Friday, May 23, 2014
Richmond Review · Page 13
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Welcome to the driver’s seat
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Restoring a rare Mustang to magnificence Everybody remembers their first car but very few people hold onto that set of wheels long into adult life. Tsawwassen resident Laura Ballance still has her 1967 Ford Mustang T5 but it has not turned a tire in years and has fallen into a state of disrepair. The public relations executive’s passion for automobiles began at an early age, growing up in a household with a father who was very interested in cars four, she and particularly the Ford marque. By age fou and, as she already knew what a Ford Mustang was and drive one. approached 16, she wanted to own and driv mid-80s father “In the mid-80 0s my fa and I started looking for starteed look Mustangg to re restore a Mustan togetherr and in 1986 I found a ‘67 Mustang M in the local loocal paper,” pa says Laura, Lauura, the th president off the Laura L Ballancee Media Med Group. “The next neext day, day we went too Surrey Surre to look at the ‘67 ‘67 notchback no that thaat was for sale for $600. $6 My dad negotiatn ed it for $450
get her wish to parade the beauty at and we began working nights and weekends restoring it. My dad was not upcoming Mustang 50th anniversary a body man or mechanic and was selfcelebrations. trained but was handy, so we figured it The car will have its grand unveiling out as we went along. at the Vancouver Collector Car Show “I spent many hours passing tools to and Auction at the Pacific National my dad as he worked on the car. It is Exhibition grounds in June. some of the best hours of my life, true Over the next few weeks, we will quality time with my dad. I officialreveal that this is not just any Mustang ly received the car as a graduation By age four, Laura (one of only 453 built in 1967) and present.” Ballance already walk you through its restoration proLaura drove the car throughout grade cess. One that is a daunting experience 11 and 12 and during her early years as knew what a Ford a journalist. Mustang was and, as for many seasoned car collectors let “Eventually I purchased a new car alone a proud mother with a passion she approached 16, and my Mustang went into storage as for her old car. The world of automoshe wanted to own old cars often do. I got married, had tive restoration is fraught with probchildren and a 1967 Mustang wasn’t and drive one. lems; the one that comes to mind is conducive to car seats and strollers. the final invoice. An old rule of thumb by Nigel Matthews “The 50th anniversary of the Mustang for the realists has been to get an coincides with my oldest daughter estimate and then double or triple it! receiving her driving license in 2014, so for the past We will see how this exciting project plays out five years I’ve been looking for someone or a compabetween now and mid-June. ny to restore my Mustang.” One of her clients, Jason Heard, of the Vancouver Nigel Matthews is the director of sales and Classic Car Show and Sale, recommended 360 marketing for Hagerty Insurance Canada. Fabrication in Abbotsford. The boys at 360 are now working their magic on this rare car and Laura will nmatthews@hagerty.com
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Question of the Week Which car from your youth would you like to restore and drive? Go to DrivewayCanada.ca to submit your answer.
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QUESTION OF THE WEEK!
Safety Tip: As high school seniors prepare for graduation, it’s important that parents make sure their teens are also planning for a side ride home after all of their festivities. Grads often treat themselves to limousine rides but make sure they have a plan if they’ll be going to any other celebrations.
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Laura Ballance, President at Laura Ballance Media Group
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