Walter Mahnkan's 2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Walter Mahnkan of Ridgewood, New Jersey, shares his Mustang Story:
“My name is Walter Mahnkan, and my Mustang story goes way back to before I got my license. My neighbor worked for Ford in the Mahwah, New Jersey plant. His son, who had just graduated from high school, was able to purchase a leftover 1969 Boss 429. It was love at first sight for me! I worked all sorts of jobs to save money because that's what I wanted to buy.
“But by the time 1975 and my driver’s license came around, there were no Boss 429's to be had. When one appeared, it was so, so expensive (in the new-car territory of around $3k). So I settled on a '67 Mustang fastback 390/4-speed that I paid $215 for as my first car. It was awesome.
“But as the years passed and time went by, I always wanted one of those Boss 429's. Unfortunately, as each decade went by, the remorse that I didn't buy one in the earlier decade grew. The 429 was a milestone car. So powerful. So historical. So cool! And so pricey.
“My bucket list car was now out of reach but the desire for a special Mustang was not. Then in 2007, Ford SVT re-introduced the Mustang Shelby GT500. Power was up, and each year it kept going up. I began to think that if this trend continues, they'll reach a horsepower limit and maybe, just maybe, there would be another milestone moment in Mustang history.
“In 2012, Ford introduced the 2013 Shelby GT500, capable of reaching a top speed of 202mph! Now that's a milestone if I ever in my life saw one. So 14 months later and after some big favors had been pulled in, my special-order Ingot Silver with Sonic Blue stripes and a Glass Roof 2014 Shelby GT500 Mustang was delivered to Mahwah Ford.
“I did my own PDI and cataloged and saved every sticker, label and wrapper that came on the car from Ford Motor Company. After more than seven years of ownership the Shelby is still 100 percent original. I love it now even more than the day I took delivery.”
(photo credit: Ford Performance)
