InstaGRAM Report: Mustang fever at the Gold Coast Cruisers Car Show
All three of Howard Kroplick's Mustangs attended the Gold Coast Cruisers car show on Sunday, June 29, 2025 in the beautiful Morgan Memorial Park, Glen Cove, Long Island. This post showcases highlights from the car show.
This past Sunday, all three Mustangs owned by Howard Kroplick were showcased front and center at the entrance to the Gold Coast Cruisers Car Show. Howard's Mustang stable is comprised of the iconic 1963 prototype Mustang III, (nick named Shorty), A 1966 Shelby GT350-H and the 2006 Shelby Mustang Hertz. We drove all three Mustangs to the show and each one enjoyed the scenic drive over to the car show.
In this post I will share some quick fun facts about each of Howard's Mustangs and showcase the hot rods and mustangs that got my attention while walking the show field.
Photos and article by Gram Spina.
Camera equipment: Nikon Z5 with 50mm lens with a Polarizer filter and flash.
Gram Spina
Howard Kroplick Mustangs
The Kroplick family enjoying the car show.
1963 Ford Mustang III Prototype
The Mustang III is the ninth pre-production Mustang built and considered the oldest Mustang on the road today since the other 8 pre-production sister Mustangs got crushed by Ford once they finished the early rounds of promoting the then new Ford Mustang. The Mustang III is the only known Mustang to have a S-code VIN.
Profile: 1963 Mustang III Concept Show Car
Chassis: VIN # 5S08F100009
-From August to December 1963 Ford built 15 pre-production pilot Mustang chassis to establish assembly procedures, to determine engineering revisions necessary for future production at Ford’s Dearborn Assembly Plant and to create concept show cars.
-These 15 Mustang pilot units with S-code VINs were built at the Allen Park Pilot Plant prior to the first assembly of production Mustangs which began in early 1964. After their use, all Mustangs with S-code VINs were scheduled to be destroyed since they were not built for the road.
-This automobile was the ninth pre-production Mustang ever built. The first eight S-code Mustangs have been destroyed or their existence are unknown.
-It is the only known existing Mustang with an S-code VIN and according to Mustang historian Bob Fria, it is likely “the oldest known Mustang on the road today.”
Decoding the VIN #5S08F100009
-Assembly Plant 5S: 1965 model built in Allen Park Pilot Plant
-Body Code 08: Convertible
-Engine Code F: V8 260 CID 2-barrel carburetor
-Unit 100009: #9 of the 15 pre-production Allen Point Pilot Plant chassis
In 1965, it toured the Ford Custom Car Caravan as the Mustang III. Fearing his masterpiece was to be destroyed when the Caravan ended, it was stolen by Dearborn Steel Tubing designer Vincent Gardner in May 1965 and recovered by Detroit police in December 1965.
Detroit News and Detroit Free Press (1965): The Recovery of the Stolen Mustang III
Under the hood, the original Mustang 260 cubic –inch V-8 engine was bored to 302 cubic-inches with 300+HP and equipped with a trio of two-barrel carburetors.
The Mustang III gets a lot of attention, thanks to its one of a kind styling and history.
1966 Shelby Mustang GT-350H
Howard's very first collectible automobile was this 1966 Shelby Mustang GT-350H Hertz Rent-A-Racer that he purchased in 2003.
This Shelby is number 475 in the Hertz rent-a-racer program. Back when Hertz had these as rental cars, you could rent one out for $17 a day and 17 cents per mile.
Under the hood is a 289ci V8 making around 306 hp
Back in 2005 Howard got the sun visor signed by Carroll Shelby while at Lime Rock Race Track.
2007 Shelby Hertz Mustang
In 2007 Hertz had a craving for some Shelby Mustangs to be available to rent out just like how they did back in 1966. As a result, the partnered up with Shelby to do it all over again in the then brand new Shelby Mustangs.
This Mustang GT-H of Howard's is a modern classic.
Other Mustangs
The following is a selection of some of the other Mustangs that got my attention while taking photos during Sunday's show.
1970 Boss 302
2007 Shelby Mustang on drag slicks
2019 Shelby GT350
1966 Mustang Coupe
1970 Mustang Mach 1
1966 Mustang convertible
And now, Lets shift gears and take a look at some of the hot rods that attend the car show.
Hot Rods
A pair of slick hopped-up Fords.
This 1934 Ford is a proper east-coast style hot rod. The body is channeled over the frame while retaining a un-chopped roof line. A 1932 Ford grill shell has been installed as well.
Street Rod 1932 Ford Roadster
This 1938 Ford humpback may have the looks of being a bone stock Ford. But look closer and you can see its riding on modern tires, has a modern interior and If I remember correctly is powered by a small block Chevy.
This 1935 Ford has been given the Kustom treatment with a chopped top, modified grill bars that now stretches all the way back to the of the hood sides, Cadillac hubcaps, and modified bumpers front and rear.
The closer you look, the more you see - like how I just noticed all door handles have been shaved smooth.
While I assume this Ford has been customized recently, it takes inspiration from the likes of hot rod icons like Gene Winfield and Sam Barris
Other than Howard's 1963 Mustang III, this tastefully customized 1936 Ford was my favorite at the Gold Coast Cruisers car show.
Why? Well its exactly how I would build it. From the well thought out hood louvers.
It has that perfect blend of stock and custom details.
And a great interior
Among all the Mustangs and Hot Rods. There was all types of amazing looking rides in attendance. Lets take a quick look.
Gold Coast Cruisers own Don Figliozzi's (Figgie) 1970 Camaro built to dominate the autocross and car shows.
Resto-mod Ford Falcon
1971 Chevy Chevelle
1956 Mercury Convertible
1972 AMC Javelin
1949 Pontiac Resto-mod
A Harlequin VW Polo
Pro-Street Dodge Dart
Pro-Street Cuda'
And to wrap up the car show highlights a 1964 Ford Thunderbird.
Not a bad way to spend a Sunday!
Comments
Always fun to see an InstaGRAM article. Lots of great cars at the show. Thanks for letting me be there without spending a day in the hot sun.
Quite simply… Proud Dad here. Gram has been going to car shows with me since he was 4 years old. His observations have always been amazing. And the same goes for his photos. There’s always a camera ready to create some auto art. Well done Son.