It isn't a sin to settle. Certainly, there is no shame in pursuing a goal to the ultimate end where you get everything you're looking for. Often, though, these quests end up unfulfilled. If you have to compromise your wants, remember, you can still come away with a winner.
Lynwood Pendleton of Collinsville, Virginia, wanted a '67 fastback. He wanted one with a 390, and it had to have a four-speed. With those thoughts in mind, the search began. Car after car became a candidate, but each one had an automatic, and that simply wouldn't do. There was one Mustang that Lynwood didn't inspect. "I was never able to run down the car. We were always going in opposite directions. By the time I could get turned around, it was gone," Lynwood said.
A friend had the idea he may know of this mysterious car. It could have come from about 15 miles away, so Lynwood went hunting. Sure enough, there it sat, in the yard of a home. When he got out to take a look, a boy of about 6 years of age informed him it was "my daddy's car and it's not for sale." That sentiment was backed by the child's grandmother, who told Lynwood where to find the owner.
This one filled the bill because it was a four-speed. However, there was a 289 under the hood. Decisions, decisions. This is where the compromise came in, because a good 289 isn't a bad thing and the four-speed sealed the deal. Now, it would just be a case of getting the owner to sell.
The owner didn't really want to sell, but he would consider it for a price. The owner went home and got the car to give Lynwood a chance to drive it, but Lynwood couldn't bring himself to take off in it. He wanted the car, but had to think about it.
If you've been in this situation before, you know these thoughts will consume you. Sure enough, Lynwood decided he had to have the car. In short order, a deal was done, and there was a happy ending to this "car's not for sale" story after all.
Once he had it, Lynwood had ideas for it. The 289 was jerked out after two years. Oh, there was nothing wrong with the engine. It had 114,000 miles on it, and sits ready for duty today. In its place went an engine built by Tim Skinner. The new block was bored .030 over, and 10:1 flat-top pistons were installed. The 289 Hi-Po heads were ported and polished, and Manley stainless steel valves were put to work. A Comp solid-lifter cam, roller rockers, a Weiand dual-plane manifold, a Mallory distributor, a Holley 650 carb, and an Edelbrock aluminum water pump were some of the pieces put into place to orchestrate the power. Howard Webb of Classic Cars of Virginia freshened the original Acapulco Blue to a formula that would brighten the color and increase the clarity. Before the paint went on, a few nicks, dings, and general body wear were fixed up for better looks.
The rest of the work fell to Lynwood. He took care of all the engine detail and underhood chores after the engine install. The interior (except for the seat covers) was another area for the new owner to spruce up.
Now that he has his '67 fastback (along with three other show Mustangs in his stable), Lynwood uses it for Saturday cruises or Sunday driving when the feeling hits. He doesn't miss the big 390 because there's plenty of power from the 289 underhood. With his four-speed and 3.50 gears, he's a happy man who's glad he made his 15-mile journey a few years ago. Getting this fastback, even if it wasn't exactly what he was looking for, was a good choice. One look and you'll agree.