Page 16 - Beep Beep May 2025

My only other concern was going to be the electrics. The
box with 100s of meters of old wire (which I learnt was
referred to as the loom) was just a little daunting to me,
but not to a much younger mechanic around the corner
whom had been my qualified eyes and ears throughout
this restoration. Firstly, I may say, he was an inspiration
of youth and knowledge whereby his marvel was that I
could get this far with the little knowledge I started with!!
Another friend for life, whom I truly believe enjoys this car
more than I do.
This maybe a good time for me to accept that I have
certainly not been alone on this mission/retirement plan,
far from it. However the true friendships of people I
would never have known whilst walking past them in the
supermarket has been the overriding benefit and reminds
me that you should never be alone on these rebuilds.
Two heads are always better than one and there is no
such thing as a stupid question, only stupid answers.
I was away for 4 months and let things progress slowly or
not at all – and then the rebuild began. From start to
finish 14 months. It is finished now obviously, not totally,
but I am likely the only one that can see that – are they
ever finished?
I had forgotten about wanting to work and often said to
Trish as I was heading out to the shed, “I’m off to work, I’ll
see you later”. Coming home late and covered in grime
was the norm, the distraction was remarkable, and the
friendships will last for many years to come.
I believe we all have and need an emotional connection
to these cars we own. My MGB was the first sports car I
managed to save up for at 18 years old. I sat in an e-
type as a 17 year old whilst on a photo shoot and drove it
100 yards and promised this 17-year-old boy I would own
one of these before I died. Regarding the
connection to the Mustang, it's on so many life
lessons and came along at the perfect time, most
certainly better than that of a caravan?
Trish and I have sailed around the world and during
that time back in the 1980s worked for a lovely
family in America where we were a Captain and
Cook team on their family yacht. His family
company just happened to make every single
spring for every American car in Detroit since the
first road-car, whist his new wife’s deceased
husband had owned the company that
manufactured every piece of
trim for all American cars,
back in time when Detroit
was the capital of the world
car industry. I visited these
enormous car plants on a
number of occasions back
then and whist recently
polishing and cleaning these
Mustang original parts some
40 years later could not help
b u t r e m e m b e r t h e s e
wonderful youthful memories
of those sailing days before
kids and cars.
These cars are nostalgic
pieces of Art which we get to
enjoy whilst we work on
them or get behind the
wheel, however most of all,
as is the case with the
Roadrunner Car Club, its the
friendships and stories we
build and share around
these historic classics.
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