you can look at his car and ask if it's a HiPo.... "No? Just a plain old 289, eh?" and walk away.
I went to a show a few years ago, with my "other" car. I was glad I wasn't competing against a 65 6 cylinder fastback. Wow. Last month I saw a car that was "only a coupe" at Glazier/Nolan. A 66 GT, Emberglo with Emberlo and Parchment interior and Parchment vinyl top. And K code drivetrain.
Here's a tip- All that optional crap means nothing in a judged show. In fact, options make it harder to do a show car. A basic, no-option car is hard enough. A high-option car requires all the optional stuff to be right, too. A lot more work to get the same points, and more opportunities to screw up.
I had no picture of that K code, but here's what it looked like-
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Amateur restorer. (Well, once in a while I have been paid for it)
There is a lady at the gym that doesnt like Fastbacks. When I drive it there she always asks why I dont sell it and get a coupe because they are nicer. Everyone has an opinion.
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Kevin
1965 Fastback-Scat 331, Dart heads, FPA headers, Air Gap intake, 650 Ultra DP, Cobra pan, Lunati VooDoo cam 61003, C-4, 10 inch converter, Reverse manual valve body,Detroit Truetracw/3.50s, subframe connectors.
1968 S-code Torino Fastback= project
1966 A-code Mustang coupe=Basket case not sure what to do with it used some parts for the fastback.
I'm with you.......if you don't have anything nice to say about another guys car then, zip it. Most of us spend years work on cars that were dusty and rusty when we got them. Over the years, we put blood, sweat, and dollars into the car in order to make it look good and get it back on the road.
Then, we have to put up with the ding dong's and their rude comments. I've reached the end of my rope on this and have decided that my replies to these fools will be as "sharp and cutting" as possible.
If it's any consolation, this attitude has permeated other mustang forums and events and not just the one you attended.
I'm sorry you had to endure this hopefully, folks will start to rediscover good manners again.....
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