Car
of the Month |
|
Our baby blue 73 Conv. |
by Bill Watkins |
| In April 2001 while visiting my dad at the hospital in Santa Rosa, Dion
and I decided to take a side trip to Petaluma, where I had lived as a
child. Parked in front of a body shop was a beautiful baby blue 1973 Mustang
convertible with a for sale sign on it. Passing it by, Dion asked if I
was going to look at it? A quick U-turn and all the important information
was attained. The next day she called me at work and wanted to know if
I had called about the car yet. A building doesn't have to fall on me
twice to get the idea that Dion was interested in this car. A call was
made and an appointment was set up the next day to look it over. Luckily
Dion had the day off. We arrived to find the guy had gone with his kid
on a school field trip, one of his employee's gave us the keys to look
it over, and we liked what we saw. Walking back to the shop the guy told
us the owner was selling it for his Mom, and that he had her phone number.
A quick call, a trip to the bank and this car became Dion's. After a trip
to the gas station to fill'er up, check the fluids, and the air in the
tires, Dion put the top down for the first time. We returned home thru
the Napa valley with me in front of her in the van. In the Mirror, I could
see her smile as I have never seen her do before.
Quickly her car and I mean her car (I'm not even on the registration, I just keep it running and chauffeur her.) became the Mustang we took to all events, Parades, and car shows. We drove it to carry Giants Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry around Pac Bell Park, even though Dion was under the weather. In Feb. 2004 we had the engine rebuilt and then drove it to Las Vegas, a trip to Cool Arpil Nites, & then from Vacaville to the rim of the Grand Canyon with the Great American Pony Drive II, where we turned over the odometer. In June we once again loaded the car for a trip to Arizona with stops at Phoenix, Tucson, Tombstone, and Sedona. In 2005 we followed Iliene Burke and Paulette Rand to the International Mustang Meet in Helena Montana where we won a first place award in the 71-73 modified class. We are always ready to saddle up for a ride in the country or across country, in September we're looking forward to driving it down to Las Vegas to once again join the Great American Pony Drive IV which will come thru this area on 21 Sept 2006. Make plans and come join us for a great time, with Mustangers from around the country and the world. |