Make-A-Wish: Restored car given to mom in memory of daughter

Jennifer Ostrowski stood in Canepa Design on Thursday and watched the unveiling of a fully restored 1967 Ford Mustang, her daughter's wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Only Ostrowski's daughter, 18-year-old Briana Clarke of Santa Cruz, died in July from osteosarcoma, bone cancer in her left leg, and could not see her dream come true herself.

On Thursday, Ostrowski held her daughter's picture as the Canepa team pulled the cover off the car, painted in "Playboy Pink" at Briana's request.

"It was my dream car, and then it became her dream car," said Ostrowski, who was teary eyed as she thanked members of the Canepa team. "It just looks beautiful, absolutely beautiful."

The car was originally Ostrowski's project car when she bought it in 1998 for $500. She will keep it in memory of her daughter, a Santa Cruz High student who was set to begin school at UCSC last fall.

Briana was diagnosed with cancer in May 2007. Soon after, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening conditions, began working on her dream of having the Mustang restored.

Make-A-Wish volunteers Gene and Jan Corriden of Santa Cruz were in charge of making Briana's wish come true. They decided to make a call to Canepa Design.

"We got in touch with the Canepa people, and they said they would work on the project," Jan Corriden said.

When Bruce Canepa got the car, it was in pretty bad shape.

"The car was really shot," he said. "You could step through the floors, and you could put your arm through the quarter paneling. Everything was rusted out. ... We had to take the whole car apart and put it back together."

Canepa Design donated their facilities and funded the majority of the project. The employees also worked "off the clock" to get the project done.

After the news of her death reached the Canepa team, they resolved to finish the car in Briana's memory.

"It was shocking, and it was kind of a dose of reality, because we were all thinking we were going to get this done and give it to this girl, and then they call us up and tell us she's gone," Canepa said.

The employees enjoyed working on the car, he said.

"It was a labor of love," said Llew Kinst, Canepa Design director of marketing. "We couldn't stop. We couldn't leave it undone."

Canepa Design
Funding and facilities for the project provided by Canepa Design

Employees who donated their time and labor:

            Adam Johnson
            Brody Feuerhaken
            Chris Fultz
            Bob Saldana
            Javier Vega
            Ryan Thompson
            Leo Lopez
            Johnny Gonzales
            Mike Andrews
            Mike Montes

Lettering Donated By:
Ralph Newman, Real Ralph Pinstriping
(831) 338 2948

Interior installation donated by:
Stuart Tifft, Stuz Art Upholstery
916-955-8008

Paint materials donated by:
Auto Villa
505 Abbott Street
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 424-0987

Restoration parts supplied at cost by:
Mustangs Plus
2353 N. Wilson Way
Stockton, CA 95205
209 994 9977

Mustang Project Outline

Body and Paint
            New Floors
            New Front and Back “Splash Pans”
            New left 1/4 panel
            Complete Repaint in “Playboy” Pink
            All New Chrome Trim
            New Chrome Bumpers
            New Rubber Seals
            New Emblems
            New Chrome Hub Caps
Interior
            New Headliner
            New Seat Upholstery
            New Door Panels
            New Package Tray
            New Seat Belts
            New Carpet
            New Steering Wheel

Mechanical
            Rebuild Power Steering System including steering box
            Adjust Brakes
Fix Parking Brake
Replace Front Brake Lines
            Restore Throttle Linkage

            QA Electrical System