Tips/Comments

By Stan

As most of us in the Mustang world know that the California Special was made in 1968 only. This was made as a coupe only.  All the colors and engines that were available for the regular Mustang were available for the California Special.  There has always been some confusion about exactly how many were made. Almost everyone agrees that there were about 4,200 made. This car was made in California and was supposed to be for sale in California only. However, some spilled over into some of the other states. This car came about as Ford sales were sagging, so the dealers of California came up with a slightly different design.  They borrowed some of the parts from the Shelby and sort of made a cheap version of the Shelby.  This was done so they could have a cheaper price and still have a car that was specific to California.  I do not know if this really helped sales. The California Special never was as popular as the Shelby. Those that own the California Special keep hoping that the car will appreciate in value as the Shelby has.  A fellow by the name of Paul Newette decided to start the California Special Registry.  He has published two editions about the California Special.  In the last book, everyone who is in the registry has a picture of their car in the book.  I did not see it but I have heard that a copy of the last edition sold for over $150.00 on E-Bay. In 2007 Ford again came out with the California Special.  This one was available in a coupe or convertible.  They are now going to continue it on into 2008.  People with these cars have wanted Paul Newette to publish another edition. We have been informed that he is going to publish the third edition and it is supposed to come out in the spring.  The price of the book is $100.00.  We are looking forward to getting the book as we hope our California Special will be included in it.  Paul is planning a California Special show next year in California.  I have not heard of the exact location.  My thinking is that this new edition will be available at this show.  The California Special has quite a following but with the price of fuel I wonder how many cars will actually show up.

Occasionally we send out an e-mail to the membership and we get some returned.  If your e-mail has changed please let us know.  rmb3909@earthlink.net        

Remember don’t be a stranger.

“To lose a friend, make him a loan”.

“Pearls are of no value in the desert”.

“Remember to dig the well long before you get thirsty”.

 

 

 

CLUB MEMBERS BIRTHDAYS                               CLUB MEMBERS ANNIVERSARIES

02 Tom Rehmus                                             12-15-1979 Tom & Judy Rehmus

02 Michael Coats

03 Gene Short                                                          HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU!

05 Pam Cabadas

06 Al Wesolowski

11 Randall Hetzner

12 Cyndi Hoffman

17 Leslie Haver

18 Cindy LaRue

22 John Babala

26 Wally Wilcox

30 Jamie VanWert

 

 

 

THE PREZ SEZ

 

I bet most of us have our ponies put away for the year.  I put mine away about a month ago and we still had nice weather.  I have stored my car in a car jacket for the last 4-5- years.  It really keeps the car protected.  After driving the car on the open jacket, I prep the car for the winter.  When the engine is cooled, I put my car cover over the car and then zip up the jacket with the car nicely wrapped in the bag.  There is no dust, no rust, no varmints, it’s easy in and easy out and lots of peace of mind.  The jacket is only for indoor use.  If interested call 800-522-224, the business is located in Bath, MI.

Another piece of information you may need and use is abut insurance.  MIB Group, an association of about 600 insurance companies that maintains a data base on policy applicants.  Any time you seek insurance, you fill out an application and then your name is sent to that MIB Group.  If a medical test result was contested and the applicant was reissued a lower class, the issuer should report that to MIB.  You can check your MIB records and contest any inaccuracies by following the instructions on its web site.  Go to www.mib.com and click on “request your record”.  To me this MIB Group looks like another way to gather information on you and me.

Another tidbit is the “pre-approved” credit card offers.  Did you know that all those pre-approved credit card offers may affect your credit rating even though you didn’t actually sign up for the cards?  As a credit inquiry, it sets up a red flag.  Not only that, but it puts another piece of mail sent to you that could be used in identity theft.  Opt out by calling 888-567-8688.  You need to give your name, home phone number and S.S. number.  To opt out on telemarketing, call 888-382-1222.  For junk mail write to:

Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, P O Box 643, Carmel, NY  10512

Include your name, telephone and address.  A separate request is needed for each person in your house.  For e-mail Spam go to www.dmaconsumers.org/offmaillist.  For the list of products on recall, check out “Recent Recalls” at www.recalls.gov.  There is my consumerism for the year.  I hope many of you can use this at this time of the year.

Some useless trivia: Michigan ranks 33 out of the 51 states in the use of vanity plates.  Michigan has 2.5% (212,809) out of some 8,354,000 plates.  It was hard to believe that Virginia is number 1 with 16.19%.  The big state of Texas was near the bottom of the list.

This saying from Dave Barry could be appropriate for this Mustang Club.  “The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep inside we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.”

This is my final “Prez Sez” as your club president.  I would like to thank the entire membership for allowing me the privilege to serve you.  I have really enjoyed the two years working with the membership and my fellow board of directors.  As your president, I was able to meet many wonderful Mustang people around the state and visit some places and do some things that I may not have been able to do otherwise.  I believe that the last four to five years our club ahs become a very visible and respected club around the state.  Our membership has grown, members have become more involved in the many club activities, and we have created a non-profit club with a solid constitution and by-laws, and hopefully developed a warm and friendly club for all members.  I think many of our members as a club have taken on this saying: “We become happier, much happier, when we realize life (participating) is an opportunity rather than an obligation.”  Again, a big hearty thank you to all of you for allowing me to have fun and enjoy working for our club.  I hope to see many of you at the Christmas Party.  Have a blessed and merry Christmas and a great New Year in 2008.

 

Keep Smiling,

Dick Lebsack

 

 

 

                                                            TIME IS RUNNING. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

                                                            ONLY 17 MONTHS UNTIL JUNE, 2009

There was no membership meeting in the month of November so there are no Minutes published in this newsletter.

 

 

There is no Treasurer’s Report in the newsletter as none was furnished at the time of the newsletter printing.

 

 

 

LADIES CORNER

 

DICK LEBSACK’S FAVORITE MEATLOAF

 

FROM “LISTEN TO THE MRS.” ON WSGW

 

2 lbs. ground chuck or round

 

1 box Stove Top Dressing (your choice).  I use mushroom and onion.

 

1 cup water

 

2 eggs

 

1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce

 

Mix all ingredients together and form into 2 loaves in a 9x13 pan.  Place some extra BBQ sauce on top of the loaves.  Bake at 375 degrees for 40-60 minutes or until all of the pink is gone from the meat loaves.  It is great for meatloaf sandwiches!  Enjoy!

 

 

IMPORTANT DATES IN 2008

JANUARY, 2008       Membership dues are due.  Send your dues to:

                                    Mustang Club of Mid-Michigan

                                    P O Box 324

                                    Frankenmuth, MI  48734

                                    Yes, the dues are still only $20 a year!

 

JULY, 2008               Be Cool Car Show dates are July 11 and 12 in Bay City

 

SEPTEMBER 2008     Mustang Club of Mid-Michigan’s 15th Annual Mustang and

                                    Ford Show at the Expo Center in Birch Run on

                                September 14th.  Contact Quentin Levitte at (989) 673-4514                                         or Stan Bentley at (810) 688-3909 if you want to help or                                                 need information.

 

BE SURE TO GET THESE DATES ON YOUR NEW 2008 CALENDAR!

FOR SALE                                FOR SALE                       FOR SALE

 

2004 Mach 1, only 12,200 miles.  Garage kept and NOT used as a daily driver.  Adult owned and like new. Competition Orange, 32 V 4.6L, automatic. $22,000.

 

Mike Winter               (810) 953-0542 or e-mail: myblack78cobra@hotmail.com

 

Mustang II parts, 74-78, fenders, doors, header panels, grilles, gas tanks, other misc. parts.  Also 3-speed manual transmission with bell housing and flywheel for small block, 1968 FMX auto transmission.

 

Mike Winter               (810) 953-0542 or e-mail: myblack78cobra@hotmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 










Occasionally we drive something other than a Mustang.  Here are some acronyms of those other vehicles.

 

ACURA

Always Catching Up, Rarely Ahead

AUDI

Accelerates Under Demonic Influence

BMW

Burn My Wallet

BUICK

Big Ugly Indestructible Car Killer

CADILLAC

Company Always Denies Its Lawful Liability After Collisions

CAMARO

Cash Always Miniscule After Retail Overpricing

CHEVROLET

Can Hear Every Valve Rap On Long Extended Trips

CHEVY

Cheapest Heap Ever Visualized Yet

CHRYSLER

Company Has Recommended You Start Learning Engine Repair

DODGE

Dear Old Dad’s Garbage Engine

FIAT

Found In A Trashcan

FORD

Faithful, Obedient, Reliable, Dependable (and that’s the story we’re sticking to!)

GMC

Greatest Mistake Created or Greasy Messy Contraption

HONDA

Had One, Never Did Again

HUMMER

Huge Ugly Mother, Mostly Eats Resources

HYUNDAI

Hope You Understand: Nothing’s Drivable And Inexpensive

JEEP

Just Eats Every Penny

JAGUAR

Just A Guess U Are Rich

KIA

Keep It Away!

LOTUS

Loads Of Trouble Usually Serious

MERCEDES

My Expensive Race Car Emits Dense Exhaust Smoke

MITSUBISHI

Manufactured In Taiwan Sold Under British Influence Shipped Here Incomplete

MOPAR

Match Old Parts As Required

NISSAN

Need I Say Something About Nothing

TOYOTA

This One You Oughta Tow Away

VOLVO

Very Odd Looking Vehicular Object

VW

Very Wonderful, Very Weird