Special Fords Gathering
Written by Keith Fudge

Recently, Dennis Gage and the crew from My Classic Car heard about a private gathering of car enthusiasts that would feature some of the most desirable Fords that have ever been produced.  After a few telephone calls, Dennis and the gang received a special invitation to a private airstrip just outside Indianapolis to see these miraculous cars and meet their special owners.

After we arrived, Dennis met up with Billy Jay Espich, organizer of the event, who told him that this gathering was simply a collection of friends and their rare Fords.  He said that 80% of the participants were from Indiana.  He added that attendance was by private invitation only.  He said that the response was overwhelming with 80% of all invitees in attendance.  Billy added that the private airstrip was an excellent location for the event and that they plan on doing it next year as well!  Well, you know that Dennis is something of a Blue Oval aficionado.  With all of these remarkable examples of Fords on display, he could no longer stand still.  So, it was now time to meet some of these owners and talk about their cars.

First, Dennis found Ian Espich and his really cool 1967 Mustang GT fastback.  Ian told Dennis that he has owned the car since he was 15 years old and that this bad Pony has undergone a frame-off restoration.  Dennis and Ian talked about some things that were unique to the 1967 model, such as the hood-located turn signals and the vents in front of the rear wheels.  Then it was time to see the real horses in the corral as Ian popped the hood to reveal the 390 cubic-inch engine.  Ian told Dennis that the car was not originally equipped with a 390 Hypo but that this engine has been built to Hypo specifications.  When asked about how often this Pony gets out of the barn, Ian responded that he drives the car about five times each year.  Next, Dennis went from wild ponies to cunning cats as he visited with Robert Thomas about his 1968 Cougar XR7 GTE.  This rare car was only produced in 1968 and featured a 7-liter, 427 cubic-inch engine.  The interior features such luxurious appointments including a wood-grained dash, leather seats, and Ford’s patented “fly-away steering wheel.”  Robert said that the car is just as it came from the factory, and he also noted that he drives the car all the time!  Way to go, Robert!  These cars were built to be driven! 

On his way around the airstrip, Dennis found his old friend Steve Honnell, an owner of some pretty rare Fords.  In fact, he had three of them on display that day.  First, Steve gave Dennis and the crew a look at his 1964 Ford Thunderbolt.  A factory-built racecar, this wild Fairlane came with a fiberglass hood and fenders, aluminum bumpers, and van-style seats to reduce the weight.  The heart of this rocket is a 427 cubic-inch engine that features a high-rise intake manifold fitted with dual four-barrel carburetors fed by a functional Ram Air system.  Steve told Dennis that the car has a great racing history and commented that he has shut down several contenders back in the day.  Next, Steve took Dennis to see a car that we had seen previously, his bright yellow Ford King Cobra.  After admiring this classic muscle car, another rare ride caught Dennis’s attention.  Right next to this supreme car was Steve’s Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II.  This red beauty is Mercury’s version of the legendary King Cobra and was a rare sight indeed.  As instantly recognizable as the King Cobra, this car also features the legendary design of Larry Shinoda’s sloping front end.  Steve told Dennis that this was the first 200-mile per hour car and that this one was factory correct.  Featuring a fiberglass front end reaching back to the doors, this beast is powered by a NASCAR version of Ford’s Boss 429 engine.  When Steve opened the hood, all we could say was, “Wow.”  Steve thanks for taking the time to share these historic Fords with us.

Last but certainly not least, Dennis spoke with Mark Buchanan about his 1964 Lightweight Ford Galaxie.  Much like the Ford Thunderbolt, this bigger brother was all about being a factory-built racer and featured a fiberglass hood and lightweight seats.  Sporting a different manifold than the Thunderbolt and receiving its fresh air induction through cutouts in the grill, this Galaxie was all business on the street or the strip!  Thanks Mark!  Finally, with a car show at a private airstrip, nothing would be more appropriate for Dennis than to have the opportunity to take a ride in an experimental stunt plane.  After he was back on terra firma, Dennis proclaimed that was as much fun as a person can have!

That’s it from just outside Indianapolis!  We had a great time in looking at these rare Fords and meeting the people that are keeping them alive for everyone to enjoy!  So, until our next trip, “Honor the timeless classics.  Happy Motoring!”