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SAN ANTONIO
M U S TA N G C L U B
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Issue 2
A QUAR TER LY P UBLIC A TION
FEATUR ING M US TANG EN TH USIASTS
Spring 2014
PRESIDENT MESSAGE
The first quarter of the New Year has passed and the Second
Edition of the Newsletter is here! The first quarter has been
loaded with lots of activities and events. The Second Annual
Movie Night at Dicks Classic car Garage was a huge success!
Members from the Austin Mustang Owners Club and the Shelby
Club joined with The San Antonio Mustang Club for a
memorable evening at the museum followed by a buffet style
BBQ diner provided by Hays County BBQ and as the evenings
entertainment we watched “Gone in Sixty Seconds”. At the
same time a Park and Shine was going on in the parking lot
accompanied by a local band. About 50 Mustangs helped fill the
lot to over flowing!
Our Second Saturday Morning Cruise in at Lowe's remains a
major draw for hundreds of people throughout the area! Even
though the March Cruise in got a lot of rain, the turn out was
amazing! Club members wearing orange vests helped control
parking making the management of Lowes very happy with how
the event was conducted!
Other activities during the quarter included the SAPD Car Show,
Lester's Automotive Car Show and the 5th annual Dick's Car
Show! Not to mention volunteers from the San Antonio
Mustang Club got to participate in the Kruise Auto Auction once
again! Kruise is one of our nation’s foremost Specialty Car
Auction Companies featuring specialty, antique, classic and one
of a kind customs. The money earned by Club members is
donated to the Clubs Car Show for the benefit of Dare to Love!
This year there was a spectacular assortment of cars. I got to
drive Larry Hagman's Mercedes 600 SEL used on the TV hit
series Dallas! I also had the opportunity thanks to Mike to drive
several Camaros.
I am so thankful for that because it truly reaffirmed I and all of
us are members of the RIGHT CAR CLUB! You only really
appreciate the quality of a Mustang after you drive one of those!
Next year, Mike is being assigned to “Clean up Crew”!
There are so many events coming up for the 50th anniversary
of the Mustang, I would not even try to list them here. Except
for one right here in San Antonio. Northside Ford is hosting a
very special kick off party for the 50th. Look for their flyer in
our calendar and upcoming emails. Set for Thursday April
17th 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. There will be lots of things
happening, special sales, special visitors some good food and
we are all invited with our Mustangs! To me this is a very
important evening. We need to make a very good turn out to
support Northside. They have for many years been a Major
Show Sponsor of ours and it looks like we can keep that
relationship alive and well for many more years to come! But
we have to do our part and be there for them just as they are
for us so shine up those Stangs and be a part of this fabulous
Nights party!
Our monthly meetings seem to have leveled off, we have
around 40-50 people at every one. This is a very good
percentage as compared with other clubs but there are so
many members that never seem to show up? I and everyone
would love to meet you. If you have not been to a meeting
lately, then make it a point to come out and join us! Be a part
of the areas Best Car Club. Add your voice to our meeting
and your participation at the events! The only way I know to
make things better is to add more Mustangs and Mustang
Lovers! Well that’s enough out of me for this edition of the
Newsletter. Let me close with a BIG HUGE THANK YOU
to all of the members who give of their time to contribute to
not only our Charity Dare to Love but to all of the
membership as a whole. Never Forget: the wealth of the San
Antonio Mustang Club is not in our Bank Account but in our
Membership, we are the richest Club in Town!
Richard Birnbach http://www.mustang.org
We encourage you
in joining Mustang
Club of America
2015 S550 IS ALMOST HERE!!!
As the glow from Thursday’s reveal of the 2015 Ford Mustang is passing it
has been time to dig deeper into the details and specs to learn more about the
next-generation pony car which comes to market late next year. While the
final weight has not been published, the new Mustang is expected to come in
at about 200 lbs lighter than before. One of the ways this was achieved was
the increased use of aluminum. The hood as before is aluminum but this now
extends to the front fenders. The rest of the body structure is stamped steel
but has increased use of lighter and more expensive high-strength steels.
Aluminum is used in some of the suspension components such as the control
arms of the independent rear-suspension.
As it will be a global car sold both in right and left-hand drive, there are
varying specs for the U.S. Bound Mustangs versus those headed off-shore.
Though few differences exist, most notable is the fact the 3.7 liter V6 is a
North American engine choice only.
In Europe, Asia, Australia and other export markets the Mustang will only be
available with the 2.3 liter EcoBoost four and the 5.0 liter V8. This could
speaks to the long term viability of the V6 which is likely to be replaced with
something smaller in the coming years.
The 3.7 liter V6 after all will be the base engine in the 2015 Mustang, and
treated as such. The 2.3 liter EcoBoost engine will be an optional uptick and
honored more as a performance and efficiency choice. In fact if you look at
the specs you find that there are no performance package options on the V6
Mustang for 2015.
Standard on the 3.7 liter V6 Mustang is 17” wheels and tires with an optional
18” wheel. On the 2.3 liter EcoBoost and 5.0 liter V8, you can option the
Performance Packages with include larger 13.9” front disc brakes, more
aggressive suspensions, a 3.55:1 axle and up to 20” wheels.
Limited slip is now standard on all models as are driver selectable modes for
steering, throttle response, and transmission behavior in the case of automatic
equipped cars. Launch control currently found in the GT-500 will be standard on
the GT.
On all engines the six-speed manual is improved for 2015 and now has a hill-start
assist feature which uses the ABS brake system to keep the car from rolling
backwards when stopped on an uphill slant. The shift linkage is improved to
hopefully leave its niggling problems of 2011-2014 in the past.
Something as is due to gain a lot of interest in the coming year is the Mustang’s
sophisticated new independent front and rear suspensions. Not only is the new
integral link IRS a major leap forward but the new double-ball joint front
suspension is bound to scratch some heads.
The double ball-joint front suspension utilizes a front tension link which connects
to the spindle carrier with a ball-joint. The lateral link also connects to the spindle
carrier with a ball-joint, the top located with a MacPherson Strut.
The design is said to allow for the fitment of larger brakes without having to use increased wheel offsets as well as better steering control. How
it actually works will be one that is studied well by the aftermarket in the coming year.
The rear suspension is also quite unique in its design. An all-new system, the independent rear-suspension uses a heavy duty aluminum lower
H-arm which is connected to the top of the hub carrier with a link at the front, with a separate toe link on the bottom.
This design Ford says provides for twice as much anti-dive and anti-squat characteristics as well as superior wheel-hop performance on the
track. It looks exotic, but we imagine the drag racers will be looking for a live axle kit before long.
The IRS versus live-axle debate has been a long one, particularly on web forums where hard core Mustang drag racers live. The reality
however is that holding the car back technologically for this less than 1 percent was no longer an option for Ford who still has to sell the car to
the other 99 percent. Call it progress.
Wheelbase remains identical to the S-197 models at 107.1″ but track increases slightly. While this dimension is the same as before, make no
mistake this new Mustang shares little or nothing with the previous generation.
As the Mustang will roll into so many new global markets we welcome our newest Mustang fans to the fold across the globe. The Mustang will
launch in stages starting with North America, and gradually to Europe, Asia, Australia and other markets
Car of the Month:
Robert Goodrich’s 1969 Mustang Fastback
This is a 1969 Mustang Fastback (sports roof).
 
Engine
390 ci big block
Transmission
C-6
Differential
9 in with posse.
Wheels
15 in
 
The car was located in the garage of one my nephews. It was bought by my nephews’ wife when she was going to college. I am the second
owner. The car sat in their garage for 17-18 years. There was no rust or dents, and all the parts where there. It was a plan sports roof. With a
302 ci engine, a C-4 transmission, and an 8 in rear end.
My son and I redid the whole car. We did away with the 302 ci engine, the transmission and rear end. The suspension was rebuilt to support the
big block and to make the rear end level. The interior is original except for the steering wheel and shifter. We had to remount the front seats 2
in back to accommodate myself and my son. From the time we started on the rebuild to completion took about three and a half years. All the
mechanical work was done by me and my son. The paint and what little body work was done by ECONO Paint in Leon Valley...........
MUSTANGS INVADE STINSON FIELD
The Liberty Foundation's 2014 Salute to Veterans tour arrived at Stinson Municipal Airport on Monday March 10th, featuring the 1945 B-17
that played the part of the Memphis Belle, the legendary World War II bomber, in the 1990 movie of the same name. A North American P-51
Mustang aircraft is also at Stinson as part of the tour. Both planes were open for public display from 2 p.m. to sunset Saturday and Sunday. The
original Memphis Belle is at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
On March 14th more than a dozen Ford Mustangs from the San Antonio Mustang Club invaded Stinson Field Airport. I was one of many that
waited for a chance to have a picture taken with the P51. The Stinson Airport Manager led us in a single line to the flight line and positions us
so that everyone could have a chance to photograph his car. After all the Mustangs photos were completed the Manager led us back to the
Parking area. Having a picture of my 1966 Mustang with the P51 Mustang was something I always wanted and I could not pass this
opportunity.
Tech:
By T. Bader
What's the Meaning of Car Detailing?
To some, it's a simple car wash; to others, it's a wash and hand wax; to yet
others, it is a trip to the local detail shop; to the car enthusiast, it's a hobby.
Detailing is for those of us who love keeping our cars in tip-top shape. We
spend our weekends tenderly taking care of the vehicles we are so proud to
own. Drive around any suburban neighborhood, and you will see driveways
covered with suds. The enthusiast's garage will be fully stocked with cleaning
supplies and car-detailing products. The car buff has a ritual just like taking
care of the house: we all take the trash to the curb once or twice a week, so
doesn't it make sense that we empty the trash from our vehicles? Remember
when you bought that new car you said you would not eat or drink in it? Now,
how long did that really last, a week or two? Well, we car enthusiasts have
pride and showmanship. We love to see a dirt-free engine compartment all
shined up and looking showroom new.
Detailing your car doesn't have to be a chore. By making it a regular process and
being enthusiastic about it, not only will you be proud of your vehicle, but you
will also find that it is definitely an activity worth the time and investment. In
addition to the actual time and process, you will invest in an array of detailing
products which will help keep a vehicle close to factory condition, helping the car
to retain its best-possible secondhand value. Spending this much time cleaning a
vehicle may seem excessive to some; others believe the time spent will pay off in
the long run, when the owner decides to trade in or sell the vehicle. Many find that
in all that work, there is value and profit.
Set up a schedule, daily quick detailing, weekly or biweekly washing. By
performing these simple tasks and maintaining a regular waxing schedule, you
will drastically reduce major projects like polishing and deep interior scrubbing
and shampooing. A good wax applied to your vehicle will protect the paint from
dirt, pesky bugs, sticky sap, and weather damage.
The best time to begin taking care of your car is the day you buy it. If the vehicle hasn't been detailed, get it done as soon as possible. Even if
the dealer detailed the car, you may want to invest in some very inexpensive protectants that can save you hundreds of dollars in repairs later
on.
Up coming Activities:
Apr. 2
Apr. 6
Apr. 12
Apr. 1012
San Antonio
Castroville
San Antonio
Apr. 13
San Antonio
Apr. 1113
Apr. 1316
Houston
Mustang OK
Club Meeting
5th Medina County Relay for Life Car Show at Wommack  Chev.
SAMC Morning Cruise-in at The Rim, 8:00-10:30 am 
Mecum car auction at The Reliant Center.
Info:www. mecum.com
4th Annual Texas Bowties First Generation Camaro Spring Open Car Show at Ancira  Chevrolet. Info:
texasbowties.com. 
Official 50th Anniversary Kick-off Party by MCA. Pony Drives Leave for both Las Vegas and Charlotte
Apr. 1620
Las Vegas/Concord,
NC
Apr. 17
Apr. 2325
Apr. 2427
San Antonio
Mustang 50th Birthday Pony Drives, departing from Mustang, OK. 2 cruises—Charlotte, NC and Las
Vegas, NV.  Info: www.ponydrive.us
Mustang Club of America 50th Anniversary of Mustang in 2 locations: Las Vegas Motor Speedway And
Charlotte Motor Speedway. Begins with a 2-day Celebration in Mustang. Oklahoma. Info:
www.mustang50thbirthdaycelebration.com
April 17th from 6PM-9PM a Ford Mustang 50th anniversary party at Northside Ford
Ft. Stockton
Big Bend Open Road Race. Info: 432-336-2264 or bborr.com
Ft, Worth
Pate Swap Meet at Texas Motor Speedway. Info: Pateswapmeet.com.  Probably the biggest swap in
Texas. 7800 spaces.
Apr. 26
Boerne
May 7
May 10
May 10
May 17
San Antonio
San Antonio
San Antonio
San Antonio
May 17
Floresville
May 17
San Antonio
May 26
June 1115
June 14
June 21
Helotes
Mustang OK
Tulsa OK
Martindale
San Antonio
Texas Corvette Association 22nd Open Car Show on the Main Square. Info: texas-corvetteassociation.org
Club Meeting
SAMC Morning Cruise-in at The Rim, 8:00-10:30 am
Sheriffs Dept is hosting a Citizens On Patrol show. Flyer1 Flyer2
Alzafar Shrine Open Car Show at the Temple.
1st Annual Car, truck, and Motorcycle Show. For details and registration see following
links. Information     Flyer        Registration
3rd Annual St.Rose of Lima Catholic Church Car Show on  Saturday,May 17th. For info: Jimmy Varela
Email: [email protected] Tel: 210-833-9429
4th Annual Wounded Warriors Memorial Day Car Show
40th Anniversary Mid America Ford and Shelby Nationals. Three Days of open track, drag racing, car
show, vendors. This is the Big one to see. Info: www.midamericafordmeet.com
4th Annual Show and Shine at the Cottonseed Cafe in Martindale 
June 21st, a Ford Celebration at Northside Ford
Mustangs by Generations; Part 1
This is a 7 part series about the different generations of Mustangs. Series 1
will cover 1964 ½ to 1966. These years are now what we call the classics. For
a car enthusiast, knowing the history of the Ford Mustang is as basic as
knowing the laws of thermodynamics are to a physicist, knowing Hebrew is to
a rabbi or knowing when the bacon is done to a cook at Denny's. The Mustang
is a pillar of American automotive lore, and the car that brought sporting dash
and styling at a price almost anyone could afford.
The Mustang has never been an exotic car. Even the rarest, most powerful
Mustangs ever built (such as the '69 Boss 429) were assembled with
haphazard care by a UAW workforce facing a quick-moving, continuous
production line with parts that were shared in common with six-cylinder
Falcons, four-door Fairlanes and stripped Galaxies. Handcrafting and taking
the time to do something extra special has never been part of Mustang production.
But that hasn't kept the Mustang from capturing the hearts of drivers for nearly 40 years. As ordinary a car as the Mustang has always been, it
has always been extraordinarily attractive.
Ford's Mustang was conceived in full knowledge that in the mid-'60s the biggest population bubble in history was coming of age in America.
Baby boomers would rule the '60s and there was little reason to think they wanted cars that were anything like their parents' cars. The
production Mustang was shown to the public for the first time inside the Ford Pavilion at the New York World's Fair on April 17, 1964 — two
months and nine days after the Beatles first came to New York to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show. It went on sale at Ford dealers that same
day.
The 1964 1/2 production Mustang followed two Mustang concept cars. The
Mustang I shown in 1962 was a mid engine two-seater powered by a V4. The
Mustang II show car first displayed at the United States Grand Prix in Watkins
Glen, N.Y., during October 1963, was a front-engine, four-seater foreshadowing the
production machine that went on sale six months later. Compared to those two, the
production machine was dowdy. Compared to every other American car then in
production, except the Corvette, the Mustang was gorgeously sleek. To make the
Mustang affordable it needed to share much of its engineering with an existing Ford
product. That product was the smallest Ford of the time, the compact Falcon. In
fact, the first Mustangs were built in the same Dearborn, Mich., plant as the Falcon.
Initially offered as either a notchback coupe or convertible, the Mustang's unibody
structure was laid over a 108-inch wheelbase and stretched out 181.6 inches from
bumper to bumper. While it shared its front double-wishbone/coil spring and leaf
spring rear suspension as well as its overall length with the Falcon, the proportions of the Mustang were different. Its cockpit was pushed
further back on the chassis, resulting in a longer hood and shorter rear deck design, and both its roof and cowl were lower. It's with those
proportions — detailed with such iconic touches as the running horse in the grille, the side scallops along the flanks and the taillights divided
into three sections — the Mustang became a car people were instantly passionate about.
Engine choices started with the utterly lame 170-cubic-inch (2.8-liter) OHV straight six that made just 101 horsepower; then proceeded through
a 200-cubic-inch (3.3-liter) OHV straight six rated at a flaccid 116 horsepower; a 260-cubic-inch (4.3-liter) OHV V8 breathing through a twobarrel carburetor and making 164 horsepower; a 210-horsepower two-barrel-equipped 289-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) V8; a four-barrel 289 making
220 horsepower; and, at the top, the famous "K-code" high-compression, solid-lifter, four-barrel 289 pumping out a lusty 271 horsepower. Kcode-equipped cars got a special badge on their front fenders indicating that not only did the engine displace 289 cubic inches, but that it was
also the "High Performance" version.
A three-speed manual transmission was standard with every engine except the 271-horse 289, which was available only with the four-speed
manual that was optional on other models. The Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission was also offered.
Nothing could stop the 1964 1/2 Mustang (especially not its four-wheel drum brakes) and with Ford furiously adding production capacity for
the "pony car" at plants around the country, the company sold an amazing 126,538 of them during that abbreviated 1964 model year — 97,705
coupes and 28,833 convertibles. The V8s outsold Mustangs equipped with the six by nearly three to one.
The three most significant additions to the Mustang for 1965 were the neat 2+2 fastback body, the optional GT equipment and trim package
and optional power front disc brakes. Gone forever was the 260 V8 that few buyers were choosing anyhow. Even Ford was shocked at
America's appetite for the Mustang during '65. It sold an astounding 409,260 coupes, 77,079 2+2 fastbacks and 73,112 convertibles that year.
That's a total of 559,451 Mustangs for the '65 model year.
With that many Mustangs in the nation's automotive bloodstream, it was natural that many of them would be raced. But in order to go road
racing head to head against Chevrolet's Corvette, Ford needed a two-seater. And rules
said that Ford had to make at least 100 of them by January 1965. That's where Carroll
Shelby came in.
Shelby, a Texan and longtime racer, saw the potential to slay Corvettes with the Mustang
and took 100 of the first 2+2s equipped with the K-code engine built at Ford's San Jose,
Calif., plant down to Los Angeles for modification into "GT 350" models. Tossing the
rear seats aside, Shelby added such performance items as oversize front disc brakes, a
fiberglass hood and a lowered suspension with oversize tires on 15-inch wheels. Shelby's
legendary series of modified Mustangs would be built through 1970 in various forms and
are today considered some of the most desirable Mustangs ever built. It's impossible to
ignore the Shelby Mustangs (which carried Shelby VIN numbers) when recounting
Mustang history, but space considerations prevent further discussion of them in this
article.
The easiest way to tell the 1966 Mustang from the '65 is the later car's lack of horizontal or vertical dividing bars in the grille — the running
horse logo seems to float unsupported in the '66's slatted grille. Other changes were limited to color variations, a revised instrument cluster and
a few trim tweaks. Incredibly, the '66 was even more popular than the '65 and Ford sold 607,568 of them — 499,751 coupes, 35,698 2+2s and
72,119 convertibles. That's still the most Mustangs ever sold during a single model year.
Next time, in Series 2 we will cover the 1967 to 1968…
On the upcoming Newsletter…
More S550 News, Pictures, links
Pictures of activities and More…