I guess deep down I’ve been waiting for this day for about 14 years…….Cade and I are starting on his first car.


The car were doing is a 74 Mustang II I bought for $100 close to 20 years ago. The car had been abandoned and hauled into a local wrecking yard that I did a lot of business with. I got it home and got it running and had intentions of dropping a SB Ford into it, until I figured out that I’d need to do more work than I wanted in order to get a 351 AND AC in it (the 75s and up had a revised front fascia and core support that made a V8 AC swap a lot easier). Anyway it was a Basic Mustang II; 2300 4 Banger and 4 speed. Somewhere along the way a previous owner had already added the optional 8” rear end.

74 Mustang 1 by M Patterson, on Flickr

The car ran OK for what it was so I kept it stock and would occasionally use it as a loaner for customers if I needed to borrow a car. Cade’s Mom even used it for about a year or so. I built a 77 Cobra II that my wife Donna claimed for about 5 years and when we sold it she decided she would like the 74 (figuring the 4 banger would be a bit more friendly on gas). She did have a couple of little requests for the 74 though……. convert to an automatic, add power steering, add Air conditioning and of course paint and upholstery all of which I agreed to (ain’t love grand ).


74 Mustang 2 by M Patterson, on Flickr

Donna drove the 74 for a few years then we parked it about 5 years ago and she started driving my old 77 Mustang.

A several months ago Cade mentioned getting the 74 back on the road for his first car. After talking it over with his mom we decided that it was doable.

Of course Cade's day didn’t start out with the car. It’s going to need a few parts; battery, tires etc over the next year and a half, and Cade will be paying for them. Right now we worked out a deal where he works for me and I credit all or part (depending on how he wants to split it out) towards the things the car will need. Cade’s day started out weed eating and cutting some small trees down and adding a bit of money to his credit towards the car.


Then it was drag the car out of the back shed and let Cade clean the 5 years of crud off of it.

cleanup 1 by M Patterson, on Flickr


cleanup 2 by M Patterson, on Flickr


Donna managed to put a couple of dings and scratches in it over the years she drove it, but it's still presentable and the interior I put in has held up well. I think I've still even got some touch up paint left over for it.

washed by M Patterson, on Flickr

After Cade washed it we did manage to get the old trunk lock drilled out and a new one installed. We spent the rest of the time looking over the car and building a list of the parts we would need to get to get it going and putting together a TO DO list. Then it was get it back in the shed until the next time he comes over.

Back to the shed by M Patterson, on Flickr


Next time he's over we'll try to get the gas tank drained and new fuel in it and see if we can it moving under its own power.

Besides getting the car safe and going again, plans are to reinstall the 4 speed back in it (yup I kept all the parts)



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