Joe Parler's 1966 Ford Mustang GT
Joe Parler’s Mustang Story:
“My name is Joe Parker and I now live in Ormond Beach, Florida. I am 67 years old. I own a 1966 Ford Mustang GT coupe with a 289 V-8 engine, Emberglo exterior paint and an Emberglo and Parchment interior. My father bought the 1966 Mustang GT for my mother's Christmas present back in 1965. It was originally Emberglo red with a Black interior.
“Mom gave the car to me in 1971. I drove it for years until I left it in Texas to get it restored when I moved back to North Carolina in 1990. The shop removed the engine and painted the engine compartment -- then let it sit for seven years. After hearing they were not going to do any more work on it, I had the car brought back to NC, and left it with a restorer in Waxhaw NC until 2013. I had kept in touch with him about the project and he kept telling me he would do the work -- but it never got done.
“My mom really didn't believe I would ever get the restoration finished. When we picked it up to take it to a third restorer (Barry Stone), we found it in the parking lot behind the shop with the windows cracked open and many missing parts. We sent it off to get the body work done, and it took three people 734 hours to complete the work. The engine and transmission were sent out to separate rebuilders. Then Barry went to work putting it all back together. He finished the car in August of 2016.
“Sadly, mom died that July and did not get to see it finished, but she did get to see over 100 pictures documenting the restoration progress. It ended up costing me over $58,000 for the complete restoration. The engine is no longer stock (now with aluminum heads, electronic ignition, new cam, new intake and carburetor, etc.) and I had the interior color changed to match the exterior, plus purchased a Cobra style hood to replace the stock hood. I also had the suspension and rear end beefed up and added electronic steering.
“I love the results and plan to drive my Mustang for many more years. In December of 2017, I bought a Roush Stage 3 Mustang from the same dealership where Mom’s Mustang was originally purchased. Both cars are fun to drive!”
(photo credit: Ford Performance)
