John Slomczenski’s 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
Each and every Ford Mustang ever built has its own unique legacy that interests all collectors, even if it’s passed on from owner to owner. That’s precisely what John Slomczenski discovered after purchasing a 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra through a series of acquaintances. Better still, John also came to know and understand that Mustang ownership is best experienced and enhanced via membership in a Mustang club – as evidenced by his participation in the Mustang Owners Club of SouthEastern Michigan (MOCSEM). If you’ve ever doubted the power of club membership, simply read John’s Mustang Story:
“Hi, my name is John Slomczenski. My 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra was originally purchased by an acquaintance named Mel back in 1995 at the North Brothers Ford dealership in Garden City, Michigan. Mel had gone there with his wife, Linda, to “just look.” Mel was going thru chemo for his cancer and wanted to get his dream car to help him through his recovery.
“Mel stayed with us 10 years after that, and after his passing the car sat in Linda’s garage for two years before she decided that she would sell it to her sister-in-law Debbie, per Mel’s instructions. Unfortunately, Debbie got sick soon after and her husband, Tom, would not drive the car. Debbie wanted to sell it, but could not just get rid of the memory of Mel to just anyone.
“Fast-forward to Christmas 2014, when my brother-in-law, Rick, went over to (his sister) Debbie’s house for Christmas Eve. Rick was getting thirsty and went into the garage to get a beer, and there he saw the Cobra Mustang sitting there. Rick asked Debbie what the story was with the Mustang in her garage. Debbie had told him she wanted to sell it but could not get rid of it to just anybody because of the memories she had of Mel. It was then when Rick mentioned that his enthusiast brother-in-law, John (that’s me), might be interested in the SVT Cobra and that he’d let her know.
“Well, I loved Mustangs and could not wait to go see the SVT Cobra. When I arrived, I found a pristine 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra with less than 15,000 miles on it. How could I say no? Now I am the owner and I love this car as much as I believe Mel did when he bought it.
“The best thing I did after getting the car was joining my local club, the Mustang Owners Club of SouthEastern Michigan (MOCSEM). I have been blessed to go to some amazing club events and meet some of the best people around. For the 50th anniversary of the Mustang, Ford Motor Company put my car in its display at Mustang Alley for the Woodward Dream Cruise. After I sent pictures of it there to the previous owners, they called me to tell me that it was Mel’s dream to display that SVT Cobra at Mustang Alley.
“Being in MOCSEM has allowed me to meet so many amazing Mustang owners and Ford employees and do so many fun things with my Mustang that I feel I am lucky to belong to one of the best Mustang clubs in the world.”
(photo credit: Ford Performance)
