SP Rides: Mustang Cathy
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Cathy Siu
Hobbies: Mustangs, crafts and a Rottweiler
Year/Make/Model: 1969 Ford Mustang SportsRoof
Color: Black Jade (factory color)
Engine: Original 302, 3-speed transmission, numbers matching, both rebuilt
Exterior: OEM chin spoiler, spoiler, bumpers replaced
Interior: New Carpet, upholstery and dash cover, the rest are original parts.
Wheels and Tires: Magnum 500s, BF Goodrich 225/60R15 front, 275/60R15 rear.
When classic automobiles are restored, the enthusiasts behind the build often have to make a decision: Do they go modern, monster-mod crazy with the look? Or, do they keep it clean and classy with the original equipment?
In Cathy Siu’s case, she chose the latter — and for good reasons. Her car, a 1969 Ford Mustang SportsRoof, was supposed to become a drag racer after being pulled from a barn in Idaho and shipped to Honolulu. But the closure of the former Hawaii Raceway Park a decade ago quickly ended those dreams. In addition, a careful inspection of the vehicle confirmed it had all the matching numbers — meaning the Mustang had every drivetrain component from the correct year and specific month of manufacture. That made it too valuable for Siu to tinker with the original components.
With the car’s fate sealed, Siu got to work with her family and friends from Hawaii Performance Mustangs (HPM). Upon the car’s arrival from Idaho, Siu discovered that while it was able to run, the vehicle was pretty beat up and the steering was loose, so much so that she could barely keep it in the lane while operating at 35 mph.
The rebuilding process, she told herself, would be slow. “It took us quite a few years — a little bit here, a little bit there,” Siu said.
Undaunted by the task facing them, Siu and her team immediately ripped out the OEM engine and trans and had them rebuilt to factory specs. Her husband then took time to re-upholster and re-carpet the interior as well as replace the dash with a much more serviceable one. With the engine and trans pulled, HPM members helped strip and re-spray the bay while also replacing the aging wiring harness.
The paint was actually the original factory color. Another enthusiast from HPM, Edwin Eligio, did a fantastic job with the bodywork and paint. The color is Black Jade, layered underneath six coats of clear spray, which leaves a very sumptuous dark green color. Finally, the bumpers were replaced and all of the emblems are 100 percent original.
Although Siu wanted to stay as original as possible, she took the opportunity to add the factory options that improved the look of the car considerably. For example, both the spoiler and chin spoiler were added to give the ride a much more aggressive classic look. Also, the wheels are Magnum 500s clad in BF Goodrich Radial T/As set at 25/60R15 front and 275/60R15 rear.
This car still has some things that need to be finished, but for now, it’s been a joy of a ride. The Mustang also looks and feels brand new, and the care and attention to detail Siu put into the car is obvious.
An admitted lover of Mustangs ever since she was a little girl growing up in the Midwest, Siu finally found the car of her dreams, in a barn no less. The entire experience has been one of learning and enjoyment. Or as she put it, “It’s been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.”
