Why a GT/CS or HCS?

[BroadwayBlue]

I was just curious to know what brought people to own their current GT/CS?

Is it past history with the car? Rarity? Looks? Uniqueness? Many of these things?

I know for me with was Rarity, Looks, Uniquiness (something different)

Rich

 

[Mustanglvr]

Ever since I was little I have known about the California Special and knew of its rarity. I was blown away when I found out I could buy mine so cheap. I did some research on the net and realized that the prices on these had`nt skyrocketed (yet). I feel very fortunate to have bought mine when I did. Now that I have become a member of Ebay and with the Barrett-Jackson auction results, my husband has been pressuring me to sell it. I promised myself I never would. I know I would never be able to afford another one in my life. My car is one of the few things in my life that makes me truly happy and sane. It will take quite a bit to get me to sell it, but if I can`t get it restored before it gets too late, I will sell it to someone that can. I will make that sacrifice to save the car.

 

[luisa2552]

I forgot to check it but for me the main thing was the deal. The car was just sitting in this guys garage and he didn't want it. He needed work done at his house that my husband did in trade for the car. I've always been a Mustang fan and dated a guy in high school that had a 69 Mach 1. That's when the love started (for the cars, not the guy!). I new about the CS from books that I have on classic Mustangs. I don't know I would have begged my husband to do the work for the car had it been a plain coupe (please take no offense plain coupe ownwers! ) instead of a CS. Cars arn't really my husbands thing so the CS has been my baby ever since!

 

[68gt390]

Originally from California, I grew up with these cars. As a junior in high school when the CS first came out I fell in love with the car from day one. But, as life would have it I lost touch with these cars until I returned from Viet-Nam in 1970. Over the years I restored several other mustangs but, never saw a CS again until surfing the net one night. I watched the car for several months and it never sold. There wasn't a lot of info posted on the car but, my girlfriend one night told me to call and see what was up with it. I did and low and behold it turned out to be a "S" code 4 speed car. They had no offers on it and I couldn't figure out why it didn't sell. I have an idea, $22,950.00 was higher than most people probably wanted to pay. Needless to say I continued to watch it for a few more days. Seeing that I was still watching the car my girlfriend said call and see what it would take to hold the car until I could go out and look at it. I didn't know if I could afford it at the time but, sent them a deposit and low and behold the car is now mine. I figure with all the Barrett/Jackson hoop la it's the best $16,500.00 investment I ever made. Plus, it brought me to this site. The things I'm doing with this car today, the CS diecast model, show's I attend and comments made about the car and the friends I've made on this site to me are priceless. Sure, some of us have had our dissagreements but, like any family we deal with it, get over it, and go on with life. These things alone make it worth what ever I would of had to pay for it. I have to say a big "THANK YOU" to Paul, Highcountry Bob and Jon without whose dedication to this site, none of this would have been possible. And to you, the site members whoose knowledge and information over the past several years has helped me get my car where it is today. As for the future for these cars, one can only dream and imagine what will happen. But, as far as I'm concerned if I had to do it all over again, I'd have to say you betcha, in a heartbeat.

Don :grin:

 

[jk89cat]

well being mine is a clone in progress, and being i always wanted a shelby, this car is the most different looking mustang i have ever seen in my life, the shelbys even look the same after you see enough of them . i want my 67 to stand out . and the plain coupes are just so blah , like mentioned in one fo the other threads, once you build it how someone else thinks it should be, its no longer your car. the decison to clone the gt/cs came upon finding this site, and i love these cars. if i was in a better fiscal position, i would try to get my hands on a real one. but the truth is the means are not there . so have to be satisifed using my 67 as is !

 

[p51]

As good as new but its got history

Lets see....
(1) Needed a second car
(2) Needed to be in excellent condition but priced moderately. Reliable.
(Got mine after it had been restored as a hobby)
(3) Always wanted a classic stang
(4) Something I could work on and upgrade. Like the fact that you can
get inexpensive parts and effectively build a mustang out of a catalog
(5) '65/'66 to small, '69/'70 to big... '67/'68 just right :smile:
(6) Like the lines of the coupe better than the fastback
(7) Wanted something more unique than a standard coupe...
(I love the double takes it gets esp around beemers, benz, etc)
(8) Wanted something that reflected an age, mindset, history.
'68 is one of the pivotal years of the 20th century...
Shelby is one of the more famous names in stockcar history...
I like driving history.....

...so when I started shopping around on ebay, etc for mustangs I saw
the Cal Special and I feel in love with its styping - it is the best looking
car ever built - its rarity, and its cost of ownership. Then when I read the
history of the car and its heritage, pedigree I was sold on owning one.

 

[BroadwayBlue]

Originally from California, I grew up with these cars. ... I have to say a big "THANK YOU" to Paul, Highcountry Bob and Jon without whose dedication to this site, none of this would have been possible. And to you, the site members whoose knowledge and information over the past several years has helped me get my car where it is today. As for the future for these cars, one can only dream and imagine what will happen. But, as far as I'm concerned if I had to do it all over again, I'd have to say you betcha, in a heartbeat.

Don :grin:

Great post Don! :cheesy:
And I echo the sentiments about everyone you mentioned! Thanks Ladies and Gents!

 

[Diesel Donna]

I still remember the first time I saw a Shelby. AHHHHH!

So anyhow.....My mom was gonna help me buy my first car and we found a Camaro and took it to her mechanic. He said it was a bucket of bolts and was I interested in that Mustang over there~~~~~>
I said YEAH! Never heard of a California Special before. So I took it for a spin and the guy that owned it said he wanted $1,600.00 for it. OOOOHHH I looked at Mom and told her it was way too expensive. We didn't have that kind of money. (You might as well have said a million dollars to me). I always did admire Mustangs and a girl at high school had a neat one, maybe a 72 , white with the flag or something on the rear quarter panel.
So when I told Mom that was too much money...the guy immediately said $800.00
HALF!
I still thought that was a lot but Mom said okay! She kept the pink slip until I paid her back. Sometimes I would get a birthday card ..with a note saying that it was worth $25.00 off what I owed her on the car.
I wonder if that guy ever wonders what happened to that CS he sold for $800. He told me that every time he sells a car to a girl, the price goes down to half.....maybe I should have married him, lol.
When I got my first trophy at a car show , I was so excited I had to tell someone! So I called Mom...I said...you remember that little green Mustang you bought me? I had only gone to the car show to spectate....didn't consider my car nice enough to show, although it was quite clean. Another Mustang owner saw me drive in and park waaaayyy over there.....so he convinced me to bring it over and then I won!
But I knew when I got it that it was different, not the usual coupe. And I knew I would return it to stock someday. Oh now that's another thread!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
~~~~Donna

 

[PFSlim]

Here is the story of how we decided on a GT/CS.

I had assisted my brother (PB GT/CS) on several car projects. We restored a 74 VW Bug for his daughter, then a 69 Firebird Convert (400 motor) for him. Next, he sold the Firebird for so he could build his AC Cobra Replica. Once again, I assisted.

Since we both live in Kansas City and since we both get along so well, he suggested at the Kansas City NASCAR race that we build a car for me. I told him I was not interested and that cars were not my thing. I travel a lot and have small kids and did not have the time for a restoration project.

He asked me if I had my choice, what would it be. I said I would like to have a 67 or 68 Fastback. Within two weeks, Brian found a 1968 Fastback (GT 390 car). We agreed upon a price with the seller and we headed out to take a look and pick up. Once there and the inspection was complete of the car, we decided we could not restore this car due to major rusting of front clip and everything else.

The seller looked at us and said "why don't you restore that Cal Special?" I had just bought a mustang restoration book that had a picture of a Cal Special in it (otherwise, we would not even known what a Cal Special was). The car was a wreck and needed alot of work - but our decision to do the car was because it was a Cal Special.

We brought the car home and started to work on it. I brought my 10 year old (who is now 12) with me every chance I could. Together, we built a car that my 12 year old would fight to the death for. In the meantime, he learned a little about what makes a car go, stop, cool down, wiring harnesses, and good hard work. My brother and I have a great time in trading cars for a weekend, showing the cars when we can, and getting together once again to perform maintenance.

Glad I could share that story!!

Paul

 

[Diesel Donna]

Wow Paul! Neat family story!

 

[case12]

I know you all are going to think I am brown-nosing, but the main reason I bought my GTCS was because of this site. I was actually looking at an HCS '66 coupe that Bob Teets was assisting me with. The coupe didn't work out. I got more interested in the '68 after coming up to speed on the site, and seeing what a great and helpful bunch of people were on the site (like virtual family). I bought my GTCS from someone who posted it for sell on this site. So, I owe my getting a GTCS to all of you on the site. Casey

 

[PFSlim]

Casey

I remember when you bought your car and became very active on the site. We would have to say the same thing about the site. Without the site, we could have never completed our restoration because we did not even know how to put the car back together. We would get on this site and ask the "entry level" questions. With everyone's help, the car went back together. I can't tell you how many pictures we printed off the gallery pages!!!

Paul

 

[BroadwayBlue]

That's a great story Paul!!!
You're son can really appreciate the effort that has gone into the restore for a long time to come I'm sure.

 

[PFSlim]

It is funny now to watch my son at a car show. He stands guard. Whenever someone gets to close, he moves in and tells them pretty matter of fact - "Please step back away from the car" or "Please don't touch the car".

Also, he loves it when I pick him up from school. He yells out to his friends (loud enough for all to hear) that "Hey - its my dad in OUR Mustang".

Very, very cool.

Paul

 

[Diesel Donna]

Awwwww, I can just see him now! Very proud and very cool.

~~~~Donna

 

[luisa2552]

My girls can't wait 'till my car is out of the shop and I can pick them up again in it. I'm actually afraid to pick them up- those high strung mom's in their SUV's are crazy drivers!!

 

[Redwingrobb]

I came onto this website in the last week or so looking for some data to purchase a CS. What I'm finding instead of getting a car is that I'm joining a closeknit fraternity/community of owners. I'm really looking forward to getting my car and being part of the club. Speaking of club, has there been talk of a Nationwide CS/HCS Club? I'm not looking for an excuse to pay dues, but it would be kinda neat to get a quarterly mag, have a sticker and carry a card. Robb

 

[Diesel Donna]

Robb~

I think this IS the club! Meetings happen everyday right here! I was just thinking today that I wish we could arrange a big CS/HCS gathering and I know there has been talk of it before, but I think that we all live so far apart and different schedules and vacations that not much could be agreed upon.
But the virtual family is right here and I look forward to the 10th when you get your CS! WELCOME!

~~~~Donna

 

[hookedtrout]

Cheers!!

 

[hcsstang]

Ford Carlisle is coming up.