As the owner of a dark green Mustang fastback, we had to ask Bob what he thought after seeing the famed chase scene from the “Bullitt” movie on the big screen for the first time in 1968. He replied, “I said, ‘Oh my God -- he’s got my car! . . . it’s like mine’!” He saw the film on a date night with Gloria, and after “Bullitt” was released, he was pretty excited to be driving a dark green Mustang similar to the original Bullitt Mustang – and proud to know that he’d been driving
his dark green Mustang fastback for almost a year and a half already!
The movie just added to the provenance for Bob’s Mustang. Another irony is that both fastbacks today are in “survivor” condition. Bob’s Mustang has its original paint, original engine and drivetrain, standard ’67 hubcaps and even the original spare tire and wheel (used only once!). Only the front seats are new, after being re-upholstered recently, along with some basic service parts such as the brakes, belts, hoses, starter, alternator, water pump, radiator and heater core.
The original 1967 Mustang Owner’s Manual has been in his car’s glove box for all these 53 years and 175,000 miles. As we all know, it explains the basic functions of a ’67 Mustang – things like using the turn signals; where the tire jack is located, operation the heater controls, and even how to set your favorite radio stations by just pulling out one of the buttons. But beyond the basics found in a booklet are the life-lessons that come via the endurance built from owning a Mustang 24/7/365 for more than a half-century. Sure, you follow the book and religiously change the oil. But there’s more to it than just maintaining a car.
Original-owner, long-term Mustangs turn into representative extensions of their owners by becoming part of the owner’s family. These owners know even the scents and sounds of their Mustang by second-nature – all the little things that only long-time owners would know through their extended experience. You know that when you open the wing windows all the way, you hold the chrome window trim with your left hand as you drive. You know the fuses are hard to get to. You heard about other owner issues with squeaky upper control arms, noisy heater fans, radio buzz, or cracked shock towers -- although Bob never had a problem with any of that.
