If you don't own a business, you may not be able to appreciate all thehassles and trials the lifestyle can bring. You are the one who makesall the final decisions, and your decisions determine the livelihoods ofothers. It's not a business for the squeamish.
Oh, there are advantages, too. You meet a lot of people and get to knowthem. This networking, a term of the '90s, no doubt has its advantages.
Bob Hosier of Tracy, California, was sitting at his insurance businesswhen that advantage came right at him. "Most of my clients know I likeold Mustangs," he says. "I had a call from a client one day asking me ifI would be interested in a Mustang convertible her boyfriend wanted tosell."
It turns out that he was the original owner of this special-orderedTropical Turquoise beauty. It was ordered as a '64-1/2, but came off theline in Milpitas as a '65, built in August 1964.
"When I bought the car, it had 98,000 original miles and its share ofparking-lot dings," relates Bob. "Much of the car had been repainted inlacquer, but it was still in great running condition."
The deal was struck and Hosier drove it away. He and his wife Windi leftthe car as-is and drove it for three years. There was a '65 fastbackbeing restored, and two other fastbacks, both '66s, were vying forattention.
When the time came to improve on this '65, Bob was unstoppable. There'san SVO 302 dropped in the engine compartment in place of the original289-4V Premium Fuel V-8 ordered when gas prices were less than a quartera gallon. This new powerplant was balanced and blueprinted with Eagleforged rods and pistons, an SVO E303 roller cam, and COMP Pro Magnumroller rockers. He used the Edelbrock catalog to order up the RPMaluminum heads and intake. A 600-series carb sits on top with ARP boltsthroughout. The Canton road-race pan is the oil depository, with thefluid pumped through a Melling oil pump. Drive is provided with a WorldClass five-speed hooked up to a Ford 9-inch. Shifting peace of mindcomes with the Centerforce clutch and pressure plate.
Front discs from Stainless Steel Brakes were an easy choice. Weldforged-billet 15-inch wheels serve as the hub for Firestone Firehawkrubber. Koni shocks hold sway with a Magna kit in place. The front islowered an inch and a half, and rear springs are mid-eye leaves withpolyurethane bushings.
Bob's Mustang history includes five cars from the '65-'70 era he hadpurchased new, so he was well versed in Mustang appointments. This washis first convertible, but that's not the reason for this one being alittle extra special. "I can honestly say this has been the most fun ofany of the cars I have restored since I built it the way I wanted - as arestomod."
That's evident all over. Bill Miller at Golden State Autobodybead-blasted the entire car before applying a fresh two-stage PPGTropical Turquoise. The bottom was also painted to be complete. Allemblems were removed, and a Maier Racing fiberglass hood found its wayto cover the 302.
The inside is luxury, with Corbeau GT seats up front with the stockrears modified to match the front. Custom gauges tell the tale of thedriving as Bob holds a 15-inch leather Moto-Lita steering wheel in hishand. The car is driven several times a week in good weather and to carshows.
When the original owner saw what Bob had done, his comment was, "Wow! Itdidn't look that good when it was brand new."
See for yourself. Need we say more?