Another "Special Color" Mustang

We have gotten a ton of response from a Blog entry about Karen Rose's special order color Mustang. Here is a letter from John Blackburn about his "special color" 1968 Mustang Coupe:

Thanks Karen for the Special Paint research. In the Spring of 1968, I loaned my mother, Grace Blackburn, the $500 down payment for a 1968 “papaya” (according to the salesman) colored Mustang coupe with a black vinyl top and matching papaya colored rims and baby moon Mustang hubcaps, during a 68 “Spring Fling” Mustang sales event at Jones-Minto Ford in Burlingame, California. Now I know it is Madagascar Orange and not papaya.

I still remember the day she came home so excited and said she had found the Mustang she wanted to buy. Our neighbors were the first to get not one but two sparkling 1965 Mustang coupes from Dixon Ford, one for the family and one for the oldest boy. We drove to the dealer and there lined up against the back wall of the sales lot with a “Spring Fling” banner above the cars were Mustang coupes of colors never seen before – orange, yellow, gold, coral, blue and green. It was a rainbow of colors! The Madagascar Orange, that the salesman referred to as papaya was her choice.

To know my Mom was to know that, like Karen’s grandmother, the color she chose was very much in line with her personality and spirit. She and that car shined everywhere they went. It was the first new car she ever had in her life and she loved that car more than anyone will ever know. I kept her washed, waxed and serviced and got the keys from time to time.

I went on to own a 1969 white with red interior Mach 1 428 CobraJet with a C-6 (hence my nickname JohnnyCobraJet) and a 1969 Maroon Boss 429 with black interior and gave up both of them to too many tickets and way to much fun!
Mom died in 1985 and left me the car which I have garaged as much as possible, towed my 16 foot Gaston tri-hull ski boat with from Long Beach to Lake Shasta and other California lakes many times, and drive it regularly. She still gets people staring and everywhere I stop there are always lots of questions and admiration for her color and condition. And she has a trailer hitch on the bumper!

My dad passed away in 2003 and with some of my inheritance, “Gracie” turned 40 this year and spent four months at the RESTOMOD Shop in Stockton where Pete and the guys did an unbelievably beautiful job restoring her to the original condition, luster and color. Years in the moist San Francisco foggy climate took its toll – rust removal was essential, especially on the roof which had to be media blasted and sealed, a new black vinyl top, new hood and trunk and all new chrome, mirrors, handles and hinges, and most importantly a detailed stock engine compartment that sparkles! I also had a new heater core installed as well as a new gas tank with OEM sending unit and fuel line from tank to engine, and finally a headliner and a Custom AutoSound radio, 10 disc CD changer in the trunk and Infinity 3-way speakers on the new package tray. It was $28,720.11 of the best spent money of my life!

The “Special Paint” paint match was difficult, because there is no color code, but absolutely spectacular! It was my understanding that for special colors, the shop was to furnish to the Detroit office the DSO or PTO number and serial number from the warranty plate. In any event, the Madagascar Orange can’t be had any longer but Pete, his paint guy and crew got it right on the mark. The interior of the trunk is still the original color and I have all five of the rims and 4 caps to match.

Everyone is amazed at the car which was 174,000 miles on a rebuilt 289 (at 120,000 with the installation of an R.V. cam, headers and a 600 CFM 4 barrel) with original c-4 still working great. In 2002, I had front (non-power) disc brakes installed. In 2005, I had Scott Drake suspension components (springs, sway bars, bushings) installed lowering it front and rear and vastly improving cornering and stability. Gracie now glides around corners with stability, no body roll and a self-assurance she never knew in stock form. She still has her original interior, dashboard and carpet and new front (only) seat covers and a new wood grain steering wheel.

She is ready and registered for the April, 2009 Mustangs Across America caravan from Las Vegas to Birmingham, Alabama for the 45th Anniversary of the Mustang and then we are doing Route 66 back to California. I will have a new automatic overdrive transmission installed prior to the trip. Gracie will shine the whole way thanks to Pete and the guys at the RESTOMOD Shop!

We want to thank John for sharing his story!