Here’s your language warning: I’m f***ing pissed off as I type this. What you are looking at is the charred remains of a 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 that was the best thing in the world to seven-year-old Nino Welcome. Nino has Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, which affects his mobility and speech. He may never be able to drive the Mach 1 that his grandfather fixed up for him, but he was able to go on rides with his father Brett. He had his wheelchair, “Mach 2”, painted to match the car. He’d tell any and everyone about the Mach 1 sitting at home, proud as any owner would be. But on July 13th, in the early morning hours, Nino’s “Pumpkin” became the target of some neighborhood asshole, who tossed in some lit fireworks through a window and walked away, leaving the Mustang to burn in the driveway. A neighbor alerted the family at nearly four in the morning, but by that point, the Mustang was an inferno. The post-fire inspection told the tale: the passenger window was smashed in and the fireworks, spinning spark-throwing types, were set off in Nino’s car seat.
I feel sick for Brett. He had to be the one to tell Nino that his Mustang had been destroyed by someone who didn’t give a rat’s ass about anybody else’s things, who wanted to destroy just because they could. Could you explain that some people are worthless? Could you look that little boy in the eyes and tell him that because the world is full of people whose only use in life is to create carbon dioxide to feed trees, the car that his grandfather restored for him, the car he adored, is now smoldering in the driveway? And what about that absolutely worthless mouth-breather who did this? Still at large, and the Mustang wasn’t the only thing burned that night, either. I pray that they find the pyro and figure out how to send them to a place where the only thing they will do until their time on Earth is done is to break big rocks into little rocks, since that’s all they are good for. What the f*** is wrong with people?
To be fair, according to Brett’s Facebook post on the matter, “Nino has been informed about his car. Aside from saying some choice words about “those idiots being in big trouble,” Nino has taken the news like a brave boy. He is sure that we can make it like new.” You have to like his optimism and attitude on life…it’s another rare trait missing in today’s world.
A friend of the family has set up a GoFundMe account to assist in the recovery of the Mach 1. The car will be assessed to see if it can be salvaged or if they will have to start with a new body. I have hope for the Welcome family, and hope that sooner than later, I get to follow-up this story with the scene of Nino greeting a revitalized Pumpkin.
There’s not holes deep enough to chuck into or trees high enough to hang some people from…….
There’s a special place in €%$&@€# HELL for this piece of !!!!!!
One of the big car builder shops, you know, the one’s who charge in the high six to seven figures for a build, ought to take this on, gratis, for the kid…There are enough of those shops around these days, it shouldn’t be a stretch for them, especially if they got Ford to kick in as well.
Completely agree.
Absolutely, what a grand thought! How do we get this story to any one of those car restoration TV shows? They’d be all over it, whatta bad/great story. How do we get this to them?
I hope that they find the P.O.S. that did this and he drops his soap in prison!
And like Gary, I hope that a big well known restores the Mach 1 for Nino.
I’ve never go funded before, but totally worth it. I’m glad you found this to share with everyone
I personally can’t abide fireworks in the hands of the public.
For a one night firework fiesta here in Spain it’s been four weeks of explosions at all hours.
I hope this scumbag keeps fireworks
in hi pockets….a good place for an accident.
I completely agree on the fireworks thing. I like seeing them on the 4th, but listening to them for 2 weeks before the 4th gets old pretty quick. Firework are banned in my town (and the surrounding towns too!), but the cops are unable or unwilling to do much of anything about it.
There isnt a punishment hash enough for someone who would do something like this. I hope some “neighborhood” justice happens to them. Doubt the police can or will do much about it.
No words can say how disgusted we are with those that live in that very shallow gene pool that would do something like this. As already noted it sure would be nice if one of the bigger, more famous high end builders jumped on the bandwagon and led the restoration effort. And I’m sure there are some Mustang specific parts manufactures that could help the effort too.
How about everybody forward this story to their local Ford dealerships, Ford head office, aftermarket reproduction Mustang parts manufacturers and suppliers and see if they would be willing to offer some assistance to help Nino out?
I can’t explain in words how disgusted I am. There is some mighty bad karma brewing.
One of those pre fab metal buildings to park in and protect would be good too.
WTF? At least seven-year-old Nino has already demonstrated that he’s a bigger man than whatever POS did this…
Even though this is a Juggalo free-zone Insane Clown Posse got it right about karma for shit bags like this.
And for those who aint down for the next man,
Who rob from the poor, and snatch all ya can,
And any chicken talkin shit, lemme tell ya somthin,
Hold a lighter to your balls, and you\’ll see what\’s comin
Chip Foose are you reading this , GMG /COUNTS CUSTOMS/ WC / GARAGE REBUILD / CAR FIX . This a worth while project
what a real shame thats a real nice good car that some one was a total dum ass who didnt care about some one pride and joy as well hard work im hoping they have a chance to put up a another for little guy and his dream again..
The sad part is: Unless a large connected shop steps in with funds and parts… That car will take years. That’s assuming the Grandfather and father are ready to jump in and get going now.
My First paying job was shop slave.. er assistant/apprentice in a Auto body shop that did mostly restoration work. Some things have sped up 10 fold since then like getting parts. A lot let having to hunt down stuff. Especially for a car like that. Still even in a shop it can take a long time.
I am going to say that body needs to be ‘dipped’ in a chemical bath not sand blasted. Then see if the metal is savable. Use a donor car for structure of needed. then build everything up from the wheels up.
You should be able to park a car over night in a driveway or on the street and have it be fine. Even with out the whole backstory the fact that some POS light up someone’s car makes my blood boil.
Back when I was 17 some idiot woman when and light her husbands new G/F’s car on fire. Her kids were in the house. He had a car under a cover and his daily driver in the garage. Idiot woman’s car caught fire, the house caught fire. Thankful the two cars in the garage didn’t catch, everyone made it out. As you know when your 17 and you see smoke 4 miles away in the direct of your home, you book it towards the smoke to make sure it aint your home. We stood and watched the firemen, watched the police arrest someone then got the story later from the Officer that lived next to me.
How can we reach the family? I just finished up restoration on a 1973 for my son. Replaced the entire front end to be able to put chrome bumpers on it. I have 4 totes full of new and used parts I would donate to the build. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
How can I contact the family. I just restored a 1973 for my son two years ago. I have 4 totes full+ of new and used parts I’m willing to donate. Any ideas?