‘I have had 34 Mustangs over the years’
1965 Ford Mustang Fastback, Marcus Ridley, Banbury
This issue the hamper goes to Marcus Ridley from Oxfordshire. He told me he had a bit of family history with the big fast Ford: ‘My grandfather had sports cars and a new Mach 1 Mustang in 1972, that sowed the seed for me with them. My Dad also had classics and still has a Bentley at 82 years-old. I have owned this 1965 Mustang fastback for two years now.’ This wasn’t Marcus’s first outing with a wild horse: ‘My son and I previously built an all-out 1966 racing Mustang – but it was hard work on the road and almost too good to use – so we sold it and bought this car, so we can all use it.’ The Ridley family are all into classics. The passion runs deeper though: ‘Mustangs, Shelby and Ford V8 cars are what I live and breathe. I have had 34 Mustangs over the years.
This car has had a bit of work. It has had a new floor pan, carpet, fuel tank, wheels and tyres. Originally it was a six-cylinder car, it is now V8. R W Racing recently fitted disc brakes and a 393bhp stroker 327 engine, which pulls like a train! I have only just run it in, so we are still sorting a few niggles, but I did drive it to London recently for a Drive Classics event and it ran well, that was a 150-mile round trip. All it now needs is a suspension refresh to make it drive better… then I’ll just use it!
If you have a car with a good story for Charlotte’s Choice then upload it at footmanjames.co.uk/your-cars to join the fun. All entries will be judged by Charlotte Moseley, Head of Marketing at FJ. If you don’t win you will be given pride of place in her virtual classic car show. There’s a winner every issue, they will receive a subscription to the mag and a John Lewis hamper!