If you’re reading this story, then it’s likely you’re an avid Mustang enthusiast. For most of us there’s often one car that sparks a certain passion for the hobby, and changes the way look at the cars. For Jay Zeigler it was a 1968 Mustang coupe, that he found languishing in someone’s front yard during the early 1980’s. Jay along with his friend Creed saw the potential in the car and bought it for $400. They tore the car apart and once they were finished the car garnered a lot of attention in their hometown.

The pair began to notice a demand for Mustang parts in their area and not long after began parting out Mustangs at Creed’s parents farm. Years later the two managed to eventually become distributors for some new Mustang parts as well and CJ Pony Parts was born, with Zeigler leaving his full time job to risk it all on pursuing his passion for Mustangs.

Zeigler still owns that ’68 coupe, aka CJ Pony One. This car is an original 302 car, with automatic transmission. The interior is stock, and the car was restored by the CJ shop a little over a decade ago.

Zeigler says no one really liked the car when he bought it, even after he spent four months working on it the first time. He drove it to high school his senior year, and then took his girlfriend to school daily in it after he graduated.

Zeigler says he doesn’t get to drive the car much anymore, it’s pretty much irreplaceable, though it was out earlier this summer. Most of the time the car can be found at the CJ Pony Parts headquarters in the showroom. Zeigler did hint that when his son starts driving he might (and he stressed might) get his turn behind the wheel.

Zeigler also hinted that the car may become a test bed for some new part installations, updating the car and testing new parts that CJ’s will be offering.

It’s amazing to think that this one car served as the inspiration for one of the largest Mustang parts distributors in the USA. It just goes to show, you never know where owning a Mustang will lead you.