Even though I've been a member for only 6 months, I had been following this site as a guest for likely as much as the whole 5 years. The combined knowledge of most of the active participants seems to really be a vital source for anybody leaning towards all original restorations of these cars. People like myself. I realized only a few short weeks here as a member, (now visiting nearly daily for these last 6 months) how unique the motives are here. First, I misunderstood the "whole greater purpose" of the having a CONCOURS website. Before long, I began to understand that the answers given (to some of my earlier questions in particular) needed to be historically & fact based from years of researching, but along the lines of exact 100% original build data...not just what somebody "remembers". Also, I realized that though an item might be an original option, mentioning you have ADDED it to your project falls outside the scope of the aforementioned "greater purpose". I understand that we are working with HISTORY as much as restoring. Adding options is NOT concours, no matter how thorough the job might be. I didn't understand that at first. The light has come on, I realized the greater purpose(s) and the reasoning now and better base my responses and inquiries accordingly. My knowledge of my car, everything I know as original, everything I know that is not, every other Mustang I had ever worked on, every other Ford product as well, that I have worked on as a mechanic and sometimes bodyman, is only a drop in the sea of knowledge, that is TRUE knowledge, that is available here. I am humbled, I've become (partially) educated, but most of all I have become quite a bit more teachable as a result of visiting these pages.
Thank You everyone who puts up with us "Newbies" as we get some of the wet out from behind our ears.
Richard
