Then and Now

The same Mustang. Nearly fifty years apart.

The photographs on this page span nearly fifty years, two homes, and many chapters of life. Along the way, certain cars became markers of those experiences—connecting family memories, changing neighborhoods, careers, travels, and the people who shared them.

The Mustang remains an important thread in that story, but it is not the whole story. What began as a restoration project gradually became a broader appreciation for design, craftsmanship, beautiful places, and the experiences that shape who we become.

The posts collected here explore those connections. Some focus on automobiles. Others branch into related memories, places, and ideas. Together they form an ongoing “Auto-Biography” —a personal journey told through cars, places, and life experiences.

1966 Ford Mustang Before and After
1966 Ford Mustang Before and After

Then and Now

The photographs on this page span nearly fifty years, two homes, and many chapters of life. Along the way, certain cars became markers of those experiences—connecting family memories, changing neighborhoods, careers, travels, and the people who shared them.

The Mustang remains an important thread in that story, but it is not the whole story. What began as a restoration project gradually became a broader appreciation for design, craftsmanship, beautiful places, and the experiences that shape who we become.

The posts collected here explore those connections. Some focus on automobiles. Others branch into related memories, places, and ideas. Together they form an ongoing “Auto-Biography” —a personal journey told through cars, places, and life experiences.

The same Mustang. Nearly fifty years apart.

Beyond the Car

From Restoration to Reflection

Over time, the Mustang became more than a project to complete. It turned into a way of thinking about design, memory, preservation, and the value of work done with care. The posts below pick up that thread, connecting the car itself to the broader ideas it came to represent.

Not Just For Show
Design, News John Hedrick Design, News John Hedrick

Not Just For Show

This pic of my “66 Mustang Convertible from summer car shows remind me how enduring design still attracts and connects people. And I’m noting how my hobby interest relates to and inspires professional involvement with streetscapes and civic spaces. Whether local car show, Municipal Design Review Network event, or Scenic Illinois advocacy, design engages people, links generations, and reflects what we value.

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