CAR OWNER KEVIN KLEINSMITH

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

THE MAN IN BLACK - 2008 MUSTANG CALIFORNIA SPECIAL

MY LOVE FOR CARS COMES FROM MY DAD HAVING A 1915 MODEL T.

MEMBERS OF THE STANG MAG FAMILY ARE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT FUN AND INCLUSION THAN THEY ARE THEIR CARS AND THAT SAYS A LOT!

My love for Mustangs began when my uncle took me to register for kindergarten in his 1969 Mach 1. Since that day I’ve always loved Mustangs. My love for cars comes from my dad having a 1915 Model T. That car has been shown at Das Awkscht Fescht in Macungie for the past 60 years every August. Cars and car shows have been in my blood for a long time. I’ve owned several Mustangs over the years and currently own a 1983 V6 Convertible and since December this 2008 GT/CS. I’m part of a great Mustang family in the Valley Forge Mustang Club.

I was at the Mustang Owners Museum in Charlotte last April for a show and there were a few 05-09 S197s there and that’s when I got the itch to own one. I started looking in December and by the 27th I picked this one up. Once I walked up to it, I realized it was a California Special. I knew I had to have it then. It is number 355 of 718 CSs built in black for 2008. Having only 52,000 miles on it I knew it had plenty of smiles left. I think the 05-09 body style was the best looking one Ford has done. Having liked Johnny Cash music and this all black that’s how it got named ”The Man in Black”.

If you asked me if I thought I’d be writing an article for STANG Magazine for my car this time last year I would’ve said no. If you asked me if I would be writing it about a different car than the 2005 Roush Mustang I had I would’ve said hell no. I loved that car but acquiring this one reinvigorated my passion for car shows and events!

I met Daniel Ramey at a Beltway Mustang show and won my spot with STANG Magazine in their Carlisle Ford Nationals display. Needless to say I wasn’t sure what to expect being that I didn’t know the people attending and was going by myself.

So far, the mods I’ve done have been a Roush CAI and an SCT tune along with some minor enhancements to make it look better. Next up will be some stripes and a better exhaust. I take pride in doing as much work on vehicles as I can so this will be a work in progress. While black isn’t my favorite color, having the Model T makes me remember what Henry Ford said, “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.”

The STANG Mag family welcomed me in from the very start and made me feel like one of their own!

Members of the STANG Mag family are more passionate about fun and inclusion than they are their cars and that says a lot! I can’t wait to see what’s to come in 2022!