Never saw this thread or I'd have posted my car. Some won't like it because it's a Mustang (I know, car show YouTube crash champion brand), but it's mine, and it comes with a great story on survival.
I work at a Ford dealer in sales. Been doing it for over 22 years (started at 20 and turn 43 tomorrow) at the same place. I was born with Ulcerative Colitis but it didn't become a problem until I was 16. Fast forward 8 years of pain, suffering, boatloads of meds that didn't work, I had J-Pouch surgery. This is where they remove my entire large intestine, gallbladder and appendix (do it while I'm open), I have a bag for a few months and then I go back for the reversal, removal of the bag and everything is "normal" (i.e. internal and no bag). Had part 1 done, waited a few months for pt 2 but a complication day of Pt 2 surgery. I was jaundice. Surgery held off while the jaundice went away. Had it done, but I turned yellow again that fall of '02. Liver specialist visit, biopsy, and meds. Cleared up and was good until summer '03. Jaundice again. Can't keep doing this. Eventually needed a liver transplant. Put on the list on September 2 2003 (my birthday) and on 10-7-2003 had the transplant (saved my life as I had 2 weeks to go). Eventually got better and was in great shape for a while (today I deal with Crohn's as it was that the whole time. I'm in worse shape internally now but a story for another day).
Circa 2005 and Ford releases the redesigned Mustang. Retro styling and it's a HUGE HIT! Every one I sell, I call the customers that year and ask them how they like it. Everyone says it changed their life. Gas stops last 20 minutes with everyone asking questions, etc. I decide to order myself one. So I did early August 2005 as a 2006.
These were still hard to get so I had to wait almost 6 months for my car but in late January it came in. It got in for PDI, inspection stickers, they added my exhaust and then off to the body shop for a week (I'll explain in a moment). Took it home Jan 30 2006 and that was surreal!! So many eyes were on me that night as NO ONE where I worked or lived had done Lemans stripes on a Mustang (let alone painted LeMans stripes). It was crazy. So many thumbs up, and waves. Sadly, the next day, it snowed 18" and it sat in the garage till spring (I don't drive it during winter when they salt the roads). But I bought the car as a gift to myself for surviving my ordeal. I always say, if you can do something nice for yourself, don't hesitate to do it as you may never get to do it later. I'm glad I did as I met my wife with my car. She had a Mustang as well and we met at a car show summer 2008 and our 1st date was Dec '08. We got engaged Dec '11 (same day) and married Dec '18 (though we were living together when we got engaged and bought a house in summer '12). If I didn't have this car, I never would have been in the area or at the show to meet her. Things happen for a reason, I truly believe that! I was meant to get the transplant, order the car and meet my wife (she is my angel, my rock my best friend). So this car is more than a car to me. It is me. Here's the pic I want to post (it's not a professional shot. Just one I took at a car show in 2008 with my old Fuji FinePix. I love this shot as it got me in 2 magazines readers rides sections).
2006 Mustang GT Premium. Vista Blue (love this color) black leather seats (would be changed in 2011) Mods are lengthy, but the jist is a 93 octane tune, Airaid CAI, American Racing Longtube headers, off/road H pipe, Borla Stingers, Shelby Wheels CS67 style, painted stripes in Ford Performance White, heritage side stripes, ducktail spoiler (car was ordered spoiler delete), Roush Stage 3 black/blue seats, Bullitt Mustang dash panel pieces (turned aluminum) center fog grill, among other things. It was my interpretation of what a 2005-2009 GT350 would have looked like had Ford made one. It has just over 45,000 miles on it and it's been a blast! Sorry for the long-winded story. But cars have stories, that is what makes them so great! Thanks for taking the time to read.
