Rosie’s 1966 Mustang
This all got started over 30 years ago, when my seven-year-old daughter Rosie and I were at a flea market. She spotted a Mustang coupe toy car and had to have it. Rosie loved that toy car and wanted the real thing when she was old enough to drive. Four years later we were at a yard sale and saw an old Mustang in really rough shape. We spoke to the person running the yard sale, and he mentioned that the car had been sitting for 12 years. The car wasn’t part of the sale, but Rosie asked if he would sell it. The man thought it was neat that this little girl liked his old Mustang, and sold it to us for $75 dollars.
Rosie and I were going to make it a hot rod, figuring we had five years until she turned 16. Before we got started, my wife and I split, and Rosie came to live with me. Once we got settled, we went to pick up her car, but found out that her mother junked the car. Rosie was so mad that she didn’t speak to her mother for 10 years. At 13, Rosie started getting sick, and we learned that she had a very rare blood disease. It slowly picked away at her until she passed in 2014 at the age of 39.
Rosie loved and would only drive old hot rods, but never had the 1966 Mustang she always wanted. After she died, I was messing around on Craigs List and saw a 1966 Mustang for sale. It was in bad shape, but I made a deal and had it towed home. I spent two years getting it just the way Rosie and I had planned. This car is in my name, but it will be Rosie’s car till the day I die.
Ned Pattiz
In memory of
Rosie Pattiz
December 2022
My name is Casey Blackburn and I live in Lompoc, California. I am originally from Steubenville, Ohio and lived there until I joined the Air Force in 1993. I retired from the Air Force in 2015 and decided to continue working for the Department of Defense. I currently work as a civilian in Emergency Management on VSFB.
I’ve always loved Ford Mustangs, and have owned more than 20 throughout my life. I have fond memories of going to car shows with my father and brother as a child. My dad has owned a few Mustangs, and so has my older brother Bill. Bill was given a 1979 Ford Mustang Pace Car as a graduation present in 1986, and I still remember every detail of that car.
I’ve owned 13 Fox Body Mustangs, the first was a 1981 notchback with a straight 6. It was short-lived, but that never kept me from wanting another. At one time I had four 1986 SVO Mustangs at the same time. SVO was pre-SVT from the 1980’s. One of my current Mustangs is a 1993 Cobra, which was way out of my price range when I first enlisted into the Air Force in 1993; it took until I retired to find the perfect one. I purchased the Cobra from a co-worker who is also retired Air Force.
Total production for the 1993 Cobra was 5,100 to include 107 Cobra R models. Mine is one of 46 with its options. The total number of “Teal” Cobras was 1,355, and only 368 had gray cloth interior. The addition of a sunroof, cassette player and the front license plate bracket drops it to just 46. My Cobra’s production number is number 4629, and it was one the last Cobras made. It was sold new at Schmerler Ford in Elk Grove Village, IL.
Casey Blackburn
November 2022
Back in 1967, a friend asked me over to his house to see a car that was displayed in a magazine; it was a 67 Shelby. I said that I would give my right arm for one of those.
In 1969 I was going to school in Chicago, and I saw my first one drive by. It felt like my right arm had left my body. In November of 1970, I was looking for a car as a present to myself for putting myself through school.
My roommate saw an add in the paper for a 67 Shelby GT500 with a 427 for $1950.00. We talked the guy down to $1850.00, gave him $100.00 to hold it, and picked up the car the next day.
I dated my wife with this car, it was our wedding car and each of my three sons were brought home from the hospital in this car (their first car ride). Many people have asked me if I wanted to sell it, but the memories are worth more than the money.
Dale Pottebaum
October 2022
Cars run deep in my family, but oddly enough, I wasn't one of them. I liked to play racing video games, but that was pretty much the extent of my car knowledge. It wasn't until I was in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany, that I came across a Dodge Challenger SXT on the Military Auto Source lot for sale. I snapped a picture, posted it on Facebook saying " I want." My dad commented on my post saying "sheessh, that's the cheapo model... If I'm going spend money, id get a Hellcat." I had no idea what a hellcat was.
Around 2018, that post came up as a memory on Facebook, and at this point in my life I am iching for a performance car. I start looking into what exactly a Hellcat is, and after several months of watching Youtubers with the car, I was hooked. I learned everything about the car, as well as general car knowledge.
So, I am a bit of a late bloomer as a car person, but better late than never. I retired out of the Army in March of 2022 and the opportunity came up to own this car that I have been wanting for several years. So what do I do? I SNAGGED IT and I never looked back.
This vehicle brings me so much joy, and as someone who spent years wanting this car, I feel the need to share it. I openly let people who are interested sit in the car, start it and give it a rev (which I'm told isn't a common thing for car enthusiasts to do). Why do I do this? Because at one point in my life, I was that person on the other side of the fence, looking in awe and wonder. Most people wont ever experience these vehicles and its nice to see others share in the experience, even if its just for a moment.
Alex Echeverria
September 2022
I am originally from South Carolina but have been a resident of Lompoc for about 14 years now. I Retired from the US Army in Fort Greely, Alaska and moved here to Lompoc, and got married. I manage Real Estate in SC and my wife and I are part owners of a small business called Hairillusions, as she is a HairStylist.
I got into cars because of my Father. He was a Diesel Mechanic in the US Army and I used to help him work(mostly watching and learning) on cars whether it was bleeding the brakes, changing the spark plugs, or installing a new water pump. I remember him taking me to the Auto parts counter and getting the tools and parts we needed so we could keep the cars running. He also used to take me to all of the local car shows that came to our area. We would also play a name that car game whenever we would go on long trips. While driving you would have to be the first to name whatever car you see and the year, such as 1996 Pontiac Bonneville, or 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supeme. Because of this I think it is very odd whenever I see someone that can't identify cars immediately on sight.
I like the speed and quietness of electric cars, but I still like Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros, Classics, Muscle cars, convertibles, trucks and many more. Cars hold a special place in my heart not just because it reminds me of my Dad, but because it also represents the Freedom we have to take off and explore somewhere on the open road that we may have never been to before.
Robert McCaston
August 2022
So I really didn't need this car but...
I already had a 2015 gen 5 SS convertible, but if you know anything about the gen 5 A6, it is a dog. Referred to as the L99, it is detuned for some unknown reason with lower compression, a smaller cam and so on. Then the 2016 gen 6 showed up with the new and improved LT1 power; a completely new car. A buddy took me for a ride in his and I said DAMN! But the new ones were expensive and I'm cheap. Fast forward to three years ago and I'm poking around on the Interweb and there's a 2017 SS vert sitting at Stowasser on Betteravia. DAMN again. What to do? So I let it stew for 24 hrs and called the next morning. It was still there. It was a sign, so I said I'm on my way. They gave me a really good deal, I paid the $10k dif, and I had my gen 6 Camaro. There's almost nothing that I don't like about this car and I'm picky. I've said this before but I think this one is a keeper!
I have liked cars as long as I can remember. When I was first taken to my adoptive home, I was allowed to choose one toy to take with me on my journey; I chose a Tonka Truck. It was years later when I watched The Fast and The Furious and played Forza Horizon 2 for the first time that changed my perception of cars. They showed me that there is much more to cars than just driving from point A to point B. It’s endless what can be done to cars, they can be modified to look or sound anyway we want. It is through this journey that we develop a passion for creating something we love.
I have made a ton of friends through cars. It doesn’t matter whether one loves the classics, muscle, JDM or Euro; it’s the love of cars that connects us with one another. For years, my passion for cars grew as I watched YouTube videos that left me wishing for the day when I would own one for myself. That day finally came on June 2nd, 2018. That was the day I was able to purchase my first car, a 1967 Mercury Cougar. After three years of owning and working on my Cougar, I still get just as happy as the first day I drove it.
It's quite a story. As a young 19 year old in Redwood City CA dad asked Gram to buy a new car, so he could take a special girl on a date. He wanted a Ford, so she bought a 1957 Chevy in October 1956. The special girl was my mom & they're still together after 62 years in Santa Rosa. Dad inherited the car in 2002.
Mom's dad got me working on cars at age 14. I did brakes, shocks, oil changes, and tune-ups. I also helped Gramps with an occasional clutch. I knew my way under the hood, but never rebuilt an engine. Dad stopped driving the car & mentioned giving it up, so I jumped at the opportunity.
In 2016, trailored the Chevy to Lompoc & got to work. I replaced all wheel bearings, brakes, shocks & tires. We replaced the carpet & began working on the body & paint. Our goal was returning to Santa Rosa for pop's birthday in September of the same year as a surprise. Mission accomplished!
In 2018 I got to replace the interior & engine compartment wiring harness due to shorts in the old wiring. I closed out the year by rebuilding the engine with my son. Also rebuilt clutch & replaced the universal joints before placing it back on the road.
Sheila & I attended our first of many car shows at the "Cruze for Life" in Santa Maria, which we enjoyed very much. We like to attend the many Coffee & Car meets around the area from Santa Barbara to Pismo Beach & we love to take the car out for weekend breakfast.
Seeing the smiles on kids faces is great, but we also like to hear the stories from old-timers & their wives. Many have fond memories from their youth which surround Tri-five Chevys'
Matt and Sheila
April 2022
I like big Vettes, and I Cannot Lie!
I saw my first Corvette, a 1963, when I was six, being advertised on the tv show Bonanza. The pop up headlights really fascinated me, so I would point my bicycles light down in daylight. Then , when I was 12, I saw a new 68 Corvette in Officers housing. It looked like an exotic Ferrari. Someone in a flight suit came out, jumped in, and drove to the flight line to fly his F-4 Phantom. I decided that day to go to college, get a commission in the Air Force, become a pilot, and buy a Corvette. I graduated from high school in 1974, and had a poster of the 73 corvette on my dorm room wall. When I graduated in 1978, I ordered my yellow ‘79 Vette. A dream come true! I still have that car, and have owned four Corvettes. I’ve been a sports car freak all my life, and have a collection of seven.
Bernard "Bee Jay" Jones
March 2022
Andy is one of the founders of Village Caffeine & Cars, and recently picked up his 2022 C8 Corvette. Andy made the trip to Kentucky to pick up his car from the National Corvette Museum with his son Michael. They took turns driving more than 2,400 miles back home, while making one amazing lifelong memory.
Andy and Michael
February 2022
