This should serve as a warning to all single guys who've got a long-term girlfriend. Those deals you make over a few drinks with your partner, you think were made in jest; might just mean you get precisely what you bargained for!
- Matt
The Deal - it all began so innocently...
After a surreal week in Las Vegas, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Mustang with fellow owners, enthusiasts and industry members; my (then) girlfriend and I were enjoying sipping a few cocktails and reflecting on the amazing week we’d had.
We’d seen some amazing cars, met some amazing people and even rubbed shoulders with a few of my own personal heroes: Parnelli Jones (racing driver and champion of the 1970 Trans-Am racing series), Rick Titus (former racing driver and son of Jerry Titus of 60’s Trans-Am fame), Gary Patterson (CEO of Shelby American and all around nice guy), Bob Fria (well renowned Mustang author and aficionado) and even Henry Ford III (Head of Marketing for Ford Performance) to name a few.
While talking I said to George, “You know, I’d really love to buy that Shelby” to which she replied “Which one?” somewhat referring me back to the fact that we’d seen more Shelby Mustangs, Cobras, Daytona Coupes and even a rare King Cobra this week to bare mentioning. “The black one…” I replied “…you know the 2013 Shelby GT500 in black, with satin black Le Mans stripes”. She smiled, knowing exactly the car to which I was referring and replied without a second of hesitation “So do it, buy one, when we get home start looking…” I was dumb founded but before my brain could start processing she added “…but if you do, you’ll have to marry me!”
Knowing fore-well it was very unlikely that I would ever be able to own the Shelby I’d fallen in love with, I naively replied with “You’re on…” probably allowing the alcohol get the better of me, thinking I'd be making the agreement in jest, or so I thought. We returned home to the not-so sunny UK and within a couple of weeks, we'd all but forgotten our trip to Las Vegas... Oh boy, was I about to be proven wrong!
I’d been closely following the development, launch and sale of the reinvented 2012/13 Mustang Boss 302. With a uniquely upgraded version of the Ford 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 engine producing 444hp, specially tuned and adjustable suspension developed at the track, quad exit exhaust with side-pipes, the Ford Racing Track Key calibration and a host of other unique performance features make the Boss 302 a future classic in the making. Not to mention a fantastic drivers car, but all accounts.
Having first seen the 2012 and 2013 Boss 302 models in the metal while in Las Vegas, my lust and desire to own one of these high-winding track focused beauties just grew and grew upon my return to the UK.
My first choice was a grabber blue 2013 example, with the Recaro seat and TORSEN differential options. I narrowly missed one in New York state, which would have been ideal, but it obviously was not to be. For several months I trawl US dealers and other online sites but none seemed to come up for sale. As such, my impatience started to get the better of me and I started looking at other colours.
Discussing with a friend, he shared an excellent photograph he’s snapped of a Gotta Have it Green 2013 Mustang GT on a dark wet UK motorway and it really stood out light a neon sign in the desert. That sealed it... I was going green!
I found a great car at Riata Ford in Manor, Texas. I shot an email out to the dealer an explained my plans. They were very helpful and gave me great confidence when deciding to take the plunge and wire my hard earned pennies over to them in the USA. When I told George that I’d pulled the trigger and send the wire transfer, she did nothing more than smile at me then quietly and then log onto her Facebook page and update her status to “Engaged”.
Within minutes, we had hundreds of people saying congratulations on our engagement, which took me by surprise. I said to George… "What’s all this about?" And she said… “Well… remember Las Vegas?” then smiled again. I knew exactly what she meant!
Unfortunately there was no arguing that I’d actually bought a Boss 302 and not the far more expensive 2013/14 Shelby GT500… but it was like trying to reason with the Borg… Resistance is futile!
D-Day - Woohoo...time to collect the new toy! - 5th September 2014
In short order the car was being collected and shipped via Galveston by the great guys at Golden Chariots. Within a few months, the car had landed in the UK and was collected from Southampton and converted to UK lighting regulations and passed through the IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval) test by my good friend Nick of Haes Concepts. I was like a school kid picking up a new toy on the day of collection, I was ready and eager to take on the 100 mile journey home.
Here it is, my 2013 Boss 302 in all of it's gob-smacking bright green glory... subtle it is not.
Year and Model info:
- Year = 2013
- Body = Coupe
- Model = BOSS 302, #2747
- Engine = 5.0L Ti-VCT "Road Runner" V8 (444HP @ 7400rpm, 380lb/ft @ 4500rpm)
- Transmission = Ford/Getrag MT82 6-speed manual
- Axle = Ford 8.8” 3.73 gear w/TORSEN T2 helical differential
- Paint = HD / Gotta Have it Green, Tri-coat metallic (1 of 784 built in GHIG)
I can't speak highly enough of Nick Haes and his work converting the car for UK lighting regulations, preparing it for the MOT, IVA test and registration in the UK.
Thanks also to Nathan the owner of Bright Light Customs who painstakingly de-soldered all of the red LEDs on the PCBs and soldered on new amber ones, to enable the directional indicators to operate as required by UK regulations.
TrackDay - Goodwood Motor Circuit - 8th May 2015
The lovely guys who run the local Hampshire TVR Car Club often put on track-days and other events for their members. Sometimes when arranging larger and more expensive events, they kindly ask other clubs (like the MOCGB and others) to join in and both bolster numbers and share costs. This helps to secure access to fantastic facilities like Goodwood along with an instructor to help you learn the track and hone your skills.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't get the opportunity to drive my car at the track on this occasion, as it turns out I'd actually be in Germany, driving the all new Euro spec S550 Mustang with the UK motoring press for two days. You can read more about that here.
Anyway, that didn't stop George from making the trip and joining up with some fellow UK based BOSS 302 owners and getting the chance to drive around the track on a parade lap and get some cool photos.
More to follow.
WeddingDay - The theme of the day is...Las Vegas baby! - 16th May 2015
More information being added soon.
TrackDay - Brands Hatch, Indy Circuit - 15th July 2015
Some cracking shots taken by Patrick Green in the pits garage before going out on track. Here's a great side-by-side with Ian Kirby's lovely SBY (School Bus Yellow) 2013 BOSS 302 Laguna Seca. Note the larger front air splitter and standard BOSS 302 grille on the SBY car, versus the Ford Racing BOSS 302S version installed
on my GHIG (Gotta Have It Green) BOSS 302.
Photos courtesy Pogpol ©2015
Another great pair of photos from Patrick which highlight the different BOSS 302 tape stripes on the BOSS 302 Laguna Seca (yellow) versus the standard Boss 302 (green). Note the Laguna Seca has grey stripes and no up and over stripe over the hood / bonnet. While the standard Boss 302 has satin black stripes that go across the cowl to meet the centre hood / bonnet stripe.
You can't see it in these pictures but the stripes are reflective.
Photos courtesy Pogpol ©2015
Photo courtesy Pogpol ©2015
Photo courtesy Pogpol ©2015
Photo courtesy Pogpol ©2015
Photo courtesy Pogpol ©2015
Photo courtesy Pogpol ©2015
MOCGB ShowDay - Ford Technical Centre, Dunton - 27th September 2015
It's a bit of a run to Essex from where I call home, but the sun was shining and the chance to visit the Ford Technical Centre at Dunton was one not to be missed. Especially we knew some fellow BOSS 302 owners would probably be coming along too.
We managed to get the BOSS's together for some photographs.
BOSS 302 Attendees:
- 2013 BOSS 302 GHIG #2747 (left)
- 2013 BOSS 302 SBY #0280 - There's some great photo's of #0280 on Ian's BOSS 302 site.
- 2013 BOSS 302 GHIG
- 2012 BOSS 302 Kona Blue
- 1970 BOSS 302 Grabber Blue
What a gathering!
TrackDay - Goodwood Motor Circuit - 4th November 2015
Another fantastic event arrange by the Hants TVRCC at Goodwood, but this time I would get to drive. More information to follow.