Proudly considered an "All-American" Car - I grew up admiring the Mustang! When I started commuting to work & had to shop for a car - the Mustang above caught my eye! After the test drive - it was a done deal :-) We purchased this bright orange beauty in the early 80's used - with a 302-cubic inch 4.94L German made port & polished engine. Before long it became obvious that the engine needed work. After discussing options with my Dad - we decided to have the heads bored - replace the cylinders & increase the power. With the removable t-tops - it was a blast to drive!
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| 1990 Badlands |
We made several long distance trips in "Sunny". But one of my favorites was when Jentry was on summer break. We drove to Iowa to visit my Grandparents. On the way there & back we stopped at every interesting site we could find. Devils Tower, Custer's Battlefield, The Badlands, Corn Palace, etc. :-)
"Sunny" was famous too! Appearing in the 1984 movie
Starman with Jeff Bridges at the wheel! I drove Sunny many miles through the 80's - but by 1992 - it was time for a change! We'd moved to the
Homestead - I was working in Bellevue & on the road constantly visiting my portfolio of Condominium properties & attending board meetings.
I tried several different cars - but
Finally one day a friend who'd noticed that I was driving a different car almost every day asked; "Why don't you just try another Mustang?" Before Butch knew it - we were not just car shopping - but shopping for another Mustang!
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| Smokey & Sunny - rear view |
When we found the 86 GT with the 5.0 engine & I took it for a spin - literally - almost doing a full circle when I hit the gas... in the middle of Harbor Point Blvd. Love at first drive! (Sunny was sold to a guy I'd worked with - who'd long admired her.)
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| From the front~ |
"Smokey" was FAST! I just love fast... I would race my drive-time on some of my trips home. My favorite long-haul was from Mercer Is. to the gate at home - my record was 42-min.flat. Leaving Mercer Is. about 9 p.m., it was
back in the day, when you could actually drive on I-5. I was usually one of the only cars out there - especially in the express lanes.
There was the day I was coming up out of the south - turning onto the newly re-built I-90 bridge. I was late getting to the office & cruising... I caught the blink of bright red flashing lights behind me! I pulled over. The biggest, meanest looking
real "Smokey" I could have imagined got out & approached my window. I gave him my best, but sorriest smile ever & apologized for letting my foot get ahead of my brain. He cited some sobering statistics about how speed kills & let me off. By doing that - he's forever reminding me to slow down! Way more effective than a ticket would have been!
Totally worthless on snow or ice, especially on Bellevue's hills... The day came, I was working closer to home & actually had time to ride my horse. Butch wasn't there to take us out with the horse trailer. I didn't like driving the full size truck - so - I made the tough decision to trade
Smokey in on a 4-wheel drive Jeep that would pull the trailer & get me somewhere in the winter. I knew it was a Big mistake when I heard the squeal of tires as the lot guy drove it off. :-( The Jeep's transmission soon went out. I decided that I wanted a Ford back! We bought the full-size Bronco December of 1999. It's Not the same - but it does haul my mare to the trailheads easily.
One day in Snohomish - I saw a black Mustang - with a leather interior the exact color of my saddle. So - you never know - one day... one day... :-) In the meantime - I can dream about getting one of these!
50th Anniversary Edition.
Agreed! nothing like a fast, smooth running, well made car on the open highway or on a twisty mountain road. I'm a BMW person myself :)
ReplyDeleteDad ended his career @ BMW in Boulder. There was a dark green convertable with a saddle leather interior... I kept telling him that I'd take it :-)
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