In november of i found what APPEARED to be an immaculate, and beautifully restored 1965 mustang fastback, for sale on ebay.
It was described as:
1965 ford mustang fastback 2 2
VIN# 5F09C690895
Body Plate Codes:
Body 63AFastback, Bucket Seats w/Standard Interior
Color K&Silver Smoke Gray
Trim D6 — White w/Black Appointments
Date 08R - April 8,1965
DSO 51&Denver Co.
Axle 6 — 2.80:1
Trans 6&C4 Automatic Transmission
Equipment:
289 V8
Mustang Factory Air Conditioning
Cruise-O-Matic Automatic Transmission
Rally-Pac Gages
Styled Steel Wheels
B F Goodrich Radial T/A Tires
GT Equipment: GT Fog Lamps & Grill Bar, Dual Exhaust with Trumpet Extensions Through Valance Panel, GT Stripe and GT Ornamentation.
Visibility Group: Remote Control Mirror, Day/Nite Mirror, 2 Speed Windshield Wipers and Washers.
Back-Up Lights
AM/FM Cassette Stereo
Heavy Duty (3 core) Radiator
Heavy Duty Battery
Seven Blade Cooling Fan
HI-PO correct Air Cleaner
4 Piece Mustang Deluxe Floor Mats
Description:
Excellent example of a restored, highly collectible, investment grade, rust free, North Texas car.
Originality stressed during restoration.
Body Data Plate matching.
Number matching Engine and Transmission.
New factory correct paint.
New interior
Highly detailed engine compartment.
2,000 miles on Engine and Transmission rebuild.
Less than 100 miles on complete Differential rebuild.
New Parts Include: Radiator, water pump, fuel pump, A/C compressor, battery, alternator, voltage regulator, engine compartment wiring harness, starter solenoid, windshield washer pump and bag, gas tank and sending unit, front steering components, brake wheel cylinders, brake shoes, new tires and much more.
History:
Three Texas owners in the last 16 years.
Car driven 2,000 miles since 1988. Mileage on odometer is 28,200.
Have spoken with the last two owners to verify vehicle information.
Will supply names and contact information on previous owners when car sold.
"every nut and bolt replaced, needs nothing"
So, i contacted the seller, to let him know i was interested, however, i wouldnt have the money to pay for the car until january. He agreed to pull the auction if i sent a deposit, which i did, of 3500$
The car sat in a "museum" until that january, when i was able to pay mr vardeman, and his business associate, ed boule.
At this time, and after speaking with scott several times regarding doing a few modifications to the car, i decided to hire the services of "vardeman motor works" to complete the following modifications:
Remove original engine and transmission, and replace with a custom built 289 engine, and late model T-5 transmission.
Replace factory rear center section with aftermarket "3.55" center section
Replace factory front drum brakes with aftermarket disc brakes.
Install a "monte carlo bar", and an export brace.
Replace factory shocks/springs with aftermarket (stiffer and shorter) versions.
Replace factory radiator with aluminum "griffin" brand radiator
Install front and rear sway bars
Install aftermarket guages (oil pressure and water temp)
Install aftermarket rims/tires
in addition to the $23,000 i paid for the car, i sent scott an additional $10,000 for the work. Most parts were supplied by me, other than the engine, trans, and clutch assembly. I had all parts shipped to mr vardeman via UPS, express, next day service.
After 16 long weeks of excuses and arguments, i finally received the car. This is where it all really starts to go downhill.
I'll start with the engine...
The engine i was told i was getting, was a ford 289, with an estimated output of 400 hp.
In fact, i was sold a 302, which barely put out around 150hp, on a good day.
The engine was leaking all fluids from all possible places. The intake manifold bolts were barely hand tight, so coolant was shooting out, and there was no vacuum present.
The oil pan was loose as well, and oil was leaking everywhere.
There was a several rattling coming from the passenger side valve cover, so i pulled the cover off, and realized that one of the rocker arms was floating around, and was banging into the other rocker arms and springs.
This caused the valve stems to become bent, wearing the valve guides (on heads i had just paid 1000$ to scott for "rebuilding")
as a result of the valve issue, there was literally oil shooting out of my tailpipes. The whole back of my car was covered in oil and soot.
I eventually ended up removing the heads and replacing them to the tune of 1300$.
Scott said that this was because he "forgot that he used hydraulic lifters, and set the valve lash incorrectly"
Paint and body:
The body is COVERED in dents and dings, and there isnt a straight panel on the car. I was contacted by "one of scotts several thousand happy customers", who sided with scott, and didnt respond to my MANY repeated offers for him to come see the car in person.
I even offered to give him 1000$ in cash, if he could find ONE straight panel on my car.
He never showed up.
Big surprise.
The paint is horrendous.
It has dirt under the clear coat, in MANY places, and looks to have been painted in a field, by monkeys, rather than in a paint booth, by professionals.
I was told the car had all original panels, and NO RUST EVER.
However, both rear quarters had been replaced, as well as the driver's side door.
In fact, the quarter panel repair is so bad, that the inner welds are beginning to rust, and will require immediate attention.
The rear wheel wells have a large amount of "bondo", and i was told that there wasnt any in this car.
The interior:
The dash board is covered in scratches and gouges which were simply painted over, and not repaired. The dash pad has paint overspray on it, and there is one rear seatbelt.
The center console which scott claimed to be original to the car, had been modified to fit with what appeared to be a hacksaw.
All interior screws are mismatched, and some arent even automotive grade.
The AC unit was not charged, allegedly because scott "forgot to do it", but, upon attemting to charge the unit myself, i discovered that there was no valve into which the refrigerant should be placed. Even if scott "remembered" to do it, there was no way it could have gotten done.
Glass:
All but ONE of the windows have large scratches and scrapes. Scott agreed to replace the passenger door glass, and the windshield, but i never received either.
Suspension:
ALL new fittings and boots were left dry. There was no grease, and therefore the boots and some fittings needed to be replaced.
The rear sway bar was LOOSE, and needed to be tightened.
The drive shaft was cut too short, and does not fully reach the tail shaft of the transmission
There's more i could list, and i'd be happy to do so, should anyone decide to join forces, and file a class action suit against mr vardeman for fraud.
I have all of the emails i have received from scott, from admitting to taking shortcuts on my car because he was having a hard time with his daughter's medical bills, agreeing to send me back all of the original parts he removed from my car, (and never did), to threatening to sue me for "liable"
In fact. Last i heard i WAS being sued.
Im still waiting for that to happen.
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