Danville couple acquires ’67 Mustang from their first date

I imagine it’s reasonable to say the Ford Mustang was accidentally a colossal achievements. It was publicly introduced on April 17, 1964 with the convertible and hardtop styles and in August of that calendar year with the fastback design. The aim was to provide 100,000 Mustangs that yr, but the initial-calendar year gross sales have been over 400,000 and very first-two-12 months revenue over a million.

Lee Iacocca was the Ford division general manager driving the task and assigned Donald Frey as its head engineer. That normal time for making a entirely new model back again then was three to five a long time, but Frey attained Mustang’s progress in 18 months. There were being a few design and style groups competing for the task, all specified the similar specifications: a purchaser rate less than $2,500, a bodyweight under 2,500 pounds, a length underneath 180 inches, four bucket seats and many luxurious, ability and convenience selections.

In Iacocca’s ebook, he credits automotive stylist Dave Ash for the Mustang style and design, but Ash modestly claimed, “I experienced a large amount of aid. I really do not consider everyone ever does a automobile by himself, not in these periods anyway.”

Normally, growth fees are a precedence, so to retain those as lower as attainable, the Mustang applied the chassis, suspension and drivetrain from the Ford Falcon. The system, of program, was totally distinctive, with a shorter wheelbase, wider track and lower peak and seating position. The initial Mustangs experienced 5 motor possibilities ranging from a 105-horsepower, 6-cylinder motor to a 271-horsepower V8 with three transmission selections. The Mustang produced a whole new class of vehicles which turned recognized as the Pony Vehicle phase.

In the very first two yrs, the Mustang bought like hotcakes and there was not significantly need to have to modify everything. But for the 1967 model calendar year, Mustang did have their first apparent style adjust. The Mustangs were being escalating larger, and Iacocca was worried. The new ’67 was a minor extended, a little broader, a minor taller and weighed over 300 pounds additional. The most significant mechanical improve was many large-block V8 engines that grew to become obtainable. The interiors were being enhanced as perfectly as minimal exterior trim variations like the taillights, wheel addresses and fuel cap.

This difficulty characteristics a 1967 Ford Mustang hardtop owned by Hardy and Trish Brunutte, of Danville. The motor vehicle was purchased new by Hardy’s mom from their hometown Ford dealer in Newman, California.

“She had that motor vehicle when I turned 16,” he said. “I took my driver’s license test in that auto. It was a true specific auto for me, plus it was almost brand-new, so it was variety of great to drive close to.”

Whilst it was a incredibly wonderful auto, it was not the very best auto for a housewife with four young children to haul close to. She marketed it just after a couple decades and acquired a four-door sedan.

“My dad was in the bus small business and one of his mechanics purchased the vehicle. He was a really very good mechanic. He held the car in great mechanical issue.”

The Brunuttes bought the Mustang back from that mechanic in 2019 for $10,000, and it ran properly.

“It is wholly first, including the motor and transmission with 240,000 miles on the odometer. I have put a timing chain on which is the only matter we have finished to the motor,” he stated. “When I acquired it, it just essential the inside redone, the paint work desired to be redone. We just made it appear very.”

They have accomplished additional than just make the Mustang fairly. It now has front disc brakes, air conditioning and a radio that appears to be like the unique Ford radio but has the most current engineering so his cell cellphone can be utilised with it. Even the interior is much better than new with a tailor made arm relaxation with two drink holders.

“A critical historical truth of the auto is that my wife of 39 yrs and I went on our initially date in that auto,” stated Hardy.

Trish additional that “It was OUR initially day and MY Quite Very first day with a boy. I was a small stressed out. I was so thrilled when he pulled up in the Mustang in its place of a sedan with bench seats for the reason that I didn’t know if I was to sit close to him or not.”

I assume we can suppose Trish’s dad was happy to see the Mustang much too. The few fortunately agreed to purchase the nostalgic vehicle, but Trish experienced a requirement.

“I insisted that he concur to 4 protection characteristics,” Trish mentioned. “A mirror on the proper side (not typical in people times), head rests, shoulder harness seatbelts and a metal panel about the gas tank (to decrease fuel spillage in situation of a rear-conclude collision).”

This Mustang is probably not the Brunuttes’ finest fiscal financial investment, but it’s most likely their most effective sentimental investment decision.

Have an interesting vehicle? Contact David Krumboltz at [email protected]. To view far more images of this and other issues’ autos or to examine far more of Dave’s columns, take a look at mercurynews.com/writer/david-krumboltz.