Spenser For Hire 1965 Ford Mustang

[mrmike]

Of all of the TV private eyes, he is the one I liked the best. And still do. His show didn't last as long as Mannix or The Rockford Files, but he did have 3 seasons of intriguing cases. Being from Wyoming, he wasn't a local boy, but he did settle in Boston after his hitch in the Army. He has friends in the Boston Police Department, a beautiful girlfriend, and a friend who could be just as much an enemy when they disagree on principal.

He is only known by one name...Spenser.

Spenser was the creation of the late author Robert B. Parker whose novels of Spenser's adventures have been thrilling readers since the mid '70's. In 1984, a TV movie pilot was made titled Spenser For Hire and was taken from the novel Promised Land. Filmed in and around Boston, the pilot featured Robert Urich as Spenser, Barbara Stock as Susan Silverman, and Avery Brooks as Hawk. Spenser drove a beat-up '65 Mustang in the pilot and for most of the series. My goal is to recreate in model form, Spenser's '65 Mustang as shown in the first season.

The kit is Revell's 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2.

The paint is MCW #6531 Ivy Green Metallic.

The extra parts needed for this build. Auto trans and shifter, steering wheel, and the elusive unknown brand wheels.

Spenser For Hire will return.....

Edited December 16, 2010 by mrmike

[Nick Winter]

Should be an interesting build but you forgot a few TV PI's that had decently long running shows,

Charlie's Angels 5 seasons

Magnum PI 8 Seasons

and Simon & Simon 8 seasons

(BTW there were 6 Seasons of The Rockford Files)

Nick

[Nick Winter]

Found these thought they might help.

[Blake Rogers]

Found these thought they might help.

[Dr. Cranky]

Dr. Cranky wants to see more! Please.

[mrmike]

Thanks Nick, Blake, and Dr. Cranky!

Nick, I didn't forget Charlie's Angels, Magnum, or the Simon boys. Or any other PI's for that matter as naming them really wasn't important to my story. I just needed a couple of other TV PI's to set the example and Joe Mannix and Jim Rockford were already on my mind . But, I do thank you for mentioning them and for the pictures which I have already found during my research.

Dr. Cranky, there will be more as I am just getting started on body work. I need to remove mold lines, fill a small divot on the passenger B-pillar, and mount the valances and rear louvers.

[mrmike]

I started bodywork by smoothing and filling mold lines and divots.

I removed the manual trans from the engine block.

Then I glued the engine block halves and the auto trans halves together.

I squared the engine block and the auto trans, but I noticed the large mounting hole in the trans since the engine block didn't cover it. I decided to make an "adapter plate" to cover the mounting hole.

Spenser For Hire will return.....

[SuperStockAndy]

Sweet Mustang!

[mrmike]

Thanks Andy!

This is a project that I have wanting to do for over 5 years! And now, I can! The only thing that has been holding me back was the wheels! And, I found them in my parts box! I don't know what kit they came from, but there they were. Staring me in the face in all of their chrome plated glory! I had the trans from the Revell '64 Ford, the shifter from the AMT '66 Fairlane, and the steering wheel from the bottom of my parts box. I quickly ordered my paint from MCW and had it within two weeks. I am so excited about this project that I have to hold myself back. I don't want to rush it for I will make a mess of it, some how, some way. It's got to be done correctly, carefully, with pride and satisfaction. It's that important to me. Currently, the alternator (generator?), master cylinder, oil pan, and carb are in the purple pond and the body is in the midst of bodywork. I am thinking of a way to lower the suspension a little bit. I don't have any red oxide primer and I am thinking about mixing Model Master Insignia Red with Model Master Leather or gray to see if I can come up with something close to it. I may just break down and go to my LHS and see what they have. And, the motor is partially assembled. And then, there is the grille which will have to be modified as the cross bars have to be removed. For the longest time I thought that Spenser's Mustang was a '66 model because of the grille, but all references call it a '65, so that's what I call it.

My goal here is to create the car as most people would see it on screen (long before hi-def!), all nice and shiny! Maybe I'll put a piece of black gaffers tape on the headliner like I had noticed in one episode. How about the broken antenna and the bullet hole on the right front fender? Or a little bit of snow and salt on the rocker panels and rear fenders, or smear a little wax on the door to hide the reflection of the camera and production crew.

The stance of this Mustang is an important factor for me. In many of the first season episodes, the Mustang had the hunkered down stance that I want to create. I recreated the "nose-bleed" attitude on the third season version that I made 5 years ago. That was done by leaving the suspension out-of-box stock and just adding the MRC Keystone mags and tires.

I remember that Robert Urich was a frequent visitor to WROR, a local Boston radio station and that Joe Martelle, one of the radio show hosts was offered a cameo shot in the series which ended up on the edit bay floor. I also remember watching a small segment on a Boston TV station (probably an ABC affiliate) about Bob Urich's home in, IIRC, Andover, Mass. And then, the complaints from property owners in Boston having to move their cars in the early morning for the film crew to set up street scenes where Spenser would drive up in his Mustang and park at the curb.

I have just finished watching the first season VHS tapes and am about to start the second season set of tapes. I keep watching this series because it is my favorite and I am looking (in standard definition) for more details about the Mustang. I have high hopes for this project and my goals are obtainable.

Edited December 17, 2010 by mrmike

[mrmike]

Bodywork is done and paint was spraying this afternoon.

The carb, oil pan, master cylinder, and alternator are out of the purple pond.

Spenser For Hire will return.....

[GTMust]

More please.... more, more, more......!

Loves dem Mustangs!

[dwc43]

Looks good so far. I'm sure it will turn out great just like your others that I have seen lately.

[Car Crazy 81]

Mr.Mike- The wheels that youre using for your Mustang is an optional set from an old Monogram 86 Monte Carlo SS #2720 which was released in 1986. I have two of those sets myself. Spenser's Mustang is looking good keep up the great work as always.

[Rick R]

Paint looks great, Mike, far better than the actual car!

Are you going to shave the 'F' off the hood? Most episodes the car was without that.

Re: Simon & Simon, it did last 8 seasons but only because of the writer's strike, same reason Crime Story had a second season. It was NOT a good thing for Jameson Parker, who'd been signed to do a sitcom which went away because S&S came back and he was under contract. Universal just re-shot old scripts in that last year, and most weren't very good. The series had done a great send-off episode at the end of S7, 'May The Road Rise Up...' partly shot at Barris Kustoms in North Hollywood. That one's worth a search, but the series DVD didn't sell well so it may never see the light of day.

[mrmike]

Thanks Tony, DW, Rick, and Rick!

Rick, the wheels I have are not from the '86 Monte Carlo SS since I never had that kit.

Rick R, I am going to leave the "F" on the hood since it was there in the early first season episodes.

Re: Simon & Simon, about the only thing I liked about that show was the Dodge pickup and the theme song by Mike Post.

[mrmike]

This afternoon I painted the wheel centers with Tamiya Semi Gloss Black paint.

Using a chisel point hobby knife, I removed the cross bars from the Mustang grille and painted if flat black.

The motor is ready for paint.

Spenser For Hire will return.....

[charlie8575]

Very cool Mike. This is going to be a great build when you're done, and I'm happy to see you doing it.

Hawk's BMW up next? Or the Jag from the books?

Charlie Larkin

[mrmike]

Thanks Charlie! I made Hawk's BMW 635 several years ago. At this time, I have no interest in doing any of the cars from the novels.

[mrmike]

I wetsanded the body more than I should have and now it looks more like something from the movie Tron.

Another coat of MCW #6531 Ivy Green Metallic.

Someone, somewhere, gave me a bit of flack for not using red oxide primer on the chassis of a previous build. I finally broke down a spent $2.99 on a cheap can of primer. My luck, someone will now tell me that it is the wrong shade of red oxide! To that I say, Too bad!!!!!

[GTMust]

I know the '69/'70 Mustangs had a red oxide primer chassis with some overspray of the body color along the edges. I'm guessing that the '64 1/2 to '68 models did too.

Unfortunately, I have to agree, from the photo, that the primer color you've used appears way too red. Krylon has an indoor/outdoor spray can primer they call "ruddy brown" which is pretty close to the real thing. But I think it may be a laquer so be careful if your current "primer" is enamel.

[mrmike]

Unfortunately, I have to agree, from the photo, that the primer color you've used appears way too red. Krylon has an indoor/outdoor spray can primer they call "ruddy brown" which is pretty close to the real thing. But I think it may be a laquer so be careful if your current "primer" is enamel.

Well Tony, it's primer, it's red oxide, and it's on the chassis! As I have previously state, if it's the wrong shade of red, that's just too bad! This is not a concours restoration or a contest car and I don't even know if Spenser's Mustang had red oxide on it's chassis. I am going by whatever information that is available and it's not much! I am making a lot of judgment calls on this Mustang and I can't justify spending a lot of money on many cans of whatever, just for the sake of a few model cars. I don't mean to come off sounding rude, but that is just the way it is. I appreciate your information and thanks.

[dwc43]

I aint complaining here, just informing. When you run out and want more red oxide primer, best place to get it is Advance Auto. 5 bucks a can made by duplicolor. There engine paint is made by duplicolor as well. I've used it a on a lot of my stuff. Beware, most engien paint is pretty hot and dries really fast. Make sure to use a good primer under it so it wont hurt the plastic and if you need to strip it, it comes off of primer easier than bare plastic. Don't ask how I know that .... lol.

On another note, I hate gray primer. It's always too thin and runs easy. I don't care if it's in a spray can or a gallon can for auto use. I hate it and wont use it on anything.

[mrmike]

Thanks DW. I have done my research and I found that it is suppose to be red oxide primer and that is what I got, that is what I used, and it's good enough for me. This can will last me a very, very long time so I will not be running out anytime soon.

I apologise if I came off sounding like I was mad!

[mrmike]

Not much to report. I've started polishing the body and got overspray onto the chassis,

Spenser For Hire will return.....

[Luc Janssens]

Just a general question about the painting process on 1st gen Mustangs.

I vaguely remember some sort of video clip by The Supremes" where they were singing in a Ford Mustang plant, while painted fenders went by, hanging on a overhead conveyor, now my question:

Were some hang-on / bolt-on parts painted separate from the body, or were these items painted separately for in-plant repair?

Thanks!

Luc

Edited December 23, 2010 by Luc Janssens