I thought this week would never come--the one when the body shop would finally get around to painting my '70 SportsRoof.
It's being painted after the shop has taken nearly a year to fix the damage caused when I was hit in the side. I was T-boned on the passenger side by a pickup truck that was going fast enough to almost turn the Mustang on its side--after the wreck, I didn't know whether the car was going to roll or just settle back down. Thankfully, it didn't roll. I was hit hard enough we skidded six feet after he hit me, and the shock from the impact caused my front bumper to crumple inward and bust out my grille, headlight buckets, and front valance panel. It looked like I had been hit in the front as well as the side.
This involved pulling it on the frame machine until it was as straight as possible, then cutting out the dented section from the A-pillar to the rocker, piecing that bit back in, re-welding it to the firewall and inner fender structure, and then pulling it on the frame machine some more until everything triangulated just right.
Then, they had to fit the repro fender and door on that side, fix the dents in the hood resulting from the wreck, patch a few bits of rust, and get it all straight. I trust their repair work--before getting all the gaps just right, etc, I had the car aligned, and it lined up and tracked perfectly.
So, it's been a long time coming. They had a lot to do, but its a small shop and they kept putting me on the back burner to do insurance jobs, which I kind of understand. They've got to get the small checks coming in, but I've been giving them draws along the way, too. I've been antsy, to say the least, esp. when I learned the shop was going through labor problems and was having problems meeting payroll.
But they have done the job for much less than anyone would probably have touched it for. I hated to throw away the car or junk it--the running gear was solid, and I've got a huge sentimental tie to the car. When I was 17 I drove it to Augusta, GA for the 2003 MCA Grand Nationals and won 1st in Nation for 69-70 Daily Driven.
Now, it won't be my daily driver, but I will drive it every chance I get.
It's going to be the original color T-code Medium Red, with the optional hood stripe. It has the Mach 1 style hood scoop and the "Sports Slats". I'm also having the body shop black out the taillight panel.
The seats are being covered as we speak (I covered the rear seat myself and decided I didn't want to risk messing up the buckets. They're white Mach 1 style TMI sport seats, red stripe.
It's a mild 302 and C4 auto, but it's quick enough for me! I just can't wait to get in it and drive it again.
Just had to let out some of this excitement.
-Joseph Knight
It's being painted after the shop has taken nearly a year to fix the damage caused when I was hit in the side. I was T-boned on the passenger side by a pickup truck that was going fast enough to almost turn the Mustang on its side--after the wreck, I didn't know whether the car was going to roll or just settle back down. Thankfully, it didn't roll. I was hit hard enough we skidded six feet after he hit me, and the shock from the impact caused my front bumper to crumple inward and bust out my grille, headlight buckets, and front valance panel. It looked like I had been hit in the front as well as the side.
This involved pulling it on the frame machine until it was as straight as possible, then cutting out the dented section from the A-pillar to the rocker, piecing that bit back in, re-welding it to the firewall and inner fender structure, and then pulling it on the frame machine some more until everything triangulated just right.
Then, they had to fit the repro fender and door on that side, fix the dents in the hood resulting from the wreck, patch a few bits of rust, and get it all straight. I trust their repair work--before getting all the gaps just right, etc, I had the car aligned, and it lined up and tracked perfectly.
So, it's been a long time coming. They had a lot to do, but its a small shop and they kept putting me on the back burner to do insurance jobs, which I kind of understand. They've got to get the small checks coming in, but I've been giving them draws along the way, too. I've been antsy, to say the least, esp. when I learned the shop was going through labor problems and was having problems meeting payroll.
But they have done the job for much less than anyone would probably have touched it for. I hated to throw away the car or junk it--the running gear was solid, and I've got a huge sentimental tie to the car. When I was 17 I drove it to Augusta, GA for the 2003 MCA Grand Nationals and won 1st in Nation for 69-70 Daily Driven.
Now, it won't be my daily driver, but I will drive it every chance I get.
It's going to be the original color T-code Medium Red, with the optional hood stripe. It has the Mach 1 style hood scoop and the "Sports Slats". I'm also having the body shop black out the taillight panel.
The seats are being covered as we speak (I covered the rear seat myself and decided I didn't want to risk messing up the buckets. They're white Mach 1 style TMI sport seats, red stripe.
It's a mild 302 and C4 auto, but it's quick enough for me! I just can't wait to get in it and drive it again.
Just had to let out some of this excitement.
-Joseph Knight
