Danville couple acquires ’67 Mustang from their first date

I believe it’s honest to say the Ford Mustang was unintentionally a colossal results. It was publicly launched on April 17, 1964 with the convertible and hardtop versions and in August of that year with the fastback design. The goal was to provide 100,000 Mustangs that yr, but the initial-yr revenue ended up around 400,000 and 1st-two-calendar year sales more than a million.

 

Lee Iacocca was the Ford division typical manager powering the venture and assigned Donald Frey as its head engineer. That normal time for manufacturing a totally new model back then was 3 to 5 many years, but Frey attained Mustang’s progress in 18 months. There had been three design groups competing for the undertaking, all given the exact specifications: a consumer selling price beneath $2,500, a pounds under 2,500 lbs ., a size less than 180 inches, 4 bucket seats and several luxury, power and comfort and ease selections.

In Iacocca’s e-book, he credits automotive stylist Dave Ash for the Mustang structure, but Ash modestly claimed, “I experienced a lot of assist. I don’t believe anyone at any time does a auto by himself, not in these situations in any case.”

In a natural way, improvement expenses are a precedence, so to hold individuals as low as attainable, the Mustang utilized the chassis, suspension and drivetrain from the Ford Falcon. The entire body, of program, was wholly various, with a shorter wheelbase, broader track and lessen top and seating situation. The initial Mustangs experienced five engine choices ranging from a 105-horsepower, 6-cylinder engine to a 271-horsepower V8 with 3 transmission solutions. The Mustang designed a whole new class of motor vehicles which grew to become recognized as the Pony Vehicle phase.

In the to start with two yrs, the Mustang marketed like hotcakes and there wasn’t a great deal will need to transform anything. But for the 1967 product calendar year, Mustang did have their initial recognizable style and design modify. The Mustangs had been escalating much larger, and Iacocca was anxious. The new ’67 was a minor longer, a minor broader, a little taller and weighed above 300 pounds much more. The most significant mechanical transform was various large-block V8 engines that became offered. The interiors ended up improved as very well as small exterior trim variations like the taillights, wheel addresses and gas cap.

This issue characteristics a 1967 Ford Mustang hardtop owned by Hardy and Trish Brunutte, of Danville. The car was obtained new by Hardy’s mom from their hometown Ford supplier in Newman, California.

“She experienced that car or truck when I turned 16,” he explained. “I took my driver’s license examination in that automobile. It was a real specific motor vehicle for me, additionally it was almost model-new, so it was form of neat to generate all around.”

Even though it was a extremely awesome motor vehicle, it was not the finest auto for a housewife with four youngsters to haul all around. She offered it following a couple many years and acquired a four-door sedan.

“My dad was in the bus company and one particular of his mechanics purchased the motor vehicle. He was a actually excellent mechanic. He held the car or truck in exceptional mechanical condition.”

The Brunuttes acquired the Mustang back again from that mechanic in 2019 for $10,000, and it ran beautifully.

“It is fully original, like the motor and transmission with 240,000 miles on the odometer. I’ve put a timing chain on which is the only issue we have done to the motor,” he stated. “When I purchased it, it just desired the interior redone, the paint task essential to be redone. We just made it appear quite.”

They have done much more than just make the Mustang very. It now has front disc brakes, air conditioning and a radio that appears to be like like the authentic Ford radio but has the most current technology so his cell phone can be used with it. Even the interior is far better than new with a customized arm relaxation with two consume holders.

“A vital historical simple fact of the vehicle is that my spouse of 39 years and I went on our first date in that auto,” reported Hardy.

Trish included that “It was OUR first day and MY Pretty First day with a boy. I was a minimal stressed out. I was so thrilled when he pulled up in the Mustang as a substitute of a sedan with bench seats due to the fact I did not know if I was to sit close to him or not.”

I assume we can believe Trish’s father was happy to see the Mustang as well. The pair happily agreed to invest in the nostalgic vehicle, but Trish had a need.

“I insisted that he agree to four security features,” Trish stated. “A mirror on the suitable side (not standard in those times), head rests, shoulder harness seatbelts and a metal panel above the gasoline tank (to decrease gas spillage in case of a rear-stop collision).”

This Mustang is possibly not the Brunuttes’ finest monetary financial commitment, but it’s most most likely their most effective sentimental investment.

Have an attention-grabbing car? Call David Krumboltz at [email protected]. To view far more photos of this and other issues’ automobiles or to read through extra of Dave’s columns, go to mercurynews.com/author/david-krumboltz.