Marty McCorquadale, from Wendell, North Carolina, near Raleigh, was a Ford enthusiast his entire life. He was an autobody specialist at multiple Ford dealerships and hot rod shops, as well as an Army veteran. He was a lifelong Ford fanatic -- from a family of Ford fanatics -- whose love of the Blue Oval rubbed off and inspired others. Marty was an easygoing guy that everybody enjoyed having around. In 1987 he traded a 1932 Model A truck cab – on the same day he moved his entire life to North Carolina – for a heavily chopped and heavily rusted-out 1931 Ford Model A coupe shell. He spent the next 30-plus years, as time and money allowed, working in his garage on the car in addition to collecting classic Ford memorabilia and other automotive-themed antiques. Sadly, Marty passed away from cancer in 2020 at just 64 years old, with the car needing only minor work to finish the restoration. His beloved wife of 40 years, Terri, recently had the restoration completed – wiring, brakes and interior – and has since driven the car to honor Marty’s memory:

“I did it for him,” Terri said. “And every time I ride in it, I think of him. … I’m glad I was able to finish it for him and when I go down the road, I think of him he’s right there with me.”  

Marty also owned other notable Fords in his lifetime, all of which he still owned until is passing: A 1975 F-100 that he bought new (to replace the first one he purchased which was subsequently stolen from the Fort Bragg Army base almost as soon as he bought it); a 1993 Mustang, Marty’s daily driver, that originally had been a dealer loaner car (which racked up more than 300,000 miles over the 25-plus years of ownership); and a 1995 F-150 Ford SVT Lightning known locally as “White Lightning” that he also drove regularly until his passing. Long Island, N.Y. natives, Terri and Marty were high-school sweethearts. They got engaged before graduation and married while Marty was on leave from the Army.)  

“We were in love and we couldn’t stand to be apart from each other,” Terri said.  

While the couple won’t be able to take the Model A on cruises and car shows together as they had planned, the car will always serve as a testament to his loyalty to Ford and how his friends and family rallied to see his dream realized.

“When I go down the road and I floor it – he’s there with me,” Terri said. “It would mean a great deal to his loved ones if his story was featured in the Ford Fan Spotlight.”

Here’s How YOU Can Get In The Spotlight: For more than 15 years now, one of the most popular features on FordPerformance.com and in our weekly 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 and its vehicles. 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 around 1 mb in size) with the owner’s full name and hometown, please. Just tell us about the vehicle(s) and why you think Ford Performance should feature it (them) in the "Ford Fan Spotlight" for an upcoming installment of Fast News as well as for posting on FordPerformance.com. Then email it to: ClubHub@Ford.com with your contact info. Your submission allows us the rights to use your words and images (along with any edits) for editorial purposes; we’ll choose one submission in random order to post online. We hope to see YOU and your Ford in our Spotlight soon!