A CUNNING TALE WORDS AND PHOTOS GREG TERRILL, RALLY DIRECTOR OF THE VERO INTERNATIONA FESTIVAL HISTORIC MOTORING
On a Wednesday evening in April 2019, my wife, Gaynor, asked why was I looking at Mazdas for sale on Trade Me. I replied that an MX5 would be a cheap VCC eligible car to replace the Mk2 Daimler we had just sold. The short reply I got left no doubt that an MX5 was not suitable. Being quick thinking I asked, “what car do you like?”. The reply was “early Mustangs”. Next day I found two Mustangs on Trade Me in New Plymouth and arranged viewings for Friday evening and Saturday morning. Telling Gaynor of these plans got a mixed response and she explained the difference between what cars she liked and what car she would like. On Friday we travelled to New Plymouth to have a look at the first car. Immediately we were impressed as it was in much better condition than we expected, so we agreed on a deal, we would transfer money and pick up the car next day at 1.30pm. As a side note, while talking to the couple selling the car it turned out the seller knew and had played cricket with Gaynor’s brother in Dunedin. Now the fun begins. Trying to transfer money highlighted that we didn’t have online access to all of our bank accounts, No problem we thought, we will go into the bank in the morning and sort this out, however we then discovered banks aren’t open in New Plymouth on Saturdays.
12 Beaded Wheels
Saturday morning at 5am a cunning plan was hatched so at 6.00 we left for Hamilton, 9.45 am we are at the bank at The Base shopping centre, 9.55 transfers complete then around to our place, have a coffee. Feed the cows and then back to New Plymouth just in time for our scheduled pickup. Now we are the proud owners of a 1966 Mustang notch back. The 289 V8 engine, new suspension, and new interior provides comfortable motoring and highway speeds. More importantly the sound of the rumbling V8 is exquisite. The history of this car as I know it is that ownership changed from its Californian owner in 2010 and it arrived in New Zealand in February 2011. As you can see from the photos it was in a pretty rough state when it arrived. A full strip down was undertaken with many new parts fitted and it appears it was first registered in New Zealand in Feb/March 2015. It was then sold in Feb 2018 and Gaynor and I bought it in April 2019. Keep an eye out for the Mustang at the Festival of Motoring in January 2022.
