After highlighting Scott Liggett’s cool 1970 Caprice project yesterday, we needed to swap coasts and show the hot rod of our other major photo contributor, Pennsylvanian Joe Grippo. Joe is one of those unique dudes who has managed to keep his first car and over time modify it into a real strip stomper. 

In the late 1970s, Joe’s dad sold his 1970 Mach 1 Mustang, breaking a young Joe’s heart. For years afterward, Joe worked and scraped and saved and prepared himself for the day that he would get one of his own. In 1985 that day came and a bond between man and machine was formed.

Joe gives a great history of his car and how it has evolved from a $400 basket car rust bucket to a wheelstanding bracket racer that Joe races at Maple Grove and other area tracks. We’ve not been able to establish that “I’m never getting rid of it” relationship with a car, tractor, or hot rod yet, so we’re jealous of Joe and anyone who has. Sometimes cars are more than just cars.

Hit the link below to see a great car and a bunch of great photos that features rust, wheelies, carnage, and hard core parts!

LINK: Joe Grippo’s 1970 Mustang