Hello Digital World: Michael Johnson Joins StangTV As Staff Editor

Maybe you know or remember me from my past editorial life as Associate Editor of the now defunct 5.0 Mustang and Super Fords magazine. However, there’s a good chance you have no clue who I am, but even if you do know me, you may not know the whole story of who I am, and how I got here. Well, here’s the rest of the story, about me, Michael Johnson, and about five minutes of your life you’ll wish you could get back.

When I was growing up, before the days of what you hold in your hand, we had these things called magazines, and if it had a car in it, I read it. It didn’t matter what kind of car, either. While other kids my age were reading, I dunno, Dr. Suess books or Charlotte’s Web, I was busy reading Hot Rod, Car Craft, and various muscle car magazines. Seriously, if it was a car magazine, I was all over it.

All this was due to my dad always having cars in the yard, or flipping them to help feed myself and my 4 siblings. I think it was mostly because he liked working on cars, but the money side of flipping cars didn’t hurt. Then there was my Uncle Bobby. They only had one mouth to feed so Uncle Bobby always had the cool cars. Mustangs, Corvettes, Camaros, you name it, he owned it. He even had a Ford Courier with a BOSS 302 engine in it named Mello Yello. Yes, it was yellow, too.

Of all the cars my dad had in the yard, and there were many, it was a ’65-’66 Mustang convertible that really did it for me. That particular red convertible is probably the single biggest reason I am a Mustang fan.

Of all the cars my dad had in the yard, and there were many, it was a ’65-’66 Mustang convertible that really did it for me. That particular red convertible is probably the single biggest reason I am a Mustang fan. That was probably the only car my dad owned that I regretted see go down the road. I remember it like it was yesterday. I couldn’t have been more than 12, but the car was a red convertible with a black top and black interior. It was a 289 car, and my dad didn’t do anything to the car. He just bought it at a good price, and flipped it. I remember the dude handing over a stack of cash for it, and wishing the deal would fall through somehow. Unfortunately, cash changing hands means the car is going down the road, and I had to watch it go.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that the Mustang didn’t stay long; my dad pretty much hated Mustangs. What’s surprising is that not only do I have a Mustang, my sister has had a love-affair with them, as well, and owns a ’15 Mustang V6 (I know, I told her to get an Ecoboost or a GT, but some people you just can’t reach). The ’15 is her 3rd Mustang, but it would take a few minutes to think of how many Mustangs I have owned. My first car was an ’80 Triumph Spitfire. Hey, I got it for free, and it had an Alpine stereo in it. I couldn’t pass it up.

I turned the tables on my dad on that deal, selling him the Spitfire for $300, and going straight to Foot Locker to get a pair of Reebok Pumps (The original Reebok Pumps, BTW). They were supposed to add 4 inches to your vertical leap…yeah, they didn’t. Plus, the sole came apart after 2 months, and it only took the replacement pair 3 weeks to do the same thing, but I digress.

Anyway, back to cars. My first Mustang was a ’64 ½ Mustang coupe I purchased for $1,000. I didn’t have all $1,000 so the seller and I agreed to a hand-written contract we both signed until I was able to save up the whole amount to buy the car. I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Well, it wasn’t. It never left me stranded, but my 19-year old self had no business owning that car. I didn’t care, though. It was a Mustang, and it was mine. One night I ran out of gas less than a 1/8-mile from home. I left it on the side of the road, and went home for the night. I went to bed, but I couldn’t sleep knowing my car was sitting on the side of the road. Yep, I got out of bed, walked down to my Mustang, and pushed it home – by myself. It wasn’t the last time I had to push a Mustang, but I loved that car. It was a combination of Rust-o-leum red and primer gray with a white vinyl top. My favorite part about the car was the original spinner hubcaps, but the floorboards were shot, and it basically didn’t have an exhaust system. Didn’t matter, I still loved that car…

I should say I loved that car until I drove a Fox Mustang. The very first Fox Mustang I drove I wondered why I was messing with an old car. I was actually in the middle of restoring my ’64 ½ when I bought that first Fox, an ’89 LX coupe, but when I bought the Fox, I didn’t see myself messing with that old car anymore. I sold it, and who knows where it is, but I wouldn’t mind having it back.

Not long after I bought the Fox coupe, I had the chance to go to college on a basketball scholarship, but that meant the Fox had to go in favor of a more economical vehicle. However, going to college allowed me to figure out what I wanted to do in life, and that was to write about cars, Mustangs specifically. I started as an intern with Dobbs Publishing on May 19th, 1997, which was also the day I found out I would be a dad (No pressure). Since that day, writing about cars has been my passion.

So, what? Why have you wasted the last 5 minutes of your life, and why is this important to StangTV.com? Like you, I love Mustangs, everything about them. I’ve owned Foxes, a ‘94 Cobra with a Coyote swap, a ’01 Bullitt with a Ford Racing 5.0L stroker, and right now I am back to my Fox roots with a ’93 LX 5.0 that I drive every day. Hopefully, you get to read about it on here because we do have a plan for the car.

However, our plan here at StangTV.com is to continue bringing you the hottest and latest Mustang content. We love Mustangs as much as you do, maybe more. You’re in good hands, trust me. I just won’t say anything about that other car I own.

About the author

Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson brings his years of experience in the Mustang aftermarket and performance industry to StangTV. He has been passionate about cars since childhood, with a special affinity for the Mustang.
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