Owner: Wade Hamstra.
Occupation: Business manager.
Age: 24.
Ride: 2001 Ford Mustang GT.
Back story:
Hamstra has a 2001 Mustang GT. His friend Michael Champlin, 24, owns a 1996 Mustang GT. Champlin's wife, Lynne, drives a 1998 Mustang.
"We wake up the neighborhood," Hamstra said.
Hamstra's sleek black and white GT was bought after he found it on AutoTrader.com, a research tool for new and used cars.
He bought it for $15,000 from a seller in the Phoenix area. He keeps it clean and its odometer low: 27,000 miles. Hamstra also owns a supercharged Ford F-150 truck as a daily driver.
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"It's my play toy," he said of the GT.
The experience: The engine is perfectly polished and has a loud, grumbling idle. No wonder he's keeping neighbors awake. There's a black interior, dual exhaust and a 4.6-liter V-8 engine. The car also has an authentic Saleen body kit and wheels.
Hamstra says he does all the maintenance and upkeep on the car. He plans to take it to Colorado in June for the Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup car show and autocross event.
Chevys are cool, too: Despite his perceived Ford bias, Hamstra says he has no ill will toward Chevrolet. He just prefers some of Ford's designs.
No racing: Despite his license-plate frame — which reads "Have you chased a Saleen lately?" — Hamstra said he doesn't find that many people who want to try to race. Well, not anyone "I didn't know," he said.
Pride: Hamstra said he always has liked muscle cars, and he's glad to finally have one he could afford on his own. He's had it in various car shows with the Southern Arizona Mustang Club, which claims to be the world's oldest Mustang club.
The club will present its Fords on Fourth car show on North Fourth Avenue from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 15 All proceeds will go to the Blake Foundation. For more information or to register, go to southernarizonamustangclub.org.
– Kevin W. Smith
• 330 horsepower.
• Bassani exhaust.
• Sticker indicating UA alumnus.
Tell us why your ride is Especially Awesome
Show off your ride. We don't care if you own the biggest rust bucket on the planet or the sleekest, most tricked-out Mitsubishi; if you're proud of it, tell us why. E-mail your entries and pictures (if possible) to ksmith@azstarnet.com.
