Don’t Forget the Trailer Hitch

December 31st, New Year’s Eve 1967, destiny awaited. Temporarily stationed at NAS Key West Florida, Tom flew U.S. Navy Phantom F-4s (call sign “Hamburger”). New orders were shipping him off to Vietnam, so Tom loaded up his ’64.5 Ford Mustang with a dual quad cross ram and two carburetors sticking out of the hood. Hitched to the Mustang’s rear end was a U-Haul trailer for his return trip to Oceana NAS Virginia. Before heading to Oceana NAS, Tom drove through Miami and passed by the JD Ball Ford showroom. He spotted two brand new 1967 Shelby Cobras, one silver and one white. He’d been racing autocross with his Mustang around some local airfields and appreciated these lean, mean Cobras. That ’67 silver snake had caught his eye – serial # CSX3289. Good looking, fast and maneuverable – just what every Navy fighter pilot needed. “I walked into the Ford dealership, and this great salesman came up.” “Hi there!” grinned the sales rep. “Hey, let me put you in one of these.” “You’re going to help me pay for one?” asked Tom. “How am I going to pay for something like that?” The Ford salesman replied, “Well, what do you do?” “I’m in the Navy. I’m a pilot.” The salesman’s eyes lit up. “Oh, you got lots of money!” Tom replied, “I do?” “Sure! Is that your Mustang out there?” Tom nodded. “Well, that’s your down payment.” Things were looking up, but Tom was perplexed. “It’s New Year’s Eve. And Sunday afternoon. How do I get a loan on Sunday afternoon?” “Oh, don’t worry about that. I know the bank president.” “Look at my Mustang”, replied Tom. “It’s got a U-Haul trailer on the back.” “Oh, that’s no problem,” waved off the salesman. “It isn’t?” grinned Tom. “Well, if you can make it happen, I’ll buy the Cobra.” One hour later, the 428 c.i. FE V8 silver street snake came back with a bolt-on trailer hitch. “I signed some papers, hooked up the U-Haul and drove off the lot with a $7200 Shelby Cobra." Tom laughed. “Had it ever since.” After nine months on the USS America (CV 66) with 86 flight missions over Vietnam, Tom returned to Virginia and one beautiful machine. Now that’s a war story. - Lisa P. Hill