Spring is here and the time is right for amazing things...(Yes, the Mustang again)

Okay, so it isn't spring and there's supposed to be snow on Sunday, and today it is dark enough I need a light inside to work, but you know what--I don't care.  Life's going pretty good--the novel that was supposed to be out in December got delayed, but it's on the way, Jolly Roger is doing fine, and then...the Mustang.

I meant to write a blog on coaching today (procrastinating from working on a different writing project...), but into my mailbox comes an email from Chris at Heartland Classics with an update on the Mustang.  Truthfully, I've appreciated them keeping me up to date with the car--and I was surprised to get the email because they sent a text on Monday talking about the sound system and getting that installed, so I didn't expect to get another update so soon.  (Yeah, hear the disappointment in my tone....)

Turns out today they are working on installing the windows. Of course, Chris left something out--shame on him.  When he sent me the paint job pictures, they had not yet put on the chrome and other 'fixings'.  You can see those on here now, too.

 

It's ba-ack!  Here's the iconic Mustang logo on the front of the grill.  After driving 'modern' cars for so long, one of the most shocking things driving the Mustang was how big the front section is.  I'm tempted to say you could put my wife's Prius on the hood without a problem.

 

This view made me think of a different classic vehicle--Stephen King's "Christine".  This view just looks intimidating.



 

They've got the rear lights in again and the Mustang gas cap, too.  Ahhh, much better, right?
Of course, if you look REALLY closely at the last picture, you'll see they've got the sound system in already--no surprise since that's hard to install if you have the windows in!  One of my debates has been, "Which song gets played first on the iPod?"  I've had some good suggestions:

*Born to be Wild
*Mustang Sally
*Bad Boys Running Wild
*Rock You Like a Hurricane
*nothing...because the engine is music enough

The one thing I'm hoping to find out in the next week or so as they finish up--whether they will be able to find original hubcaps OR high-quality replicas.  The 'hubcaps on the car currently, I believe, are from a 1968 Mustang--they look classic, but they're actually pretty bland.  The original Mustang featured spinners, though they got banned by the government as being dangerous (never mind that the interior of any 1960s car is a deathtrap compared to a 2014 vehicle).

The hope is still to make it to Florida soon.  If that fails for this year, it'll happen in 2016, and then I'll have to find an alternative for a shakedown cruise--go to Cubs Spring Training? Drive to California?

1965 Mustang--almost thereeeeeee.....

So the Mustang is almost done.   "What Mustang?" you ask.
Well, the one I purchased with money my mom left me and made me promise to spend on something silly.  Since Mom loved Mustangs, I purchased a 1965 Mustang.  In decent shape, it needed some professional work--replacing some rust and needing a pro paint job. 

I wound up taking it to Heartland Classics in Effingham.  Not relevant to the Mustang, but they have an insanely amazing collection of old, 'classic' vehicles available to purchase, so that when the last Dietz kid clears college, I WILL get myself another Mustang.  Mmmmm....mmmmm...

Originally, the car looked like this:

It was a nice wine/burgundy color with a black interior, but the previous owner went for a crappy paint job and with the fake restoration stuff on the inside.  I liked the color, but decided to go with one of the original 1965 options for Mustangs--> Cobalt Blue.

Wait?  You say the sun is in the way?  Well--let's try a different photo of the greatest sports car ever designed in America.

You can also see where the twin white stripes are in the process of going...

Obviously, there's still work to go--especially since they are putting four-point safety units in for the driver and passenger, and did I mention a real sound system attached to a USB/iPod port (hidden in the ashtray)?

The last thing you can't see--Heartland was great to me.  Before they did the paint job, I took a vial of my mom's ashes and Pete's ashes, and asked if they could please mix those in with the paint--some people get thrown into the sea...but that didn't seem right.  So now--they are part of the hood...wherever the car goes, they are in the lead.

Still on pace--and still coming in on/under budget...right now, I can not recommend Heartland's work enough.  Six weeks to go and then I'm going to drive in styleeeeee.