We are finally getting a car ...

bwcobra15 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-18-2002, 09:46 PM

... but not an SPF Cobra yet.

We've finally come to the realization that the timing is just not right, what with one kid in high school (ice hockey) and another in middle school (cheerleader), to put ourselves in deep for a $45k toy. That will have to wait until the kids are older (and less expense), or we hit the Texas Lotto.

However we have arrived to a nice compromise: My son Nick is going to need a car for school and work next year - he turns 16 in July. Heaven forbid I get him some Honda Accord or Del Sol with decals, neon and an exhaust tip bigger than a sewer pipe, like most of his peers.

Oh no, thank GOD my son Nick has better taste than that - he's been raised right, to be your own person, to persue your own dreams, not follow the crowd. While everybody else his age watched "The Fast and Furious" then immediately ran out and got 20" wheels and emerald green and day glow orange paint for their big sister's Acura - Nick watched "Gone in 60 Seconds" (about 20 times) and has not stopped talking about a '68 Shelby GT500 since.

... Now I know what you all are thinking: "Isn't a '68 GT500 pushing the cost of an SPF, if not more?

" Yes, you are right. That's why we ain't getting one. But, what we ARE getting is a '68 Mustang GT Fastback, J-code (302 4v) with C4 automatic. Its a real GT, with all the trim, etc. Candyapple red and dark red crinkle interior. It needs a lot of restoration work, which is something Nick and I will really enjoy doing together. We found the car (or the ad, really) at the Mid-America meet in Tulsa this past weekend. This Saturday we are going to inspect the car in Arkansas, and if its what the owner claims it is condition-wise, we'll bring it back home and immediately begin tearing it down.

When its done, it will be his to drive to school and work every day. Then when he leaves high school and wants a "new" car, it comes back to me.

So, that's the deal with the Worleys. Matt, you can quit asking me when I'm going to get a cobra now --- it won't be for a while. But I'm happy.

...and excited

The cobra would have been just for me, and the family wouldn't really enjoy it. The '68 GT is for "us" - everybody in the family will enjoy it, and you should see the grin on Nick's face!!

G.R. · #2 (**permalink**) 06-18-2002, 10:00 PM

Way to go "Family First"

Seems pretty rare sometimes these days. Hope you and your son have an absolute blast refitting that car.

Have a great one today!

4RE KLR · #3 (**permalink**) 06-19-2002, 07:22 AM

Good Decision Bobby

Ferrari Killer
Steve Parks

427Aggie · #4 (**permalink**) 06-19-2002, 10:54 AM

Excellent decision Bobby.....and may I say I am jealeous of Nick...I wish I had a car like that in High School.

Matt

cobrashoch · #5 (**permalink**) 06-19-2002, 11:03 AM

And If you do a good enough job on the Stang, when you need to get rid of it you might have enough to buy a Factory Five kit or maybe even a roller of some sort. Nice story.
Cobrashock

Mike Braddock · #6 (**permalink**) 06-19-2002, 11:38 AM

Bobby,

That's pretty similar to what my father did for me when I was about that age. We had a shop and I was always working on stuff with him. As an incentive for me to keep my grades up, my parents decided they would help buy a car that my father and I would restore so I would have something nice when I was in high school. Well, after a few months of searching and researching, we decided on a '69 mach1 that needed some work. It was a daily driven car with the factory 351W (2V), FMX auto, AC, PB and PS. (Half the fun was driving around with my dad every weekend looking for potential candidates!) We bought it and ended up going through the whole car. It was the first engine I rebuilt and I learned a LOT. But most importanly, I learned to respect the car, having put so much time and $ into it. That respect kept me from doing something stupid with it while attending high school and I still have it to this day:

I think you and your family have made a wonderful decision. The older I get the more I treasure what my parents did for me. The whole project gave us a great reason to spend a lot of time with each other and that brought our family closer than you can imagine. I for one know that I couldn't have respected any nice car that my parents just threw me the keys to--not at that young and impressive age! So two thumbs up for putting your kids and family first. You won't be sorry! You and Nick will have a lot of fun working together. The only downside is you two will never want to sell the car

!

Mike

PS Did I mention that my grades were never an issue after we bought the mustang

? Haha!

ThePidler · #7 (**permalink**) 06-19-2002, 01:20 PM

Nice Mach Mike, currently restoring a friends 69 Mach excatly like yours...but with a 428, auto AND A/C....

Awesome choice Worley...PIX man. Where are the PIX!? We wanna see what you are starting with...

GUMBALL · #8 (**permalink**) 06-19-2002, 01:42 PM

Bob,

Congrats on the upcoming purchase. Should be a great experience in the garage for the two of you. I too had a mustang back in high school. Very cool car for a teenager. I too unloaded it for something practical when I was off at college. However, now I want it back!!! So be careful your son is not knocking on your door when he is 35 asking for HIS car back!

Enjoy

jrussell · #9 (**permalink**) 06-19-2002, 01:49 PM

Bobby,
I REALLY applaud you for making the choice you and your family made!! You will have plenty of time in the future for a Cobra, but this time spent with Nick cannot be replaced! The beautiful part of the TCC is- all we ask is a genuine interest in the heritage of a very special, and short lived, car from the mid 60's. Ownership has never been a part of the equasion.
The Cobra is still down the road, but this time for father/son bonding is NOW, and once that time is past it can NEVER be replaced.
This was a no brainer- even for me! I can't wait to see the car & the smile on Nick's face!
John Russell

gsharapa · #10 (**permalink**) 06-19-2002, 07:04 PM

A Cobra, Shelby, Mustang GT, F -150 it's a Ford! What can I say Bobby, there all in the family!

Have fun with your son now, when they turn 18 - dad and mom will be much further down his priority ladder, Trust Me!

My son went every where with me and we worked on my Cobras and then his car together, Now 18 and I hardy ever see him...........

trctrdrvr · #11 (**permalink**) 06-19-2002, 08:37 PM

Bob

Nice choice on the car your family will enjoy it!
My son just turned 14 & we our looking for a 68-69 fastback for him to drive when he turns 16..

Mike

bwcobra15 · #12 (**permalink**) 06-19-2002, 08:54 PM

WOW - the support from you guys is overwhelming.. brought a tear to Anneliese's eyes. Thanks for much for being such valuable friends.

I'll post pictures of this "project" this weekend after I pick it up on Saturday -- maybe we'll trailer it to the SCAT meeting (www.scatracks.org) this Sunday!!

bwcobra15 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-25-2002, 09:03 PM

See more in my photo gallery:

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/i...at=500&thumb=1

We've got a LOT of work ahead of us!!

James Baldwin · #14 (**permalink**) 06-26-2002, 08:54 AM

WOW. I wish THAT was my first car! or second! Great car. I really love that body style.

Good choice!

Mike Braddock · #15 (**permalink**) 06-26-2002, 09:44 AM

Nice choice Bob! I bet Nick liked his 16th birthday present

! The power steering and brakes will really make the car a nice daily driver. What are your plans for the restoration? Are you going back original? Or are you going to do a 'resto-mod' as they have come to call it? Good luck with it and please keep us posted!

Mike

bwcobra15 · #16 (**permalink**) 06-26-2002, 10:12 AM

Mike,

We will be keeping the car completely original. There might be a few things that we will "bolt on" that are not original, such as Torque-Thrust wheels, a sportier steering wheels etc.. but nothing that can't be easily put back to original form.

We are also going to add some items that were not originally on the car, but were an option, such as louvred hood with turn signals, a console for the interior, and air conditioning. These things won't violate the data plate information.

We are going back with the original candyapple red exterior and dark red interior, with probably a gold "C" stripe.

Of course Nick wanted to go "Eleanor" all the way (see Mustang Monthly a few issues back), but I talked him out of that!

I'm going to keep the progress of the restoration documented on our family web site at www.worley-world.com - check it out!

Snakecharmer · #17 (**permalink**) 06-26-2002, 10:29 AM

Looks GREAT Bobby!! Some new parts and a lot of cosmetic work will make this a beautiful ride.

I too was given a mustang for my 16th birthday, with a plan of restoring it with my father. The work took us about a year and it created some of the best memories that I have of my dad. That car was also responsible for giving me a best friend.

Remember Bill "the mechanic" from 2 TCC events ago? Bill and I had known each other since our Little League football days at the age of 8. However, it wasn't until we started working on mustangs together that we really became best friends.

Ahhhh, the memories. You did good, my friend. May you and your son create memories that last a lifetime

Charmer

bwcobra15 · #18 (**permalink**) 07-13-2002, 08:33 PM

Well today, July 13, 2002 is Nick's "official" 16th birthday. We spent his birthday today completing the stripping down process on our '68 Mustang Fastback. We removed the dash and gauges, all of the wiring harnesses, heater components and other items on the firewall. Tomorrow we will finish the disassembly process, then next week deliver the car and several boxes of parts to the plastic media blaster for stripping to bare metal.

Nick in the driver's seat on his 16th birthday

Nick removing fuel and brake lines under the car - check out our "auto skates" under the tires.. we can spin the car around 360 degrees in the garage and work under it without jack stands!

Nick!! Where are your safety glasses?!?

jrussell · #19 (**permalink**) 07-14-2002, 06:29 AM

Bobby & Nick,
It appears I am going to have to write over 4,000 words just to match the pictures you posted!! This is GREAT!!! I truly envy both of you, and I hope I can have this kind of bonding adventure with John jr. in about three years!
Where did you get the "skates"? I have seen these in Pegasus catalogs and some others, and these are really trick! My mental picture of Nick has always been with a great smile, and the picture of him looking up through the transmission tunnel is "IT", and priceless! This IS the stuff memories of a lifetime are made from, and you have done well,again, my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Russell
ps. Lyndsie said that you & Nick need to go to another Ranger game with she & I, what do you think?

bwcobra15 · #20 (**permalink**) 07-14-2002, 09:39 PM

John,

I got the "skates" at Harbor Freight for around $120 I think. They are worth their weight in GOLD! I don't think they are wide enough for the 295's on the back of a Cobra though. You might look at these: http://www.carskates.com - they will handle a WIDE tire like this:

Regarding Nick, he should have a great smile after $4,000 in orthodontics!! No seriously, thanks for the kind comments.. yes, I am "walking on air" working on the car out there with him. It is just priceless!! When I started on my Datsun 280Z about 12 years ago (whew!!) he was just a little squirt, and wanted to help out SO bad - he was always underfoot, and chasing tools for me. Check out this old picture from 1990 (Nick was four years old):

http://www.worley-world.com/stripe/r...s/pandb00.html

Regarding the Rangers, aren't they a hockey team in New York City?!?

Oh yea, Texas has a "baseball" team called the Rangers too, I seem to recall...

We would *love* to go to a game, but I honestly don't know when we'd have the time!! My goal it to have this Mustang COMPLETELY finished by the SCAT Texas Nationals - "Texas 289" on October 18-20, 2002, so we are on a full burn... I just came in from the garage at 10:00pm tonight after being out there since 9:00am this morning.

We are going to the NTMC 20th anniversary meeting/party (see: www.ntmconline.org) on Thursday night at AER - y'all should try to make it!!