Photography courtesy Marissa Burckhardt.
This feature article first ran in the winter 2023 issue of Autostrada Magazine.
A first car is a significant mile marker on the journey of life. Like the bike or skateboard that preceded it, a car makes the world more accessible. It provides convenience and independence, the ability to pick up and go as far as a tank of gas permits. Mundane, exotic, problem-free or downright troublesome – everyone remembers their first car.
Enthusiasts tend to remember these vehicles in more detail because the make and model often isn’t random. They are vehicles that at one point became, and remained, significant. A local hot rodder, a magazine clipping, a poster on the wall – that’s often all that’s needed to make a car become ‘the one’.
Marissa Burckhardt grew up in a family of classic cars. These cars didn’t start off classics, and none were particularly modified, but each was well kept and driven. The idea of keeping miles off the car for the next owner was entirely unheard of. In addition to driving what he owned, Marissa’s father enjoyed drag racing and Good Guys events and took Marissa to watch whenever possible.
Before becoming a licensed driver, Marissa was passionate about horses and would ride them often when visiting family in Washington State. She became quite the equestrian, earning a 4H senior Golden Belt Buckle. She particularly enjoyed the process of bonding with the horses. Forming a connection with a horse requires hard work and dedication. It’s a process that isn’t for everyone, but those that persevere may be rewarded with a deep connection to the animal. Marissa’s ability to dedicate herself to connecting with a horse was perhaps a bit of foreshadowing into her future as a Mustang owner. And what’s more, the only other vehicle she’s take on as a project is a classic Ford Bronco.
Marissa’s mother had a white 1965 Mustang and often shared stories about that car when prompted. The car predated Marissa entirely, but she ended up finding her own first-generation Mustang by chance. One she dreamt of sat a few blocks from her house, and one day she mentioned wanting it to her friend in passing conversation. That friend happened to know of a 1966 model that was for sale. It hadn’t been driven in a few years, but it was complete.
Marissa and her grandfather inspected the car and everything she’d been told was true. Surrounded by tall grass and clearly neglected, the mere sight of the car might have caused some to walk away, but after some fresh gas down the carburetor and a new battery, the Mustang roared to life. Marissa didn’t know much about cars then, but she knew the motor starting with such ease was a good sign. The Mustang would serve just fine as a high school graduation present to herself.
Soft in all the usual areas, the Mustang became a family project. Marissa and her father tackled the most pressing rust fixes, before refreshing the inline six and ensuring the suspension and brakes were sound.
After living with less-than-perfect bodywork, Marissa’s father and a friend tackled the job of repainting the car. They then revealed their finished product to Marissa with a bow. This would be one of the three times the Mustang would be repainted. As Marissa daily driver, the Mustang has seen a few bumps and bruises along the way. It’s always kicked back thanks to a few touch-up paint jobs. The last job saw a custom sparkly blue sprayed and a GT rear valance added.
As a young woman owning and daily-driving a 1966, Marissa tends to stand out. While living on her college campus she was known as the “loud mustang girl”. People often don’t think the car is hers something she has always taken in stride. The “is that your dad’s car?” comments can become tiring, but the car has introduced her to a very close set of friends.
The California group consists of people from all walks of life, each connected by a love of cars. The group goes to shows on occasion but tends to prefer road trips. “I don’t know what my life would look like without this car,” Marissa says, explaining how the car has opened the door to some incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Through the power of social media, for example, Ford CEO Jim Farley reached out and offered her flight and accommodation to Detroit for the Mustang Stampede and the reveal of the 2024 model.
Farley realized that Marissa’s passion for Mustangs is infectious. She speaks about the cars with knowledge and confidence beyond her years. It was no surprise to learn that she’s since done several invite-only Ford events. These gatherings have allowed her to meet some of the key people behind the current Ford Mustang brand. Through these connections, she’s found herself behind the wheel of many Ford press cars to learn firsthand just how much the brand has evolved.
Marissa’s car has also evolved in the eight years she has owned it. It now has 5-lug suspension, an eight-inch rear end and disc brakes. The ride height has been brought down just a bit via lowering springs and blocks, and the inline six has been replaced with a 1991 5.0 Ford V8 with aluminum heads.
Like her parents, Marissa values the enjoyment of her car over preservation. She does care for the Mustang immensely, but she also enjoys it how she sees fit. If you happen to catch her not in the driver’s seat, chances are she’ll be seated on the front fender. Perched on the sheet metal, she’s always willing to chat with anyone who stops by, including those who might criticize her for the “damage” she’s doing by leaning on the car’s exterior elements. Marissa’s upbeat attitude and sense of humour shine through online as well, where, partially in response to people’s shock that she’d sit on her car, she posts under the Instagram handle @sitonyourclassic. It’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it’s also an account designed to encourage people to cherish their cars in whichever way they see fit.
“I plan to own this car forever,” says Marissa, admitting that she has perhaps over-invested in the car. Thankfully you can’t put a dollar value on pursuits of the heart. While some people might one day move on from their first car or look back on it as a punchline to one of life’s many jokes, Marissa has her first car to thank for changing her life.
Just a girl and her car headed off into the California sunset. What more could one ask for?
