Story by MCSD member Andrew Minjares. Written and photos by Kevin Foley.

When you’re a high school kid first impressions can be lasting impressions especially as it relates to automobiles. The coolest car I had ever seen was a 1971 Mustang Mach I in Light Pewter owned by a cook at a restaurant were I worked. The lines of the car just looked right. The Mach I hood was mean and ready to tear up the road. This was the car I wanted to own.

Like most teenagers, money was tight but it was at the used car lot of Carlin Dodge in Colorado Springs that I found a car I could afford. It wasn’t a Mach I but the price was right. Enter the ‘73 Grande. Like all Grandes, it was a hard top or coupe if you will complete with a vinyl top. After all, it was THE luxury Mustang. It was equipped with the 351 Cleveland and automatic transmission. The color was the ever popular seventies green officially called Ivy Glow. And at the end of the day for $2,849 it was mine.

Ultimately the goal was to turn my affordable……Ford, into a Mach I. It wasn’t a Sportsroof but I could incorporate the features found in a Mach I to my coupe. The only problem was it took 30 years to turn my dream into a reality. In 1987 I went into the Navy, stationed in San Diego. My dad used it as a daily driver until 1992. Carburetor issues caused the car to catch fire damaging the hood. From that point forward, the car sat on blocks until 2016.

Regarding my car, it was manufactured at the Dearborn assembly plant, one of three plants producing the Mustang in 1973. As mentioned, it came with a Cleveland sourced 351 2v with a horsepower rating of 177. The transmission is a FMX automatic with a 2.75 final drive ratio.

The transformation started with the 351 Cleveland. It received a 4bbl carb replacing the 2bbl it originally came with.

From there I wanted a different color. The body was rock solid and I thought red with a black vinyl top was the way to go. Add the ’71 Mach I stripe, a front spoiler, a spoiler for the rear, ’71 Mach I hood which I loved when I first saw the Mach I, the honey comb grill and a gas cap. Then there was the interior….

Because I was switching colors from the factory green to a red and black combination, I needed to change the green interior to black. Everything inside needed a transformation to compliment the exterior scheme. I even reinstalled the eight track tape player that was an option on the car.

What I ended up with over the course of almost three years is the best of both worlds. A Grande Mach I: A “luxury” Mustang with the styling features I admired most from the Mach I.

Having owned this car since 1985, I have great memories to reflect on. Remembering taking my high school sweetheart to the prom or using it for homecoming weekend . This Mustang is something I hope to pass on to my son.