Since he was 16, he wanted a classic Mustang. Now this Toronto man has one, and a club to share it with - Toronto Star

Spencer Chow bought a 1966 Mustang named Maribelle and found a welcoming club in Durham Region.

Spencer Chow, 26, has owned his 1966 Mustang hardtop coupe, Maribelle, since 2025.

When other kids bought books at Scholastic books fairs in elementary school, Spencer Chow bought Lamborghini posters. His grandfather worked at a Ford dealership and gave him promotional materials, including those celebrating Mustangs. Chow dreamed of the day he’d own a car and enjoy the freedom that came with it. That didn’t happen until last year when the Toronto man was 24 — but his 1966 Ford Mustang hardtop coupe was worth the wait.

When I was in high school, I always wanted a cool first car and liked older classics. I was looking at Mustangs and Triumph Spitfires, which were a lot of fun and more affordable than Mustangs. I looked at Jeeps, as they were practical in winter, and I even looked at a military cargo deuce-and-a-half truck, but I didn’t know where I’d park that thing.

Chow’s girlfriend Rhiannon Selander behind the wheel.

I spent a lot of time browsing ads when I got my license, but at 16, I learned I’d have to be 25 to get classic car insurance. Those nine years seemed like an eternity. In February 2025, I started browsing Mustangs again. Insurance companies were looking at lower ages for classic car insurance, so it wasn’t a dream anymore. I had the money, I had insurance — the two things that had been holding me back.

I scoured online ads and I knew every single classic Mustang for sale in Ontario and all of their details. It was fun doing that research, but I didn’t have an automotive background. My parents weren’t into cars, and my grandfather’s knowledge was broader, about modern cars.

I joined the Durham Region Classic Mustang Club so I could learn more about old Mustangs. I’m the youngest in the club by several decades and I didn’t have a Mustang at the first meeting, but the people were friendly and excited to see a younger person interested in the hobby.

Membership director Demetri Vrantsidis and I hit it off immediately. He has been super generous with his time and knowledge. I also started chatting with Paul Hord, then president of the club, who has a 1966 Mustang coupe.

I’ve always leaned toward older stuff. I have different tastes than a lot of friends my age in music, movies, pop culture and cars, so I wanted a car from the ’60s. Demetri, Paul and other people in the club were interested in my journey and helping me find the right car.

Demetri and I looked at some, and then I found a Mustang in Welland that looked promising. I had a long list of questions for the seller, but he said it was sold and a guy was coming to pick it up. I was pretty disappointed.

The car has opened a whole new world to him, including car shows, and this year he was invited to participate in the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a prestigious car event on Georgian Bay that showcases the finest classic automobiles. 

A month later, its ad popped up again. The first buyer had decided it wasn’t for him. Demetri came with me to test-drive it. What I liked is it’s very stock looking. I love the history and I believe in keeping cars as original as possible. It has a 289-cubic-inch, 200-horsepower engine and an automatic transmission. I wasn’t interested in crazy horsepower, just a fun pony car to drive around.

The car was made on June 1, 1966, in San Jose and sent to an L.A. DSO (District Sales Office), so it was a true California car and in such great condition that it even had its original red factory primer in certain spots on the undercarriage. It had never seen a Canadian winter and had 50,300 km on it.

It’s Springtime Yellow with a black interior. It has air conditioning, which isn’t that common. It also has a California smog pump, which is a neat piece of history.

I’ve had it since June 2025, and it absolutely has lived up to my fantasy. Its name is Maribelle. My girlfriend, Rhiannon, has been incredibly supportive. She comes to car shows with me, she’s part of the club and she helps when I need an extra set of hands.

I grew up in North York and have always been a city kid, but the car and club opened the door to explore other parts of Ontario I haven’t before. It’s a beautiful province, with so much to see. I rediscovered my photography interest because of the Mustang, and I keep a journal and post Polaroids on the pages for every trip I take in it.

Much to Chow’s surprise, he won the 30 Under 30 class at Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a victory celebrated with his girlfriend Rhiannon Selander (left) and his Mustang mentors Demetri Vrantsidis and Paul Hord of the Durham Region Classic Mustang Club. 

I got invited to the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance in September. All cars were the pinnacle of their particular make and model. (Chow’s Mustang won the 30 Under 30 class). I participated in every experience there. The doors that this hobby, these people, have opened is amazing. It’s not about the brand or model, it’s sharing this passion with others.

With classic car insurance, the Mustang can’t be a daily driver. My primary car is my work vehicle. I have a heated shop where I can park the Mustang for the winter and work on it. Last year, Demetri and I completely redid the front suspension to make it safe. The only part that’s not original are the coilovers (a system that combines a coil spring directly over a shock absorber into a single unit). I don’t want to do any drilling or cutting, to keep the car original, just bolt-on, bolt-off. This winter, Demetri and I will work on a bolt-on disc-brake kit for safety.

Any drive in this car, whether it’s to work, a car show or picking someone up from the airport becomes a special event. I truly understand that it’s about the journey, not the destination. I exclusively listen to ’50s and ’60s music in the Mustang. It helps set the mood and is another fun part of driving a classic.

The world slows down and becomes a kinder, gentler place when I’m driving this car. People are more courteous, they smile, wave, give thumbs-ups. It makes me hopeful that in this age, which always seems so pessimistic, that people can still connect with one another.