| I too started this adventure as a junior in high school though I was a junior long before 1999. I started doing a ground up restore on a 70 Mach 1. It took me over 2 years to build and had over $7500 in the engine and $3000 in body and paint over 2 decades ago. I had a few friends to help me and did a lot of research on how to do this car up right. This car was built well even though it was my first attempt. It ended up with a first rate Imron (no you can figure out how old I am) paint job. That was arguably one of the best paints of its time.
By the time I had finished I had not only learned to build engines, 4 speed top loader transmissions and rear ends but learned the art of compounds and rotary polishers. I really wanted to be able to say I could do it all and quite frankly I couldn't afford to have some one do it for me, though I was only an assistant on the body and paint. This car not only won several local car shows but would turn low 11's in the thin air of Utah. All I had to do was bolt a pair of circle track slicks on it. It tipped the scales just over 3500 lbs. No tubs or tubed frame. I've had over a dozen Mach 1's, Shelby's and 1 Boss 429 since that time and most of these cars either rivaled or exceeded the quality of that first Mustang.
There have been a lot of changes since those days but some things haven't changed. These are a few of the things I've learned:
1 - It's a lot more fun having a fast car that looks good (sorry all you rat rodders).
2 - A decent paint job and good finish prep are 90% of what determines how the car ultimately looks. There is no substitue for being able to start with decent paint.
3 - The choice of LSP is a personal preference and many of the products will deliver outstanding results if the time is taken to prep the finish first.
4 - It's a lot of fun to take a fast Ford into the throngs of Chevy enthusiasts and come home a winner.
5 - Once you're hooked you're hooked for life.
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