11/23/2009

Let me start by first stating that I have been employed by Ford Motor Company for almost 16 years as an electrical engineer. 14 of those years were spent in the Dearborn Engine Plant where I worked as a maintenance supervisor, a production planning specialist, and as a controls engineer. I moved on to our core engineering group in March 2007 and took a position as a lead controls engineer for new engine programs. Ironically I was placed on the new 5.0L mustang GT engine program! We are scheduled to launch this engine in February 2010 and it will be available in the 2011 mustangs. My father (who is retired from Ford now), as well as my Grandfather and my Great Grandfather all worked for Ford - So I'm a 4th generation employee to this fantastic coproration. I have an older brother who is also an engineer and works for Ford.

My passion for Mustang's began a long time ago - When I was 10 my father bought a brand new 1978 mustang II and I always liked going for rides in that car. He traded it in in 1983 for a new car - He regrets that now because within 6 months of trading it in my older brother got his license and needed a car - He says he should have kept it for him, ultimately I would have had that 78 and who knows where it would be now. Anyhow......

Anyhow, my dad had drweamed of a 65 mustang when they were introduced, but in 1966 my brother came into the world, in 1968 I followed so the dream of a sporty convertible was fading fast..
In 1971 my sister was born and although my father still drove very sporty rides, his 2nd mustang didn't come until 1989 when he bought a new 5.0L convertible.

That car was sold in 1993 and shortly after my dad gave me the task to find him a restored 65 or 66 convertible. I looked at lots of cars and finally looked at one that I knew would interest him - It was a 65 burgandy convertible, black interior and a 289 - He fell in love with it and purchased it in 1994.

Fast forward to 2006 - My brother's position at Ford allows him to bring test vehicles home on a daily basis - In sept of 2006 he called me and said he had a car that he knew I would want to check out - it was a 2007 White GT/CS 5 speed coupe with black/parchment interior. He drove it over and let me go for a ride - I was in love and after a few pictures of it I went in my house and told my wife I was going to order my new car in January. I researched every option, visited dealers to see options on vehicles, wheels, etc... Anyhow, in January I placed my order from Pat Miliken Ford in Redford Michigan. I was not in a big hurry for it to arrive because the weather in Michigan is cold but I wanted to have it for the spring. About a month went by and I heard nothing from the dealership, so when I inquired I was told that they had not issued a VIN as of yet so a build date was not scheduled either.

I was told that the wheels on the CS were in short wupply and that was pushing my order back. With that information, I looked up the plant manager at Auto Alliance in Flat Rock, which is like 10 minutes from my home. I sent her a note which turned into a chain of notes between us - I have attached them to this email for you.

I currently have 15,000 miles on her and she spends her nights and winters covered next to her grandmother (my 66 red convertible). So I have a stable with 2 generations of mustangs!