RPM Featured Member's Ride  - "Wildviolet69" Tracey Russell's 69 Mustang Coupe
Photos and Story provided by Tracey Russell

Tracey was our August RPM Member's Rides Photo Contest winner, from Pooraka, South Australia. We hadn't caught up with her for her feature until just now - but we're glad we did, cuz she's an awesome lady with a story you'll wanna hear. - The RPM Team

Some say its a learned thing or others either have it or not.  Its in the blood! Some blokes say women like me 'Get It' ...but its still a life's passion regardless of our male / female differences. 

"Growing up as a child with Grandparents who were founding and life members of the Studebaker Club in Western Australia, did a lot for my interest in American Classics. They also had two BP service stations.  While my Mother was pregnant carrying me, she pumped fuel for her Dad, so I assume I got too many fumes in my blood.  I was always playing with dinky, hotwheel or matchbox cars on a carpet road mat as a child and dolls were a far off interest.

Being around Concourses and American Car Shows with my grandparents 1960 Studebaker Silver Hawk, I fell in love with the 'pony car' at a young age as I loved horses and this car had such classic lines. 



I am 48 this year and just trying to remember how many cars I have through my life is about 22???  But come Mid Life Crisis and woolahhhh There she was!   I love all Mustangs but the 1967-1970 appeal more greatly to me as they look "tougher" and aren't as 'common' as the earlier models.  (My dream car is the 1969 Boss 302 or Mach 1.  But I had to start somewhere).  My 1969 hardtop / coupe was imported originally from Dearborn Michigan - 25.6.1969 to Queensland Australia and restored from a Champagne Gold / Nugget Gold trim to the Aussie Ford Muscle Car XY GT colour of Wild Violet. My purple pony being wild in colour, I arrived at the name WILDSTANG for her name and created a personal registration plate for her.  She appealed to me instantly as they weren't that common here and me being a sucker for the 'under dogs' I fell in love. Living in Perth WA I purchased her from South Australia by a girl who brought her from a chap in Queensland who had done the restore job previously and then I shipped her home to Western Australia. All the original restore photos and original receipt from 25th June 1969 was included. 



I Joined the Mustang Owners Club of Western Australia and became a committee member and learnt more about the passion. Whilst being a Membership Coordinator and introducing and welcoming new club members.   She was chain converted to right hand drive so no chopping involved under the hood was done if she was to be made back to a left hook.  A 302 windsor motor with C3 auto.  I had her windows tinted with the pony logo embedded in the rear window and changed the carpet to black.  Most of her interior was still in purple or gold so started to change all that as well.  She had a few Mach 1 items to 'beef ' her up and make her sexy.  Like the Mach 1 bonnet scoop, front spoiler and console.  Plus new wheels / mags and extractors. I liked to keep the engine mostly original (why change a good thing) but items like electronic ignition, resleeving the brake master cylinder, rebuilding the brake booster was a must.   A nice chrome air filter with the pony logo bolt finished her nicely. 



A few minor 'hick ups' with her being an old gal, but she was better than a boyfriend to me.  Such a comfort on a bad day.  I only had to pull her out, polish her to a nice shine, rubbing the microcloth over her fine lines made me smile and hit the road to feel alive again.  She always satisfied me (some say I was mad but I'm sure you Mustangers' will understand).



I moved to South Australia which is around 3000kms from Western Australia in November 2008 as the 'car scene' here is huge. Although missing the Perth Motorplex (Drag Strip) and being in a drag crew to help my friends '66 Mustang... Racestang! 



But as all good things often come to an end, my life took a bad turn, I became ill and she needed to be sold. Along with my Ford Falcon XR6 (Menace) 2005 BA.  Menace in colour but not the way I drove....I think hehe.  It was the hardest day of my life and if I could've sold a limb and keep her I gladly would've done.  It was like loosing a child or family / friend.  The '69 baby never complained except on cold days, but gave me such a blast for nearly four years with our club runs, zippel cruises and other 'blats' in the country side.  So many people stopped to talk about her, take hundreds of pictures ... she just had charisma.  So many concourse cars that were worth more or more original never got the attention or photos my Wild girl did.  Many times we would be driving down the road to receive horn blasts, wolf whistles, comments and even people in a car in front were hanging out the windows taking photos and then went around the roundabouts to come behind us to take more.  Made my daughter laugh our heads off!



So to keep cruzin in the Muzzy way, I brought a dilapidated 1994 Coupe from a fellow enthusiast.  She is the Deep Forest Green colour but her paintwork is cracked and oxidized badly.  Being on a tight budget I have managed to start work on her.  Aptly named MUZY94, she now boasts new tires and chrome Greg Weld mags.  Some new paintwork on the bad panels (the roof, rear bumper, rear left side yet to do).  Updated the inside with some lambswool seat covers to hide the wear and tear, some badges, rugs and teddies with American jumpers adorn the rear seat. (As most Mustang owners would know its a little cramped in their for real people hehe). 



Parts for her are hard to obtain here in Australia and the shipping charges are a nightmare, almost costing as much as the item itself in some cases.  So its day by day and part by part for this baby girl.  I just wish the Australian Automobile Industry would start considering the Mustang as a car for "Down Under" as they are soooooo popular.  The costs of conversions to a right hand drive in the newer models is anything up to AU$50000-$100000.  Most new models sell for almost AU$200000+  So you guys in the US are very blessed to be able to buy them so cheaply there and your registration is so cheap.  My 1994 costs me AU$1000 a year to keep on the road here in South Australia.  Although other states are all different and some cheaper with their registration and private registration plates are extra.  Modifications are frowned upon and not allowed and to register one here sometimes takes months of back and forth trips of frustration to Regency.  We think its the Government's way to raise revenue and keep these off our roads.  I was lucky and purchased this baby for AU$12,500 but in America, I'm told would be around US$2000-$3000 to buy in the US. Getting her registered and on the road was another AU$2500.  Then all the other bits needed to complete her will bring her up to over the AU$20k mark I'm assuming once she's complete.  I would DEARLY love to repaint her to Wild violet but alas that is another AU$20000 



The passion we Australians hold for our American Classics is absolutely amazing.  Being only a small country I have friends to often travel to the US and the stories they tell us of the Route 66 and car cruises you have out way ours far to none in numbers attending.  A gathering of around 500 US Muscle Classics here is a huge success for one state, so when we are told thousands attend yours it's mind blowing!  This month here in South Australia we have the V8 Supercars Clipsal 500.  Not like your Nascar races which I watch when on TV here late at night, but fast laps around a winding track at speeds of up to 300kms per hour.  Of course I'm a FORD girl and will NEVER cross to the "Dark Side" which we call HOLDEN here lol.  I call them Holes Oil Leaks Dents and Engine Noises = Holden!  Its something us Aussies love to tease each other about!  The great battle of the Falcon against the Lion.  My '94 will be on display for this years 'first' Route 66 at our Clipsal so looking forward to that too, along with plenty of American Classic Cars.  We just had our All American Day last month for our club with plenty of American Muscle and Classic Cars on display.  Our cruising seasons tend to be between October to April due to these being the finer months of good weather (our Summer) but thankfully no snow unless its high up in the mountains. 



America is the last travel destination on my 'bucket list' and one day I hope to visit all the friends I have met or made online and see this great country of yours.  I proudly display both flags on car runs.  At least I can say, "Yes I've had a Classic Mustang and have a 1994 daily driver and living the dream".  Life's too short as we all get older and although my 1994 is still an awesome handling sexy car, I will hopefully get back on my feet one day and once again hunt for that elusive sexy '69.  My son and daughter love them too!



I will attach some links to some of the above mentioned sites and this should give you a better idea on how we fellow US Classic lovers get by here in our land "Down Under!".  Plus some photos of course
http://www.mustang.org.au/
http://www.letsgocruisin.com.au/zippel-cruise.html
http://www.sportsnetholidays.com/events/v8-supercars/clipsal-500-adelaide/?gclid=COvOxMauxacCFYqGpAodNDGtDQ
www.motorplex.com.au

"So G'Day from Australia, Drive safely, live like there's no tomorrow and happy cruizin."

Cheers,

Trace

Great write up worth the wait. Beautiful ride and the new one looks like you've really got it going good.

*drool* Amazing car!!  Great article!!