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Ford man since day one or close to it. I appreciate all levels of restoration, from just saving from the crusher to concours restoration, restomod or rat rod. Every car tells a story and is as valuable as the next. What matters the most is that it is appreciated for what it is, and you can't put a price tag on that.
My car, affectionately known as Fred, is a 65,000-mile Navajo Beige survivor from a farm in Missouri I acquired in July 2021. On the road until March 1983, it was parked in a barn until April 2021, where it spent 38 years resting in not an ideal environment, as most barns are. A 1964 Custom 500 4-Door with a 289cid 2V, Cruise-o-matic 3-Spd Auto Trans, 3.25 Nine-inch Open Rear Axle, Manual Steering and Manual Brakes. Floors, trunk and frame are in great condition. Nothing will fall out of the car and no one will get wet. The car was equipped with Dual Fender Mounted Side Mirrors, Front Seat Belts, a Padded Dash, Hood Insulation (mice seemed to have removed that for their own use, I will have to put that back, that is probably why they left the wiring alone), and Dual Exhaust from the dealer as was relayed to me. The Front-End Parts, Springs and Universal Joints are original and in good condition. Kind of hard to believe, but I promised myself I would not fix what is not broke. The Wheel Cylinders, Brake Shoes, Hardware, Brake Hoses and Master Cylinder have been replaced. I also replaced the Radiator, Hoses, Belts and Thermostat. The Carburetor was rebuilt and Phenolic Spacer installed. A Pertronix Style Distributor and Platinum Spark Plugs were installed. The Generator was rebuilt. A Factory Style 289 Chrome Dress Up Kit was installed and valve stem seals replaced to spiff up the old mill. The Gas Tank, Sending Unit and Instrument Voltage Regulator (Electronic) were replaced. The Dual Exhaust was replaced, and mufflers are now Blue Smitty Glass Packs with a good sound. All Bulbs are now LED except for Headlights, which are Halogen. The original shocks were still in place, but the front passenger side seal let go when I began to drive the car around. They unbolted and came off intact. I still have them. I installed KYB Excel-G Shocks, which claim to be calibrated for a classic car ride. They really are quite mild, compared to normal gas shocks, and come close to hydraulic shock ride. 14-inch Radial Tires and OEM Trim Rings (a novel piece the car had since day one) were installed. The wiring is in amazing condition, probably because the mice were busy with the hood insulation. The interior is in good condition with the usual front bench seat wear of the cloth insert. I plan to replace the carpet soon. A WheelSkins Leather Steering Wheel Cover was added to dress the Wheel. The paint has patina here and there and a few unsuccessful touch ups and lots of corner chips and scratches. The front left fender was a little banged up from an oops at some point. The rockers have whiskey dents in them. I want to keep the car as original as possible, with strategic upgrades only for safety and drivability. The car is a real time capsule and comes close to driving the way it did in 1964. Enjoy!
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