Chuck was raised in a classic car family, specifically Mopar. It wasn’t surprising to find Chuck driving a 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner as his first muscle car. However, he always had an eye for Ford Mustangs. His first one was a 1976 Mustang II. Since then, he has owned a few more Mustang IIs, Foxbodies, and later found a 1973 Mustang Mach 1.
In 1998, Chuck was driving through his neighborhood and stumbled across a car that appeared to be a 1971-73 Mustang. It just happened to be parked at his friend’s house, so he stopped to check it out. He verified the VIN and discovered that it was indeed a real Mach 1 Mustang. Later, Chuck’s friend drove by his house with the car and realized it had a unique way of starting up: the old-fashioned hot-wire and screwdriver trick! It had been started that way since they changed the starter solenoid. After some negotiating, Chuck traded his friend for a 1979 Bronco and a 1977 Honda Super Sport motorcycle. A few years later, he ended up with both back.
Since then, life took some twists and turns that kept him from working on the car, but after the dust settled, it was time to search for parts and do some heavy restoration. From the start, Chuck bought nice fenders and doors and ordered a Dynacorn rear quarter, hood, and trunk lid. The car had been in a bad accident, leading him to opt for the resto-mod look instead of restoring it to its original condition.
Under the hood, you would have found a 351 Windsor with an FMX transmission, both of which were well-driven and tired from 20 years of use. Given their condition, it was time for upgrades. In 2021, the 351 was swapped with a 408w stroker from ATK Engines. Chuck also installed a C4 transmission and a 373 posi rear end. Additionally, 17” aluminum Magnum 500 wheels were added to enhance the resto-mod appearance.
Last Winter, Chuck’s friend at AutoMeter asked him to use his car for a test fitment of the 1971-73 Mustang InVision Digital Dash (7012). He knew it would go great with the resto-mod look and took the opportunity. The simple installation and easy-to-use features made it an excellent upgrade for the Mustang. The dash has four sleek design layouts, making it a functional focal point in his driving experience. It provides readings for the speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, oil pressure, water temperature, and volts, giving him an understanding of how the motor is running. Whether he’s cruising to a car show, taking the grandkids for ice cream, or doing a burnout, the InVision dash provides an accurate and reliable reading on his freshly built 408w stroker motor.
