Normally for our regular Lot Shots vehicle features, we typically focus on the car or truck’s specifications, modifications, and performance.
But for this 1966 Mustang, there’s a lot more to the story than its stunning “Playmate Pink” paintjob—so much so, that the Summit Racing video folks got out their cameras to roll the proverbial tape.
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Story Summary Overview:
- 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible restored by a sight-impaired father for his daughter
- Car spotted in Summit Racing Retail Store, located outside Akron, Ohio
- Finished in a rare Playboy Playmate Pink paint job
- Car is driven regularly in hopes of inspiring future generations of gearheads
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Admittedly it was easy to spot this classic Ford as it rumbled into the Tallmadge, Ohio Summit Racing retail store parking lot a while back—but once the cameras started rolling, we knew this was a bigger story worth sharing.
Check out our interview with its owner, Lucia Martuccio, in the video at the bottom of this article and we’ll include some snippets from the conversation below as well.
How’d You Get Into Classic Cars?
“It goes back to the 1970s, really. My Dad was in an industrial accident at work, and it left him visually impaired—he couldn’t work, so he decided to start restoring a car, a 1965 Fastback.
“I was about four years old when my Dad brought home that shell, and I would go out in the garage with him. So I really got my start—the earliest I can remember is being out in the garage with my Dad.
“It’s also how I learned how to read. This was the 80s, before the internet, my Dad would give me the newspaper, and I would read the classifieds to him when he was looking for parts.”
How Did This 1966 Convertible Enter The Discussion?
“For years, I had told my Dad that I wanted my own Mustang one day—and it had to be pink.
“That first ’65 fastback was finished in the late 80s, and in the early 90s, he started restoring a ’64 Falcon. My uncle, his brother, owns that car now.
“Then in 2008, he came home with this Mustang—I though for sure the car was going to be for his grandkids.
“He came up to me, out of nowhere, and asked ‘Do you still want it pink?'”
Explain the Playboy Connection.
“When Ford came out with the Mustang, Hugh Hefner gave his Playmate of the Year, Donna Michelle, a Mustang, and it was pink. So the next few years, Ford had pink Mustangs—but they were different shades of pink, and they were custom order only.
“I believe it was under 100 that were done.”
“There’s a dusty rose color, there are some other pink shades, but this one though, is Playmate Pink. This was the pink that I wanted when I was a little kid, so this is the one that I got.”
What Did You Learn During the Restoration?
“Oh my gosh, so much I could cry.
“The biggest thing is really overcoming [adversity]. If you think you can’t do it, just try.
“I can’t imagine what it was like for my dad. He was 33 years old when he lost his vision. There were four young children, one on the way—I can’t imagine what it’s like to never be able to see the beauty of all of this. He’s never actually seen me, because I was born after the accident.
“He really overcame these challenges, because if I did something like that, my first thing would be, ‘Who can come and help me?
“His approach was always about doing it himself and never asking for help unless he absolutely needed it.”
What’s it Like Driving This Pink Mustang?
“I can’t get into a show and even clean off my car before I’m crowded. And it’s a lot of fun because of the history of my Dad overcoming all these challenges that he had.
“So I enjoy telling the story.
“But it’s a lot of fun—when I go to shows or really anywhere with the car and there’s a young girl especially and she’s pulling on her mom and dad, and wants to see the car. I absolutely let them take pictures with it. Sometimes I put them in the driver’s seat.
“To me, that’s the whole beauty of it. I would like to give somebody a chance to do something that I enjoyed when I was a kid.”
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