2023 Amelia Island Concours
This year we were selected to prep a one of a kind Mustang for the 2023 Amelia Island Concours. This was the very first retractable hardtop mustang ever produced. To prep for a concours show, a two step paint correction was performed on all painted surfaces. Gtechniq© CS Light was then applied to give this Mustang jaw-dropping gloss and protection while traveling to Florida.
John, we are honored for the opportunity. Thank you for entrusting Luxe Detailing with your Mustang!
Here is a brief history on the vehicle:
A bit of history…
PRODUCTION # 1
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 5R07C237825
HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE OWNERSHIP
In June of 2006 I was visiting my friend David Smith in his office at Costal Collision Auto Repair in New London, CT. I had damaged my daughter’s vehicle in a collision with an animal and brought it to David for repairs.
David Smith is the son of Ben J. Smith who designed and built the 1957 thru 1959 Ford Skyliner series of Retractable Hardtop vehicles for the Ford Motor Company as Chief Engineer and Department Manager for Package Design.
As I stood by David’s desk, the telephone rang and he began a conversation with the caller. David looked up at me as he held the telephone to his ear and asked, “Do you want to buy a retractable?” I answered yes, and David then said, “Dad can he buy it?” David hung up the telephone then stated I bought a retractable. Out of normal curiosity I asked what did I buy? Thinking the vehicle to be a Skyliner, David answered that I bought a Retractable Hardtop Ford Mustang.
The Mustang had belonged to Ben J. Smith’s best friend Bob Baumgardner who lived in Salton Sea, California. Ben J. Smith had supervised the build of Mt. Baumgardner’s Retractable Mustang and both had taken it to auto shows and to Retractable Hardtop National Club meetings.
Mr. Baumgardner passed away and the vehicle sat in his garage for up to ten years before Mr. Baumgardner’s daughter called Ben J. Smith and asked how she should sell her father’s vehicle. Ben J. Smith telephoned his son David and the rest is history.
~ J. Duley, Owner
