DEARBORN, Mich. - Many enthusiasts can trace their devotion to a certain vehicle all the way back to their youth. Often, it’s a “love-at-first-sight” kind of relationship that stays with them for the rest of their lives. That’s exactly the case with John A. Smith from Statesboro, Georgia. Read John’s email to us below to find out how seeing a 1967 Mustang Fastback at church as an 11-year-old had turned him into the devoted owner of a ’67 S-Code GT Fastback today:

“Hello, Ford Performance. My name is John Smith. I have been a ’67 Mustang Fastback fan ever since I saw one at church back in 1976. I was just 11 then. I started saving my money at age 14 and in 1983 I bought my first car . . . and I have had it ever since.

“It was the first ‘S’ code Mustang I ever remember seeing. I had read about them in magazines but never saw one in person. I thought they existed only in a make-believe world somewhere.

“When I went to buy it, I pulled up and saw the Mustang Fastback under a shelter I slowly walked around it and when I got to the back of the car, I saw the ‘GT’ letters on the gas cap. My friend who was with me then rushed around to the front and opened the hood. As I stood there looking at the gas cap I asked him, ‘What motor is in it?’ When he said, ‘It’s a 390!’ it took my breath away. And it was actually for sale! I paid the asking price of $1,500 and drove it home.

“The rest, as they say, is history. Now 35 years later, my wife and I did a full resto on the Mustang and much enjoy our weekend rides in it. I painted it blue in high school, but went back to its original Black during the restoration. The Marti Report says my car is a one-off 1967 Mustang Fastback. What makes it a 1-of-1 is that it came with everything – including a tilt steering wheel, low fuel indicator light, and even A/C.

“Although I’ve never entered it in a car show, it sure gets a lot of attention at the gas pump. Thanks for considering my Mustang to appear in your Ford Fan Spotlight!”

How YOU can Get In The Spotlight: For several years now, one of the most popular features on FordPerformance.com and in our Fast News e-newsletter continues to be "Ford Fan Spotlight," where readers can send in their own reasons why they're fans of Ford Motor Company. You know who they are: Ford "superfans;" grassroots Ford racers; unique Ford vehicle owners; loyal Ford enthusiasts; notable Ford club people; special Ford families; and/or any avid supporter of Ford, Ford vehicles, Ford motorsports or Ford Performance who deserves a little bit of special recognition.

All you need to do to get you, your car or candidate considered is to send in a brief description (200-500 words or less) and a few photos (in .jpeg format, preferably 300 dpi) of a person (full name and hometown, please) and vehicle that you think Ford Performance should feature (and why) in the "Ford Fan Spotlight" for an upcoming installment of Fast News and posting on FordPerformance.com. Then email it to: ClubHub@Ford.com. Should you wish to send a video, you simply need to post it on www.YouTube.com (preferably 1-2 minutes long) and send in the link, along with a brief description, to that same ClubHub@Ford.com email address. We'll choose one submission each week.