Charles Waggoner bought his 1965 Ford Mustang fastback in 1974 for $175. His daughter, Danielle Watts, is now the owner and is keeping the treasured heirloom in the family. Danielle Watts and her husband, Ron, of Fraser, take the twilight turquoise Mustang to local car shows.
By: Maria Allard | Metro | Published May 10, 2023
METRO DETROIT — When Charles Waggoner bought his 1965 Ford Mustang fastback nearly 50 years ago, it was in such rough condition that some of the car parts were stored in milk crates.
The vehicle had been stolen, stripped and ultimately recovered. But Waggoner still wanted the car because of one special feature.
“When my father was looking to buy it from the original owner, he noticed the VIN was a K-code,” his daughter Danielle (Waggoner) Watts, 45, said. “He knew he had to buy it.”
The K-code Mustang was a special-edition Mustang produced between 1965 and 1967 that came from the factory with a special 289 cubic-inch high-performance engine beneath its hood. Knowing this, Waggoner purchased the car in 1974 for $175.
According to Waggoner’s research, the ’65 Mustang fastback features a four-speed manual transmission and a Ford 9-inch rear end with a set of 3:50 gears, plus the special handling package with front disc brakes.
Waggoner didn’t begin restoring the car until years later, spending hours upon hours working in his backyard to bring the Mustang to its prime condition. Many times when tinkering under the hood, Watts was right by his side. It’s how the two bonded in their Southgate neighborhood, where Watts grew up.
“I used to help my dad wrench on this car. All the bodywork has been done by him. I was raised around this car. He more or less taught me different aspects of the Mustang culture,” said Watts, who now lives in Fraser. “He would test me at car shows. He would walk by, look at a car and ask me what year it was. This was something me and my dad did. This is his third baby. I say third because of me and my sister.”
Waggoner’s days of enjoying his ride came to an end when he was diagnosed with dementia. The car buff, now 76, resides in a Sterling Heights nursing home, where Watts visits him regularly. The Mustang isn’t very far away from her dad, because Watts placed an 8-by-10-inch photo of the car in his room. Watts has taken over ownership of the Mustang.
“He said, ‘It’s your car now,’” Watts said. “With all the time and effort he put into it, I’m just trying to keep it in the family. I’ve broken down a couple of times because of the memories. The sounds. The smell. The classic cars have a different smell.”
Even though Waggoner worked tirelessly on his prized set of wheels, he rarely took it out on the road. Watts, however, feels “it shouldn’t be in a garage all the time” and often drives it to local car shows and cruises. It’s usually her husband, Ron, behind the wheel.
One stop is the weekly Ukrainian Cultural Center car show in Warren, where the Mustang earned its first-ever plaque. Another trophy was bestowed on the vintage vehicle last summer at the annual Fraser Lions Club carnival. The Lakeside Mall Circle Cruise-In on Monday nights in Sterling Heights is another hangout. Because of its distinctive color — twilight turquoise — the Mustang stands out.
“It has no back seat, and the battery is in the trunk. We have people stop us and ask us questions. In my eyes, it is a masterpiece. She is too beautiful to always be in the garage,” Watts said. “It’s a head turner because it’s not your typical color. It’s the original color, but it has been repainted. In 2018, he finished the job. I take it out and let people enjoy his work. All of the VIN numbers match except for the trans. I’m very proud of it.”
Watts has kept a history of the Ford vehicle. She has seven photo albums of pictures that chronicle the car’s restoration, along with manuals and sales receipts that date back to 1977.