The Original Owner of this '67 Mustang has Driven a Half-Million Miles

On Halloween Day of 1966, a young middle-school teacher briskly skipped into Beattie Motors, located in Monterey, CA. No tricks were planned that afternoon, only a treat – in the form of her brand-new Mustang. She had ordered it two weeks prior. “It had just come out a year earlier and I thought it was really hot,’ recalls Judy Burdick. “I told myself, ‘ I want one of those’.”

Besides her pony passion, she was currently in the market since her 1960 Ford Falcon had just recently died and ‘wasn’t worth replacing’. After sitting down with Beattie’s sales staff, she knew exactly what she wanted. “I wanted the V8 engine and for it to be red with a black interior,’ recalls Judy. “I love red and it’s the perfect color.” She also requested options like power steering, an AM radio and rocker panel molding. Being tight on cash, she passed on other add-ons like the right rear-view mirror, air-conditioning, and an FM radio.

Too Cool At School

All told, the Ford rang up at $3,300.20, less the $510 they offered her on the traded-in Falcon. After two weeks of anxious waiting, the coupe was finally delivered. Judy was over the moon and as soon as she had it, wasted no time cruising to her classes. “It caused a real big splash at school,’ gushes the enthusiast, who taught seventh and eighth grade at Washington Union School, in Corral De Tierra, CA. “My students thought it was really neat.”

Judy Burdick and her very special pony. (Photo by Matt Avery)

Judy’s Mustang love runs deep, extending to touches like these galloping pony earrings.. (Photo by Matt Avery)

Here’s the bill of sale that shows just what Judy paid for her car, over fifty years ago. (Photo by Matt Avery)

Still Galloping Away

Judy never stopped driving and today, the car shows over a half-million miles on its odometer. To be exact, it has over 526,000 miles and Judy, is indeed, counting. “For the most part, it was just my commute,’ explains Judy, who drove twenty-five miles a day. “The longest trip I took was on vacation, driving to Seattle.” With all the heavy use, the original motor did need to be replaced and not just once, but twice. That extended time on the road also exposed the car’s body to take some beatings. “All four sides have been hit,’ said Judy. “Thankfully, not all at the same time.” Each and every dent, scuff, mark and fender bender has been taken care of, all in the name of keeping the Ford in top condition.

This original owner 1967 Ford Mustang was bought new by a teacher and today, shows over a half-million miles on the odometer. — A parking sticker from 1977 when Judy attended summer classes at the University of California Santa Cruz. (Photo by Matt Avery)

Ever the judicious notetaker, Judy has always kept a detailed ‘diary’ for her car, full of info from fill-ups and maintenance work. Here you can read pages that date from as early as 1970. (Photo by Matt Avery)

Teacher’s Pet

Judy shows no signs of slowing down in her classic car, showing it regularly at events around the Pacific Grove, CA, area. Most recently, she had it on display as part of the 2019 Monterey Car Week. And despite the on-going decades, the Ford has remained the apple of her eye. “One of the main reasons I keep it, besides loving the drive,’ said Judy,’ is that my former students always recognize me in it.”