Robert Chapin - Lee Iacocca The Baby Boomer And My Mustang 64

Lee Iacocca

The Baby Boomer

And My Mustang 64

A True Story

By

Robert A. Chapin

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011

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New York Worlds Fair 1964

Admission to The New York Worlds Fair in 1964/1965was $2.50. Thats quite a bargain considering that if you were totake a family of four to a major league New York Yankee baseballgame at present day rates (2011) it would cost:

Tickets for 2 adults, 2 kids, 2 soft drinks, 2 beers,4 hot dogs, parking, 2 souvenir baseball caps, 4 containers of popcorn, 4 Ice bream bars, Cha Ching - Cha Ching = $383.52.

These prices are outrageously ridiculous! It is muchmore appealing for me to stay home, watch the game on a highdefinition flat screen TV, eat junk food, have a few beers - allfor less than five bucks and with the advantage of being able tocount the pitchers nose hairs!

By the time our school attended The Worlds Fair Iwas a year from graduating and a member of the band. I played firsttrumpet and it was one of the most magnificent events of my younglife. There was a band pavilion - one of many where people couldstop for a rest amid the hundreds of food vendors.

We were invited to play for the benefit of attendeesat the band shell identified by a marquee featuring Guy Lombardoand The Royal Canadians scheduled to perform later that day.Following our performance we were required to lock our instrumentsin a specially provided area.

For one reason or another following the performance,I placed my trumpet case under my chair and went about enjoying theday. About 20 minutes later there was an announcement:

Will the music teacher from Ware High School returnto the Guy Lombardo Pavilion.

It was then I realized I had not followed procedurein returning my instrument to the lockup. By the time the musicteacher and I arrived back at the pavilion The Royal Canadians werepracticing for one of their scheduled performances. As I enteredthe stage area none other than Guy Lombardo asked me for some formof ID then proceeded to hand over the trumpet. We talked for a fewminutes and then he asked if I would like to accompany the RoyalCanadians in one of their numbers. Their performance was inapproximately 2 hours and Mr. Taggert, our band director wasdelighted that I got to play with Guy Lombardo and The RoyalCanadians at the New York Worlds Fair.

In 1964 I was only interested in being with Cindy,but her plans didnt include me. She was pre-occupied with a groupof girls. We were cautioned, warned actually, bychaperones that there was to be absolutely nopublic display of affection - no hand holding andno inappropriate behavior.

I had my group of male friends who hung together.However, as if we were kindergarten kids under the watchful eye ofchaperons, wherever we went we were counted, tagged, and requiredto raise the school flag in what I considered nonsense. It wasironic that only two years later I was drafted into the army whereI was ordered to carry a weapon in combat in Vietnam, but at TheWorlds Fair I couldnt hold hands with Cindy.

Ford Motor Company introduced the Mustang on April 17, 1964 , the newest car to shake upthe market in years. The new Mustang was on display at the entranceto The Ford Pavilion. I had a 1957 Ford Fairlane ConvertibleRetractable Hardtop purchased from one of the guys in town whojoined the Navy - but the new Mustang attracted me like amagnet.

The Mustang was released in one of the greatestadvertising blitzes in the auto industry, it was a dream car thatmost high school kids could not afford. I certainly couldnt. I wasworking at a restaurant as a salad chef and on what I earned, wasdestined to drive the 1957 Ford until better employment camealong.

At every opportunity I would drive to the nearestFord dealer in a nearby town and just visit the new cars on thelot. With the Mustang having just been released for the benefit ofthe baby boomers it was a car that was as a rule, only displayed inthe showroom. There was one dealer who invited all the high schoolkids to attend a cook-out with plenty of hot dogs, burgers, colddrinks, popcorn, dessert - and every licensed driver got to takethe new (all white) Mustang convertible for a spin around thelot.

The Mustang was an instant hit. I thought I was inlove with Cindy, but when I actually had the opportunity to sit inthe drivers seat of this new sensation, and smell that distinctivenew car aroma my priorities changed and I was now in love with theMustang as well.

Sadly, my dad passed away suddenly which limited myability to consider a new car. My mother and three sisters weredependent on me to support them financially, and the job at therestaurant was sufficient to bring in enough income to assist withthe basics. From the time of his death it had taken the VeteransAdministration and Social Security Administration many monthsbefore they provided survivors benefits to our family.

I will never forget the restaurant - it was, andstill is one of the finest country inns in America: The Salem CrossInn located in West Brookfield, Massachusetts. Following my dadsdeath, the Salem brothers, Henry and Dick friendly with dad askedif I would like to work for them after school. I have always beengrateful to this wonderful family for allowing me to excel in anarea of just more than a dish washer.

As in all major restaurants there is always a meal ofthe day on the menu, and the Salem brothers generosity was farbeyond anything I had experienced since. Every day when I arrivedfor my 3:00 PM to 11:00 shift these wonderful people allowed me toenjoy a dinner complete with dessert. Whether meatloaf, chicken orroast beef, they treated me with such respect and dignity that Ihave never forgotten them. The restaurant had not yet opened forthe day and a place was always set for me where I appreciated notonly the meal but their genuine warm kindheartedness.

There were times when the food buyer would order morethan was used, and I was given a package of beef, chicken or chopsfor my family at the end of the night. This also included pastries,their famous popovers and an assortment of rolls and breads. Forthe past 35 years my wife and I never missed the opportunity todine at their establishment until we moved from Massachusetts toVirginia 10 years ago.

Once the appropriate federal agencies: The VeteransAdministration

and Social Security Administration were finallyproviding my mother with survivors benefits I could feel thepressure release. Now, the reality of possibly owning a new car waswithin reach.

On its first day of introduction Ford received ordersfor 22,000 Mustangs. Their projection of 100,000 cars in the firstyear far exceeded their expectations and a total of 417,000 wereproduced in the first year

I continued to work at the restaurant and withgenerous increases in pay and working double shifts on weekends andfilling in, I was at a place where I seriously considered a newcar. My position at the restaurant was never in doubt. As timepassed, and the financial crises over for the family, I was cominginto my final year of high school and with grants and educationprograms available, the day finally arrived when I could be seriousabout the new 1964 Mustang.

When I came home with a Mustang catalog my motherthought I should have the new car. It didnt take much urging onher part and she agreed to co-sign. Every time I looked through thecatalog all I could envision was me in my Dynasty green Mustangpulling into the high school parking lot.