In the largest promotional campaign the world has ever seen, Ford Motor Company under the direction of Lee Iacocca, unveiled the new Ford Mustang automobile to the public on April 17, 1964. The site chosen was that of the “1964 Worlds Fair” in Flushing Meadow Park in the borough of Queens which is geographically a part of Long Island.

 

The Mustang was an instant hit and sales of the car kept every Ford plant running at full capacity. Through the years these cars remained popular because of their distinctive styling, performance and economy of ownership. In time Mustang owners developed an attachment to their cars that was remarkable. In the late 1970’s, clubs were formed as a way owners could share information and help each other keep their prized Mustangs in top shape. The Mustang Club of America was the national club.

 

Long Island saw its first Mustang club form in late 1982 officially recognized as “The Long Island Mustang Owners Club” (LIMOC). Frank McIntyre was President and Pat Zito was Vice President. Others in attendance were Brian Brodrick, Philip Brodrick, Janet Lowry, Fred Keller, Trudy and David Montalbano. The meetings were held at Salisbury Restaurant at Eisenhower Park in Nassau County. The first club cruise was to Sagamore Hill in 1983. The club had its annual show at Eisenhower Park just south of the museum.

 

In the late eighties the meetings were moved to “Muffins” on Hempstead Turnpike in Farmingdale.

 

In November of 1985 Jim Smart, Senior editor of Mustang Monthly magazine wrote a very nice detailed story about the club entitled “Mustangs of the Big Apple”. His seven page article gives a nice history of the club which includes photos of several member’s cars taken throughout New York City.

 

A name change took place in the late eighties due to the ever growing presence of Shelby’s in the club. To reflect this change the club became “Long Island Mustang & Shelby Owners Club (LIMSOC). The members of this newly “rebranded” club wanted to be affiliated with the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC). The big show of this period was held at McCarville Ford on Middle Country Road in Centereach, Suffolk County. This very popular show was held for 25 consecutive years and was discontinued in 2008 when the dealership closed its doors.

 

The late eighties saw additional changes when Trudy Montalbano broke away from the club and formed the “Classic Mustang Club—L.I. Region MCA” which was charted in February 1987 as a regional MCA club. One of the earliest shows was held at Sayville Ford on Sunrise Highway in Sayville, Suffolk County.

The first meeting was held in Marjorie Post Park in Massapequa, Nassau County. Trudy Montalbano was President. Others in attendance were Bob DiGiamo John Dettori, Roger DeCurzio, Paul D’Alessio, Gene Kennedy, Scott Levy and Perry Los Kamp.

 

In October of 1993 club members traveled to the site of the ‘64-’65 New York Worlds Fair for a photo op at the Unisphere as Ford Motor Company unveiled the new 1994 Mustang.

 

By 1998 Phil Saglimbene was president of LIMSOC.

 

By the year 2000 Perry Los Kamp became President of the Classic Mustang Club and was assisted by Carl Vosen, Rob Crespolini and Rick Wertz. Records indicate that in 2004 Perry Los Kamp was President, Rick Wertz was Vice President Nancy Barker was Treasurer and Tony Connelli was Secretary. By mid 2004 Rich Carlsen took over as Secretary.

 

In 2004 the Classic Mustang Club cruised to the Unisphere in Flushing Meadow Park to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Mustang’s debut where we were joined by tri-state Mustang clubs on the 40th anniversary “Pony Cruise”. Ford Motor Company took this opportunity to introduce the “retro” 2005 Mustang.

 

In 2006 Classic Mustang merged with LIMSOC to form a new club with the MCA charter, thus the Mustang & Shelby Club of Long Island (MSCLI) was founded. The officers were Perry Los Kamp as President, Rick Wertz and Mike Basile, Vice Presidents, Nancy Barker Treasurer and Rich Carlsen as Secretary. Shortly after the merger, Carl Vosen replaced Perry as President. The club decided to have two monthly meetings; the business meeting at Marjorie Post Park and a dinner meeting at the Hauppauge Palace Diner on Route 347 in Hauppauge, Suffolk County.

 

MSCLI celebrated it’s fifth anniversary by hosting an MCA National Show in June 2011 (Mustangs at the Beach) at the SandsPoint Preserve in Port Washington, N.Y. This was the first National MCA show in New York State.

 

Revised April 2015



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