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The latest trip out Worthing - 31 July
I suppose when Ileana and I first met it was
inevitable that we would get married. We met in Dubai in the early 70's and it
was obvious that we both had this thing about cars. She was driving a beetle and
I was driving a 2 door 17 year old Cadillac. I had just sold a Lotus Super 7
series 2 before I went overseas but Ileana still had a Porche 912 and a 67 Mustang
at her home in upstate New York.
Ileana had a Porche because she bought it when she started work in the US. Prior to that, the 67 Powder Blue convertible Mustang was the apple of her eye but was now kept to drive in the winter whilst the Porche was garaged. We married in '72, sold the Porche and left the Mustang in the States to use during our visits.
Unfortunately, the first winter after we left, Ileana's cousin totalled the car. With the insurance Ileana's mother replaced it with a brand new 73 convertible straight out of the showroom. Cost a bit over $3,300. Makes you weep doesn’t it. I suppose in theory that make the Mustang the Mother-in law's car. Now that really makes me weep!
We have driven the car since then in the summers when we visited the States. For the last 7 years, because it was easier to use Sue's every day car the Mustang remained in its heated garage. In 28 years we put a total of 44,000 miles on the clock Last summer Sue passed away and her house sold. Our garaging had suddenly disappeared and because of the wonderful memories of summers in the States and a loathing to sell the car for far less than we thought it was worth, we decided to ship it back here. A comment by Nick also bore weight - "Mum, I just hope that this car will give the pleasure to my kids that it has given to us". We now have the reason to keep it going for another few decades.
The car was due to be shipped from New Jersey on a ship calling in NY on the 12 September. Not surprisingly the ship skipped New York and the car caught the next boat to arrive at Southampton on 19th October.
Then the fun started. Since the car had been owned by Ileana in practice for 28 years and on paper for at least 10 and we lived overseas until 1997, we declared it to customs as a personal possession. Seems reasonable doesn’t it?
"Yes Madam it is obviously yours, and you have used it overseas but have you lived overseas and had the car with you in the last 6 months?". " Er no". "In that case the law says it is not a personal possession and you will have to pay import duty and VAT on it. How much is it worth?"
"So having owned it and used it for the best part of 28 years means it is not a personal possession simply because I have lived here with my husband and children since 1997 and the car has not been with us.?" "Er no. The car is yours, it has been used by you but the law says it hasn't. Er Ermmm Er Oh that sounds silly doesn’t it?"
Eventually, after 10 days, common sense prevailed and some loophole allowed the car in with no duty or VAT payable. All we have to pay now is 5 days demurrage!!
The car arrived on 1 November with a battery as dead as a Dodo. Jump leads soon got it going and the sound of that beautiful V8 being woken from its slumber was heaven. I hesitate to say orgasmic but now I've said it that it the best way to describe the sound of a grumbling, rumbling, misfiring start as a 351 C warms up to the full throated growling purr that is so distinctive of the breed. If the car was smaller I would have hugged it. Ileana did and could only get her arms around the tail light cluster.
The drive down round the M25 and M3 to get the car through its MOT was in bright sunlight and clear sky with only a brief stop to test the power hood and reap the benefits of better visibility with the hood down. I was assured by the very nice young lady that I spoke to at DVLA that it was acceptable for me to drive the Mustang to the MOT test centre and back after it had passed so long as I had insurance cover. I did so I did. I met no police en route to test this assurance. The drive did remind me how HUGE the front end of the 73 Mustang is. It’s a bit like steering a narrow boat (only quicker!). The road is sooooo far in front! I had also forgotten the massive power and torque that the Cleveland produces - foot down at 50 - blink - 80 - oops - foot off - back to 70. Driving on the wrong side of the car also became natural after the first 20 miles or so.
The next hurdle was registration with all the necessary pieces of paper and for proof of age, a photo of the door plate, and a build sheet from Marti Autoworks who are a Ford licensed reseller of production records. Everything was acceptable except for my evidence of proof of age. Despite a lengthy phone conversation and a visit in person to the DVLA office in Reading I was told that the only acceptable proof as far as they were concerned was an original letter from the UK manufacturer or a UK Owners club. I decided to have a try at the manufacturer route so after a quick call to Fords in Brentwood and an explanation of my problem I was put through to a very helpful lady. I faxed her a copy of the build sheet and details of the car.
Next I received a fax asking for the other 6 digits of the VIN. "Erm sorry maam there are only 11". "Can't be right there should be 17." "I assure you there are only 11." "OK, I'll email the US."
Days later and nothing, so I rang again. "Any luck from the US?" "No I'm waiting for you to send me the full VIN" "D'oh - There really are only 11 numbers Honest. Look at the build sheet I sent. Can't you do something based on that?" Next day a letter plopped on the doormat from Ford UK saying the car was manufactured in November 1972. This was sent off to DVLA and guess what? The next day I got confirmation that the documentation was OK along with a number and tax disc! Yippee! I don’t regret getting the build sheet from Kevin Marti even if it did cost $50. It gives much more information than just deciphering the VIN and door plate codes.
More about the car
The whole car is original with one or two minor exceptions. The exterior paint with the matt black bonnet (hood) is definitely original at the front end. There is evidence of some respray at the back end so I suspect the mother-in-law reversed into something and had it repaired without telling us. The hood is original - 29 years old and still in one piece! Even the original 8 track tape player is working so if you want to find a final resting place for all those 8 track tapes of 60's and 70's music, I will give them a good home. Interior is also all original brushed vinyl upholstery. Good old Ford - why waste money on leather. Vinyl will last given the right treatment.
A close inspection has shown a bit of rust under the carpets and inside the boot so this winter is going to be spent getting rid of that and trying to get the interior and exterior and under the bonnet into first class condition. Then we will be out and about, so if you see this car on the road in the South East, give me a wave.
I'll wave back unless I'm in the middle of a white-knuckle moment.
We are now proud Members of the Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain. 800 members and 800 Mustangs.