For some, a car is just a machine—something to get you from point A to point B. But for those who truly love their vehicles, it’s much deeper than that. A car becomes a part of your life, a reflection of your dreams, your hardships, and your perseverance. For our customer Dan, this journey began in 1979 when he was just twenty years old and traded his pickup for a 1967 Ford Mustang, a car that would become his passion, his companion, and, at times, his therapy.
Back in 1979, Dan didn’t have much in the way of tools or money. But what he did have was vision. The restoration process began as a dream—making lists, itemizing the parts he would need, and imagining what this car could one day be. A budget Macco paint job graced the steel and concealed some light rust on the body while Dan was without a dry place to store it. When he and his wife finally had a garage, Dan poured even more into the car, respraying it in Wimbledon White and adding the now iconic Shelby GT350 rocker stripes. He even created a custom steering wheel in his home shop, made from steam-bent European Beech, stainless steel, and epoxy.
Over the years, life’s responsibilities—family, work, and everything else—took precedence, while the forward progress on the car all but stopped, the dream never faded. Life has its share of obstacles, and while the car remained a work in progress, it offered a much-needed diversion. The passing of Dan’s wife eight years ago created a period of profound grief, and the restoration became his sanctuary, his escape. In those dark moments, hours spent in the garage—cleaning, sanding, painting—were the only way he could cope. But through that pain, Dan’s commitment to the car never wavered. Even when it seemed like the dream would never be finished, the car held the promise of something brighter. It was the discipline of a lifelong vision that pushed him forward, the belief that he could finish what he’d started.
The removal of the Wimbledon white paint and bodywork began with sandblasting the car down to clean metal, followed by two years of intense labor: rust removal, panel fitting, aligning, block sanding, and polishing. The most recent foundation was built with care, and the body was covered with Dark Moss Green paint over a red oxide epoxy to give it a tough, lasting finish. Dan added a personal touch to pay tribute to the one-of-a-kind 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350S which was a Shelby installed Paxton supercharged version of the GT350 the only model ever sport the GT350S Rocker Stripe. It was one of only a handful of cars to have had the supercharger fitted at Shelby, most other Paxton-equipped Shelby’s were dealer-installed options.
After years of planning and working on the car, it was finally ready to take to the road again. The only work that Dan did not perform on the car was having the engine rebuilt with the help of Schnell Automotive, using a World Products “Man O’ War” block over-bored to 347 cubic inches. With a steel-forged crankshaft, Mahle pistons, Comp Cam, and Shelby valve covers, the engine was a beast—twin Paxton superchargers pushing it to 665 horsepower and 590 ft-lbs of torque. The chassis was modified with the same precision, using Boss 302 Trans Am racing upgrades, including shock tower braces, a Shelby export brace, and custom sub-frame connectors.
The engine rebuild wasn’t easy—it took a year to get the parts and get everything in place—but it was well worth the wait. The car now performed better than ever, with shifts that were smooth and precise, a clutch that was easy to depress, and a power delivery that was deceptively docile at low speeds. But when you pushed it, the engine roared to life, a true muscle car that was capable of incredible performance. It wasn’t the typical rattly, noisy muscle car. It was refined, built for a smooth, enjoyable ride, but still packed more than enough punch when Dan wanted to let it loose.
It is an old saying in the hot rod world, that the last 10% take 90% of your time, truer words have never been spoken. Dan’s attention to detail shows everywhere you look on his car. Trailer hold-down loop fabricated into the control arms that look like they were put there from the factory, oil cooler very subtly mounted behind the iconic Shelby grill mounted fog lights. The interior was meticulously crafted, from the deluxe seat backs to the Comfort Weave seat covers and brushed aluminum panels on the doors and dash. Every detail, from the custom radio delete gauge pod to the 8000 RPM tachometer, was designed to complement the car’s vintage feel while ensuring it could keep up with modern performance.
After completing the rebuild and getting the car back on the road, Dan took it to shows and drove it to his heart’s content. The miles put on the car felt like the final chapters in a long journey—a journey that had started with a young man and a dream, and now, finally, was becoming a reality. But the car wasn’t just about the thrill of the drive; it was about the memories—the time spent together, the work, the years of planning, the love and sweat put into every detail.
With a smile on his face, Dan now reflects on those years in the garage, the late nights spent under the car, and the satisfaction of knowing it all paid off. Even after a drive, when the car is parked, it continues to tell the story. The heat radiating from the engine, the cooling sounds, the smell of exhaust, and the slight rubber residue on the rear quarters all bring back the joy of driving something he had put so much of himself into.
Now, after 45 years of hard work and countless hours of dedication, Dan stands proud of what he’s accomplished. He looks at the car, his car, and says to himself, “Good job, Dan.” It’s not just a machine anymore—it’s a part of him, a reflection of his perseverance, his triumphs, and the love he poured into it over the years. And while the car may never truly be “finished”—as he’d be the first to tell you—a dream realized after so many years of labor, loss, and love is a remarkable thing. We are honored to have been a part, albeit a very small part of this car, and Dan’s story.
