Anticipations are high for the 18th annual Amelia Concours d’Elegance this year at the beginning of March. One reason for the anticipation is in regards to their announcement about a very unique ’64 1/2 “Shorty” Mustang owned by Bill and Chris Snyder that will be headlining their event this year. It will be featured in the “What Were They Thinking?” category with eight other vehicles that haven’t been adopted at any other of their events.

This 1964 1/2 Mustang is features two seats and is made of fiberglass from head to toe. It screams Mustang, but there’s something just a little bit different about this car. It is a one-off fastback with fiberglass panels from Dearborn Steel Tube Co. This was built up on a chassis from a Mustang previously produced for experimental reasons.

Bill Gardner is the mind behind the short stang, but worried that the guys at Ford would not be happy and sent it off to the crusher. Instead of doing so, he stole his concept and stored it in another place in Michigan, an Inkster warehouse.

Without paying rent on the warehouse, it was recovered and relocated to a New England insurance company’s headquarters where it sat out front, catching the eye of a company executive.  After the man purchased it, it was then seen in a car collector’s ad where Bill Snyder saw the exact Mustang he’s been fantasizing over. While a far trek, that wasn’t a problem when one of his employees was headed that way and drove Bill’s dream car back to Ohio for him.

Why is this Mustang so different? The wheelbase was shortened a big 16 inches, plus it has a 302 upgrade. “The car goes like stink,” said Synder.

Your chance to see this car will be at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance held March 8th – 10th at the Golf Club of Amelia Island near the Ritz Carlton. It will be held off of the 10th and 18th fairways at the Golf Club. This particular event, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, or “The Amelia”, is listed as one of the top auto events in the world, with about 300 rare vehicles from collectors everywhere gracing us with their presence all weekend long at the Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach and Ritz-Carlton.