Irwin Sinclair, president of the Dandenong Valley Historic Car Club, with his Mustang. 32462 Picture: Meagan Rogers
By Jade Lawton
IRWIN Sinclair was so impressed with a photograph of his red-and-white 1964 Mustang convertible that he bought it sight unseen – without knowing how much he had paid for it.
Mr Sinclair, president of the Dandenong Valley Historic Car Club, did not actively seek out the car. Instead, like a much-loved stray pet, it seemed to find him.
“An American friend was visiting us here and he mentioned to us as he was leaving to let him know if there was anything he could find us,” he said.
“My daughter said yes – can you find me an early Mustang convertible?
“Three to five years must have passed and then my friend went down to the local service station (in Carlos, California) and saw this Mustang parked on the driveway.
“The mechanic had been servicing it for more than 20 years for the owner.”
Mr Sinclair’s friends were admiring the Mustang when the mechanic mentioned he was getting it ready to sell on behalf of the owner.
Photos were taken and sent, which Mr Sinclair viewed while on a car rally in Mt Gambier.
“I was expecting a sunburnt, weary looking car and to my surprise it was a lovely bright red convertible,” he said.
“I rang my wife Beverly at home in Narre Warren and said you better ring Geoff and say I like it.
“She rang me back in about 20 minutes and said the car was mine – I asked how much I had paid for it and she said she didn’t know.”
The car was driven to LA and shipped to Australia. It spent three weeks in transit before Mr Sinclair went to pick it up, with a friend and his trailer, from Footscray.
“When I saw it, I rang Bev and said – ‘you’re not going to believe this car, it’s absolutely fantastic, better than the photos’.”
Mr Sinclair does not have an extensive history of the car, but he knows the lady he bought it off was named McQueen and that she was only its second owner.
“I was hoping she would be the daughter of Steve McQueen, but I don’t think that’s the case,” he joked.
The convertible is fairly unique as it was one of the first off the production line.
It has a manual transmission, is left-hand drive and has a manual top, meaning the driver can be caught out if a sunny day turns to rain.
Mr Sinclair has added drum brakes to the car.
It was an off-hand comment from Mr Sinclair’s daughter that was responsible for bringing the car to Australia and she will eventually be the owner of the car.
“At the time of buying it she was not in the position herself to buy it,” he said.
“But I’ve promised her this car and it will go in my will. It’s her car really, it’s just in my name I guess.”
>>> Have you got a gem in your garage? It can be a shiny new machine or a much-loved classic. Get your car into Me and My Car by phoning 5945 0666 or by contacting the Gazette at editor@starnewsgroup.com.au on email.
