Hugh Phillips’ helper is Willow, a 5-year-old, 165-pound Great Dane that keeps him company while he works in the garage.
Submitted photos | For The Lima News
ADA – Residents of the Hardin County village of Ada cannot help but do a double-take when they see Hugh Phillips’ 1967 Ford Mustang coupe.
It’s the color of the car – frost turquoise – that has their eyes glued. It is an original factory color seldom seen today.
“There were only 19,000 Mustangs painted frost turquoise in 1967,” the 48-year-old Phillips pointed out. “Less than 3,000 are still on the road today, and nearly half of those are painted other colors. This Mustang was repainted in 1982, and 41 years later, it still has that paint on it today.”
Phillips is the second owner of the car. The previous owner passed away in 1997. The Mustang was left covered up in a garage in Saginaw, Michigan, for 26 years before it was advertised for sale on the internet.
What’s amazing is the record-keeping of the original owner. The car came with a complete history of all the work done to it.
“I have all of the paperwork from the day it was purchased new on April 15th, 1967, including the original order form, every maintenance part, oil change, any receipts, car show awards, original dealer name and location, and salesman name,” Phillips said.
“The previous owner even calculated the miles per gallon every time he got fuel, and how much fuel he put in the car,” Phillips said.
Ford produced more than 460,000 Mustangs in 1967. Phillips’ car was number 5,977 off the assembly line in Dearborn, Michigan. Its 289 engine was built in Windsor, Canada, and has matching numbers.
He’s been busy bringing the car back to life. He’s redone the engine, engine bay, interior, frame rails, fuel system, electrical wiring, and brakes.
“It’s not perfect in any way, but I’m trying to keep it original, even if that means small imperfections here and there,” Phillips said.
“It’s the history that matters to me, not the shine and shimmer,” Phillips added. “As a retired combat veteran, this is a hobby, and pastime I like to tinker on.”
He’s continuing the record-keeping just like the previous owner did.
“I’m taking before and after pictures of all my work to show what has been done. I will pass it on to the next owner, which will be one of my two kids.”
His daughter, Shaina, has already put in a bid to take the Mustang with her to college. “I’m not sure she realizes how different driving a manual with no power brakes can be,” Phillips said.
Phillips has worked on cars ever since his dad and grandfather taught him how to turn a wrench. It’s been a family affair right down to their names: His father is Hugh Phillips II and he is Hugh Phillips III. He and his wife of 25 years, Patricia, have a son, Hugh Phillips IV.
GET YOUR CAR FEATURED
The Lima News publishes photographs of vintage cars, 20 years or older, free of charge in Real Wheels. It is easy to get your car featured:
• Mail: Real Wheels, Newsroom, The Lima News; 205 W. Market St., Suite #100A; Lima, OH 45801.
• Email: [email protected]
• Include: Photograph of your car; year of car, make and model; how many years you have owned the vehicle; car’s history; best memory of car; your name, address and telephone number (the phone number will not be published).
If you have further questions, contact The Lima News newsroom at 419-222-6397 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.
ONLY ON LIMAOHIO.COM
Check out cars we’ve featured and discuss your memories on the Real Wheels page at LimaOhio.com/tag/realwheels.
