My 1966 Ford Mustang fastback

Australian wheelchair tennis champion David Hall's blue 1966 Ford Mustang fastback fits the bill. Hall, who won gold in the men's singles at the Sydney Paralympics and became the first non-American to win the US Open in 1995, fell in love with Mustangs after a trip to the US many years ago. When this particular Mustang became available in 1999 he was quick to snap it up. But life as a Mustang driver came with a shock.

"My previous car was a four-cylinder Ford Laser hatchback. It was like the lawn-bowlers' car of choice," says Hall.

Getting to grips with the V8 Mustang was a steep learning curve.  "The power was quite a challenge. It took some time to get used to. Particularly out on the open road. It can get away from you."

Hall suffered serious injuries through a car accident when he was 16 and needed hand controls fitted to the Mustang to drive it.

"I bought it in 1999 and just because I was travelling so much over the next six years with tennis I drove it only one or two times a week. But after I finished with tennis I use it now as a daily driver."

The Mustang was imported from California in an ordinary condition. Hall said the car's then-owner Dennis Griggs stripped the car back to bare metal to begin a ground-up restoration that included converting it to right hand drive. A crash repair shop in Sydney that undertaken similiar work on other Mustangs did the work.

He says Griggs used many of the original parts and had the car's paint job done in the car's original striking blue colour, officially known as Tahoe Torquoise by Ford. Now it's a striking sight on the streets.

"It still blows me away, the reaction it gets on the street. People wave and give me the thumbs up. It is such an icon."

Others remind him of the 1960s movie Bullitt, that featured a Mustang and a Charger in what many consider the best film car chase ever. Apart from the hand controls Hall has also been gradually changing the car to give it an even sportier feel. That's included changing the wheels, pipes and mufflers. "I wanted to put my own personality on it."

Hall paid $28,00 for the car in 1999 and says it is worth much more now.

"I think the fastbacks are a little bit rarer than the coupes. They are getting a little bit harder to find now." He estimates a fastback in excellent condition is worth up to $45,000.

Hall played top level wheelchair tennis from 1990 to 2005 and is regarded as one of the game's greatest players. While he rates his gold medal in the Sydney 2000 Olympics as the highlight he also won nine Australian Opens, eight US Opens and seven British Open tournaments. He has been world champion six times and led Australia to the world team cup title four times. He also received the Order of Australia medal back in 2000.

After retiring he was approached by Tennis Australia to take on the role as the National Wheelchair Tennis Adviser. This is a combination of coaching, spreading the word about his sport and encouraging others to take up wheelchair tennis. Hall says the game was invaluable in helping him recover from the physical and mental stresses he suffered from his injury.

"I think sport can be a great heeler. Tennis ended up being something I could pour all my energies into while I was recovering." And now his great passion is slipping behind the wheel of his immaculate blue Mustang with its 289 cubic inch four-barrel Holley V8 engine.