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FROM THE EDITOR
First of all I want to update you on the Raffle Car and the Auto Show totals. The Raffle Car raised $28,226.66 and the Car Show netted $48,699.17, the total income was $76,925.66. This is a new record in both show income and raffle car income! Tyler Ford has already committed to donate a raffle car again this year. All of this money goes directly to operations of the East Texas Crisis Center.
photo courtesy Craig Chesley
Speaking of the Raffle Car, it looks as though Tyler Ford has found a real money maker this year. It’s a 69 Shelby GT500, Grabber Blue, show winning car. Lets get behind it and really sell some tickets this year! *
There has been a lot of talk about our website. Our official website still be reached. I did not know this, I got the info from Craig Chesley. You can find the old website by logging on www.mustangsofeasttexas.org. This site has all the current officers listed and pictures of many of the club members’ Mustangs. The new website that is still under construction can be reached at www.mustangseasttexas.com.
April is an exciting month this year in the Mustang Community, as the Mustang officially turns 40! Thanks to Ford Motor Company listening to die hard Mustang fans, the Mustang is still with us. At one point they were
considering putting the Mustang badge on what became the Ford Probe, but Mustangers spoke up and made a lot of noise. The Mustang is alive and well, and from what I have seen and heard, the 2005 is going to be another great Mustang, with the heritage of the 60’s blended with modern technology and engines. I can’t wait to drive one! Ford has baited us with prototypes and pictures for close to 2 years now, and the new Mustang is finally just about reality.
Chad and I took our annual Spring Break cruise to Oklahoma Route 66. We had great weather, although a little chilly, but it didn’t rain until we got ready to come home on Saturday morning. The 98 GT is now a road trip veteran, with many more to come hopefully!
Spring is here and Cruise nights are starting back up. I hear we missed a good one while we were in Oklahoma and a lot of fine Mustangs showed up to grace the honor row at Whataburger. Daylight Savings Time will soon be here and we will start cruising after the club meetings, so be sure and attend and bring your Mustang, we have a great time!
-Harold Phillips, editor
DETAILS ON NASHVILLE TRIP
A group of MOET members are leaving Tyler to join the Mustangs Across America caravan in Little Rock, AR for the cruise to Nashville for the Mustang 40th celebration.
We are meeting at Traditions Restaurant at 11AM on Wednesday, April 14th. We will eat a quick lunch and get on the road around 11:30. All caravan members are encouraged to bring a CB radio (the handhelds do not pick up well inside a vehicle) and tune to Channel 8. We will travel to Little Rock, hopefully to arrive at a time to view the Mustangs Across America caravan coming in from Mustang, OK.
We will travel to Nashville on Thursday and arrive in time to go to a cruise night in downtown Nashville. For more information, call Craig Chesley at 903-561-3200.
FORD MUSTANG TURNS 40
On April 17, 1964 the Ford Mustang was introduced to the world, and quickly became one of the hottest selling and longest running car on the market. The Mustang was available with loads of options so that there was a Mustang for everybody and every budget. Introduced with a 170 ci 6 cylinder and a 3 speed standard as standard equipment, with optional 260 V8 and a 289 High Performance V8, the Mustang came in Coupe or Convertible form. The first Mustang Indy Pace Car was a 64 ½ Convertible. The Fastback was introduced around September of 1964, the beginning of the 1965 model year. Engines were upgraded to 200 ci for the 6, the 260 was discontinued and the 289 came in 3 different HP ratings. This body ran through the 66 model year.
In 1967 the body was restyled, longer and wider. More interior upgrades were available and larger engines could now be fitted between the front fenders. This body ran through 1968 with a Coupe, Convertible and a Fastback model.
Again in 1969 the body was restyled and took on more of a performance look. The Mach 1 debuted as well as the special Boss 302 and 429 versions. Performance was the name of the game. This body ran through 1970 with minor changes, still with 3 body styles available.
In 1971 the Mustang became much larger, and performance was beginning to suffer from higher emissions standards and high insurance premiums. The Boss Mustang had a 351 this year, the last year for the Boss. The 1971 became more of a luxury inspired car than a performer. The Sportsroof model was almost flat to the rear spoiler. 1973 was the final year of this body.
In 1974 the Mustang was restyled and resized. It became a small car available with a 4 cylinder or V6 in Coupe or Hatchback form. These were equipped as the standard Mustang II, the luxury inspired Ghia or the performance oriented Mach 1. In 1975 the Mach 1 got a 302 V8, in 1976 the Cobra II package was introduced and the King Cobra was the most desirable in 1978. These Mustang II’s are sometimes shunned by some Mustangers, but the Mustang II kept the Mustang name alive and was a great car for its time.
In 1979 the Fox bodied car was introduced with an Indy Pace Car model and the Mustang performance car was back. From 1979 to 1993 this Mustang continued to sell and become more popular on the street and on the drag strip. In 1982 the GT returned to the streets and has been with us ever since. The Convertible body was reintroduced in 1983.
The New body Mustang called SN95 came out just in time for the Mustang’s 30th anniversary in 1994. It was available with a V6 as standard equipment and a GT model with a 5.0 V8, both with Coupe or Convertible bodies. 1994 brought another Indy Pace Car with the new Cobra. In 1996 the 5.0 V8 was replaced with the 4.6 Liter Modular V8. The GT had a Single Overhead Cam engine, with the Cobra sporting a Dual Overhead Cam.
The SN95 was restyled in 1999 for the 35th anniversary edition, keeping the same platform but with sharper and crisper lines and flared fenders. Horsepower was increased in both the V6 and the V8 engines and Ford continued to sell Mustangs while the Camaro and Firebird sales began to decline. Special editions became available. In 2001 the Bullitt Mustang was a hot seller, styled after the 1968 Mustang in the movie Bullit in 1968. The Mach 1 returned in 2003 with a functional shaker hood, and the 2003 Cobra became supercharged bringing horsepower levels to 390!
In a nutshell, this is the legacy of the Mustang. Of course there are many details left out due to space, but I am not a Historian, just a die-hard enthusiast! The Ford Mustang has been on the road for 40 years and is still one of the most recognizable cars on the streets today.
The 2005 Mustang is a totally new car, with retro styling cues borrowed from the 60’s Mustangs. Design has incorporated features from Mustangs of the past and blended them into a unique new Mustang. Sneak peak and prototype Mustang pictures have circulated the internet and prototypes have been making car show circuits over the past couple of years, but Ford has stayed pretty close to the prototype in the production Mustang. Performance is expected to continue to rise in both the GT and Cobra models.
Celebrations of the Ford Mustang are being held everywhere. The Mustang 40th Celebration will be held in Nashville, The Great American Pony Drive will be driving across America to the Nashville event and countless other events across the country will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Mustang.
-Harold Phillips, editor
PALESTINE CAR SHOW
The Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration Car Show in Palestine was again a big success. The date was Saturday, March 20, the first day of Spring and the weather was just about perfect. Cars of Palestine is to be commended for their organized show. Nice door prizes, also. This group really makes you feel welcome. Members were on Hand to direct us into the parking lot, right up to the registration booth and then to the parking space. The North Texas Mustang Club had a good group there. This car show has been downtown the last few years in a grassy area that is right by the parade route and near the festival activities, antique shops, etc. Great for those who don’t want to stay in one place all day (like me!) When the show was over, there was a line of folks waving us goodbye and thanking us for participating in the show.
After the show, Steve & I drove to nearby Davy Dogwood Park, but it was a little early for the dogwoods, so we plan to drive back over soon. As we were leaving the park, the North Texas Mustang Club was headed for Dallas and we followed them for a few miles. Good looking group of Mustangs.
This annual show is nearby and is full of good things: cars, friends, scenery, food. Hopefully you can add this to your list of events to participate in next year.
-Lu Wegmet
A DAY AT THE RACES
Last weekend several members took in a day at the new Drag Strip in Rusk. Dan Hardiman, Eddy Franks, John & Ross Pritchard, Mark Whitt and Gary Goodman were there. Eddy Franks took his “Fender Gripper” 68 Mustang to the Strip. His best quarter mile time was a 12.18 sec and was beat in the second round because he broke out of his time. Not bad for an old man! His fire suit consisted of a flame retardant t-shirt and blue jeans. We all had a great time. I think Eddy is ready to take on John P. and his lead sled station wagon. The match has been set.
-Dan Hardiman
MONTHLY CLUB MEETINGS
Our monthly club meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at Traditions on South Broadway, Tyler, just down the street from Lowe’s and Best Buy on the other side of Broadway. The meetings are open to all club members, friends, family, and other interested parties. If you have not been attending meetings, you owe it to yourself to come and join us. This is the place to come for help with your Mustang or to suggest and help us plan club events. If the weather is good we like to cruise up Broadway and back down to the parking lot at Broadway and Rice Rd. If you are unable to make the meeting and have something of importance, please call one of the club officers listed on the back of this newsletter.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS SET FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2004. COME AT 6:30 TO EAT, THE MEETING STARTS AT 7:00 PM. BRING YOUR MUSTANG AND CRUISE WITH US!
MUSTANGS OF EAST TEXAS
Minutes of March 2, 2004 Meeting
President Dan Hardiman opened the meeting at 7:00 PM at Traditions Restaurant in Tyler.
Sherrie & Ira Groom from Lindale are new members who have moved here from McKinney, where they were active in the North Texas Mustang Club. They have a 67 Mustang convertible and a 96 Ford Dallas Cowboys Special Edition truck with 150 signatures. Welcomed back was Jim Jacobs who has a 66 convertible and a 65 and a DeLorean!
Several of our members received awards at the East Texas Crisis Center Auto Show. This event was again a big success in attendance and monetary value. Thanks to all who participated in this annual show.
There are two web sites for our club, which is creating some confusion. There needs to be a reference to both sites and some coordination.
After the Nashville show, the Great American Pony Drive starts a 7 week tour and will be traveling through Tyler on Thursday, April 22. Our club will sponsor lunch, catered by Traditions, at the Rose Garden. The Tyler Chamber of Commerce will supply rose lapel stickers. Guests will be driven to Snake Oyl Products for a tour. Suggested groups for entertainment were the Apache Belles or the Robert E. Lee stage band.
Old (continuing) business discussed was the car show in October. The location needs to be decided soon. 2nd Thursday each month is Cruise Night at the Whataburger on South Broadway. Tentative events – Bluebonnet Cruise and a club picnic.
At the next meeting, more detail will be given for the caravan to Nashville such as where to meet in Tyler and/or where to meet up in Little Rock and exchange cell phone numbers, etc.
If anyone has a change of address, phone #, e-mail, etc., please let Harold Phillips know so that he can keep our records current.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30. Members and guests moved to the parking lot to view cars and talk.
Our next meeting will be April 6th.
-Lu Wegmet, Secretary
I would like to wish the following people a happy birthday for the month of April:
12 Steve Wegmet
13 Maurene Christopherson
Bill Farrar
14 Joan Dodson
15 Brian Kochen
26 Don Joslin
Lu Wegmet
27 Michael Stroup
COMING EVENTS
Nashville, TN – Apr 15-18, 2004, Mustang 40th Anniversary Celebration, sponsored by Mustang Club of America at Nashville Superspeeedway, host hotel Gaylord Opryland. For more Info: www.Mustang.org.
Fort Worth, TX – Apr 29-May 02, 2004, the 32nd annual Pate Swap Meet at Texas Motor Speedway, I35W and St Hwy 114, www.pateswapmeet.com or e-mail .
Tulsa, OK – Jun 10-13, 2004, the 30th annual Mid America Ford Performance and Shelby Meet, sponsored by the Oklahoma Region of the SAAC, host hotel Marriott Southern Hills, 71st and Lewis in Tulsa, contact .
Tulsa, OK – Jun 10-13, 2004, the 2004 International Tulsa Route 66 Festival, sponsored by the National Historic Route 66 Federation, in Tulsa’s historic Brady Village, www.tulsa66festival.com, for info e-mail .
CLASSIFIEDS
The ads below are placed free of charge to all members of Mustangs of East Texas. These ads can be items for sale or items you wish to purchase, or ads for assistance or services. All ads will run for two months unless otherwise noted. If you would like to place and ad, please call Harold Phillips at 903-509-8212, or 903-714-9677 cellular before the 20th of each month for ads to be included in the next month’s newsletter. Or you can write to me at: Harold Phillips, 729 Joel Dr, Tyler, TX 75703 or email .