The 40th Anniversary - Barely

The Mustang 40^th Anniversary was fast approaching and Thunderbolt was still not back on the road. Chris and Lisa had purchased the car several years before and had begun a ground up restoration, but the process was slow and expensive.  But the 40^th was to be held in Gladeville, Tennessee, only thirty miles from where the Tramels lived.  There was no way their Mustang was not going to be there. 

Feverishly the couple set their minds to getting the old car back road worthy.  They had even sold a white 65 Mustang coupe to help finance the project.  Paint, interior, brakes, wheels & tires, a new top, all were installed, but work to the engine would have to wait.  The 37-year-old power plant was original and still ran like there was no tomorrow, but it wasn’t pretty to look at.  But that was o.k., it ran and it would get them there. 

With the installation of a new C-4 transmission only two weeks before the event the car was finally back on the streets.  Even with the old engine the car screamed.  The Tramels were going to make the 40^th anniversary after all. 

It was a bright, clear morning on the first day of the event.  The Tramels had gotten up early and packed their Stang for long day before them.  Everything was perfect.  The couple was a bit anxious though, this being the first real trip they had ever taken in their newly rebuilt automobile. 

The car ran great on the way to the Nashville Superspeedway, where the event was to take place.   After hitting Interstate 40 T-bolt purred like a kitten.  It seemed the Tramels had covered all their bases; it was going to be a wonderful day. 

As the Tramels neared the event traffic became a little more congested.  It was nearly 7:00 a.m. and already the parking lot was filling up.   The Tramels had watched a little of the event on the CBS Morning Show and knew visitors would be numerous, but not to worry, they had pre-registered and were going to be part of the show. 

Driving up to the entrance of the speedway the Tramels caught a wonderful sight, hundreds of classic Mustangs lined up to receive their registration and identification material.   They could see cameramen and reporters covering the event as the cars entered the show area.  Chris and Lisa were excited; this was their first show and first trip in their car. 

George Thoroughgood was playing on the radio as they approached the gates to the event.  It was “Bad to the Bone,” how appropriate for a black car.  But, suddenly Chris noticed that George had stopped singing.  The radio had stopped.  “Hmmm,” Chris thought, “Must be a loose wire.” Then the engine that had purred so sweetly on the way stopped running.

“This is not cool,” Chris said aloud.  He put the car in park and turned the key … nothing.  The car was “Deader than a doornail.” 

“Not now,” Chris thought to himself.  Not while cameras were rolling and reporters were reporting.  He could see the headlines now, FORD, Found On Road Dead.  He got out and went to gather a few people to help push the car over to the side of the road.  But, ss he was walking back to the car, sure enough there was a cameraman on his knees filming his car.   “Uhgggg,” he thought, “Of all the times to break down.”

After pushing the car out of the way of the other Mustangs heading into the event, Chris opened the hood and started to work checking connections.  Everything looked fine.  As he was working he noticed a white Mustang making its way down the speedway entrance.  It was the old coupe the Tramels had sold to pay for their convertible.  The man they had sold it to quickly recognized the black convertible and pulled over to help. 

Determining that the problem must be the alternator or voltage regulator the car received a jump-start, gaining just enough juice to power it into the display area, where it would be parked for the rest of the day. 

The 40^th Anniversary Celebration was everything it was cracked up to be with thousands of parts, new and used, on display and for sale.  Vendors lined the event offering everything imaginable for every Mustang ever built.  That is, as Chris soon found out, except for an alternator or voltage regulator.  Chris went to every vendor open asking for the simple items, but none could be found.  Once more the Tramel’s former Mustang came to the rescue with the owner driving Chris nearly 20 miles to an auto parts store where the parts could be purchased.