WINNING PHOTO South Mountain, 8/24/10   

RPM Featured Member's Ride "FalconGTHO"
By RPM Member Alan Dale "FalconGTHO"

I got my 07 Grabber Orange GT on Tues, Feb 27th, 07 after the third try.  3rd try?  What do you mean?  Well, I originally ordered it on Oct 4, 06.  After arriving on Nov 1st I went to get it on the 15th.  It had the wrong wheels. I later figured out it was my fault, I gave the wrong order code.  I mistook the new for 07 fan blades code for the new in 06 polished Bullitts code, which were what I wanted.  So another was ordered that day.

Due to 3 weeks of plant shut down for the winter holidays that one didn't arrive till Jan 11th, 07. However, I had rebates that expired on Jan 2nd, so I closed the sale then. Registration, loan approval, etc. I "owned" a car that wasn't even present yet.  I drove off happy, right wheels included, on Thurs the 11th.

The following Monday, while showing one of my bosses the car, I discovered I didn't have the Shaker 500 I wanted.  It wasn't on the sticker so it wasn't a misbuild.  I called the salesman right then. He asked me what I wanted to do. I asked what COULD I do? He said he'd call back. He did and indicated that the first car didn't have the stereo either, that he simply duplicated the first order but just corrected the wheel code.  He gave some options, none of which were a solution for me. He then said they could probably reorder it, which is what I wanted and hoped for, but since I had actually owned the car for 13 days and had possession of it for 4 I figured I was SOL.  He said he would "check with the boss" and call back.

After not getting a call by late afternoon the next day, I called to see what was up.  He said there was no word yet from the boss and he'd call back within an hour.  Not long after he called informing me to "get down there" ASAP because they would indeed cancel the sale and reorder.  Now THAT'S customer service.  Its why I picked Sanderson Ford in Glendale, AZ to begin with.





Arrival, Feb 27, 07

So why did I pick GO?  Well, it wasn't planned or intentional, but I'm glad at how it worked out.

When the S197 concept car was making the rounds on the net, I liked it, but wasn't moved by it.  There were more than just a few things I felt needed to be fixed before production.  I had my heart set on getting a used 04 Terminator at the time. Once the 05s hit the streets in the fall of 04, however, that was it, I HAD to have one.  I frequently lusted over the Sonic Blue 05 in a contemporary BFG print ad.  I showed it to my parents, even my Mom was excited about it.  Almost ALL of the things I didn't like, or wanted changed, were.  Plus, once I read about all the terrific engineering advances and smart build changes (tach on the left, hydraulic clutch, etc) there was no way I could ever again consider a fossil like the Terminator.

Alas, due to the popularity, Sanderson wasn't offering X Plan.  Plus, I wasn't too keen on breaking my rule of not buying a car in the first model year.  I had to wait for X Plan and needed to wait for 06, but SURE DIDNT want to.

I was forced to, however, with the passing of my Mom on Feb 12 of 05.   I had to make sure Dad was able to cover the bills from the month long hospital stay Mom had up to just two weeks before she passed.  Once that was cleared up, I again geared up to order in the fall of 05.  But misfortune struck again.  My Dad suffered a stroke in early November 05, ultimately passing on Dec 15th.  I then had to take care of that business.

That dragged on into 06, plus I had to move in the summer.  I was finally ready to try once again in the fall of 06. 

When the 05s came out, I wanted Sonic Blue.  I love it.  I think it's at least a Top 5 color ever offered by Ford.  It's what I would've got had I got a Terminator.  But, as we all know, SB was discontinued after 05.  I don't like Vista Blue so I thought I'd get yellow and do black stripes.  After thinking about it, I figured I'd get tired of yellow real quick, so I sadly and unfortunately relegated myself to picking white intending to add Shelby (or Roush) blue stripes on.  Why sadly?  Well, the GO is only the 4th car I've owned, but the 3 beforehand were white so I didn't want to continue that trend but had no choice.  Or so I thought.

So I finally went to the Ford site to "build and price" my Mustang.  Imagine my surprise scrolling through the color palette to get to white and encountering Grabber Orange.  I saw it and thought, "What's that?"  I clicked it, the flash animated car turned orange and WHAMO, done deal.  I had NO clue GO was being offered or had even been considered for revival but wholly carp was I glad.

I love the history of the color.  First appearing on the 69 Shelbys.  Being the only color for the Kansas City, Mo (my hometown, btw) DSO special order 70 Mach 1 Twisters, the color for the Parnelli Jones/George Follmer, Bud Moore, Trans Am winners and on and on.

I like the (relative) rarity, both past and present.  You either LOVE GO or HATE it, there IS NO in between.  For me, I'm ok that most hate it, that's what causes the low take rate.  6711 in 07 total, the lowest produced color of Mustang.  Its the 3rd lowest for 07 GT coupes at 2953.  However, once the 500 ordered by Saleen for the PJ conversions are deducted, the GT count comes in second only to Windeveil Blue which has 1419 GT coupes in 07.  GO is also the least produced V6 and Shelby coupes & verts as well as the fewest California Specials in 07.  Additionally, Shelby produced a GO only GT C version in 08 totaling 218.

Since this was my first new car, on the day I drove home, and for many more since, a smile was naturally, permanently on my face.  As I was leaving work the first day after I got it I told my female boss at the time that, "I'm going home now and have sex with my car".  Lol.  Sometime later my salesman asked how I liked it, I told him, It's a smile a mile" and that if it was a girl I'd hump it silly.  When I'm driving I feel like I'm the ONLY thing in color in a black and white world, like some kind of photoshopped picture.  Even now I sometimes "feel like a prick" because it's so bold and stands out so much.

I don't, however, like the fact that soo many think it's yellow.  Ugh.  I toyed with some vanity plate ideas and may yet still do one, such as NOTYELO or ITZORNG.

I sparsely optioned the car because I want(ed) to save weight, money and I'm not about the "bells and whistles".  The list contains:

Deluxe trim, because I HATE leather.  It doesn't last as long and it gets "dirty looking" easier and more permanently.
Spoiler delete
Shaker 500
Dark IUP
Anti theft
3:55 gears
Polished Bullitts
GT Appearance Package

On the third order I decided to add the spinner caps.  I had blown them off the two previous times for fear of theft but figured getting them would help increase the "rarity" of my option set.

That ended up being yet another story.  Supposedly they should've come in the trunk.  Then it was determined they were supposed to be shipped to the dealer.  In the end, after almost a month, they just ended up giving me a set out of the parts room.

I had all 3 cars delivered with no prep, "in the wrapper".  Naturally, I saved all of those materials.  The second car was less prepped than the 3rd as the antenna was still in the paper sleeve, the manuals were left shrink wrapped and the key fobs were zip tied on the ring still sealed in the clear bag.  I missed out on that stuff with the final GO, unfortunately.  One week after I got it home I took the car apart (everything but the hood, trunk, fenders & doors) to clean, including clay and a 3 part Meguiars job. 

At the time I did two of the few, minor cosmetic mods I've completed, painting the GT badges and trimming the taillight outlines in black.  Later I did the door edge chrome on the grille surround and later on the leading edge of the radiator shroud.  In late summer of 07 I added the Ford Racing Stingers that I picked up for 250$ used from a local guy who only had them on his GT for 4 days because his wife complained they were too loud.  They were one of my best value part buys.  Just recently I picked up the prepainted strut tower covers from a buddy who could no longer use them for free.

   
Painted GT badge                                                 


Black trimmed tails

Two "unique" mods are signatures from Jack Roush on 4/10/08 on the fuse box cover and from John Force on 2/18/10 on the fuse cover and the dash.




While the paint mods and Stingers are the only thing I've done so far, I have a long and EXPENSIVE list of things planned.  I've acquired a complete set of exterior take offs.  A full front (including a GO painted, GTAP hood IN the box for 225$, my BEST part buy) minus fenders and a full rear minus a trunk lid.  I've also gathered almost a full set of "wear" parts such as center console lid, shift knob, etc.  There are a few pieces left I suspect I'll just have to buy new from Ford, but the goal is to acquire all of the wearable items, including things people don't think of such as trunk lid struts, wiper arms, etc, replace the originals and keep them for "restoration" purposes 20 years or so from now.  That way when I do "restore" it I'll be replacing with the only slightly used original parts.

Beyond that, once I get the cash, I'll be doing a "white accent" theme, including a white 70 Mach 1 style hood stripe, clear bra, tint, and some other "home grown", unusual, cosmetic mods, another reason for all the external parts because I don't want to molest the originals.

Mechanically, there may be a short list of simple things I'll do initially or Ill likely wait for the aftermarket to catch up to the 5.0 because I don't like spending money twice.  My original plan was to build a full tilt, twin turbo, stroker 4.6.  Now I'll certainly shift those plans to a 5.0 block.  The only question is if I'll get a crate motor, sooner rather than later, and then later build on that or just wait longer and build from scratch.  Either way, I want the car to the level I've always wanted to have a car since college, a full tilt, face ripper that does EVERYTHING well.  For me dragging has little charm.   I have far more interest in open track/auto X events.  But the goals, from the beginning have always been, at a minimum:

130 trap, don't care about ET
1.0   G lateral
1.0g skidpad
60 to 0 braking in 100 ft. Just about impossible, I suspect or 70 to 0 in 150 ft. Likely just as impossible.
70 mph through a 700 ft slalom. Another potential impossibility.

In addition to the face ripping, biturbo engine, the requisite brakes (not firm on brand yet, Baer or Brembo lead the way so far) and suspension (Air Ride is preferred, Griggs the choice for conventional) will be in place.  Since weight reduction is paramount for me at even the smallest level (I'll replace the GT badges with decals, for example) wheels will be a considerable portion of the build cost with 360 Forged leading the way so far.

I only drive the car to shows, cruise ins, "BOGO Rallys" with members of the GrabberOrange.net forum or road trips with my club, the Wild West Mustangs of Arizona.  I'm a Board member, the clubs webmaster and defacto photographer.  So far I've gained mention in the local "Roddin & Racin" newspaper in event coverage of the second show I ever participated in on Oct, 19, 07.  I was also included in the weekly cable access auto events show they put on in coverage of the same event.

So far the two biggest BOGO Rallys were the "West Coast Rally" at the Fabulous Fords Forever Show at Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA in conjunction with the 45th Anniversary of the Mustang on 4/19/09 where 6 of us in GOs attended with a local BOGO buddy of mine riding with me rounding out the Rally and the SW Rally in conjunction with the "Mustangs & Musclecars" show at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Falcon Field in Mesa, AZ on Feb 13, 10.


Leading the Rally at Fab Fords 4/19/09


On the near end at Falcon Field 2/13/10

After the month of cleaning upon arrival, I headed off to Phoenix South Mountain Park for pics on two different occasions.  Since then I have met up with different BOGO buddies for a "South Mountain Run", complete with video.  My most recent run was a solo effort at the height of summer so I could have a "clear track".  It turned out as my best vid so far.  All of my videos and pics are at FalconGTHO on Streetfire.


South Mountain, 5/12/07


South Mountain, 5/12/07

Later that same May, at nearly the last minute, I decided to drive the GO on my 11 day vacation in Northern Arizona.  I had planned to drive my 2000 V6/auto daily driver since the GO wasn't broke in, I didn't have the clear bra, etc.  But, I ultimately decided I wouldn't enjoy the vacation as much not driving it.  Despite my intent of NEVER driving the car in the rain, two hours into the vacation and for 8 out of the 11 days, the car saw SOME form of precipitation.  This of course forced me to have to take the car back apart later in the summer to clean it all over again.  Since then, no rain.  I even try to miss road puddles, etc.  I've turned around leaving my old neighborhood before to miss puddles.  I have had to crawl under on jack stands since to wash due to being unable to avoid a water main break before I could turn around.

   
On vacation, Monument Valley, 5/25/07

   
On vacation, Monument Valley, 5/25/07

Currently the car has 5820 miles.  The vacation accounts for a little over 2200.  The first year I ended up with 2998.  Since then I've kept it close to 1K a year, with the second year being a few dozen over and the third a few dozen under.  While I was glad I drove it on vacation, I wish I had those 2200 miles back at times.  This year it looks like I'll be almost 200 miles under.  My goal is to "even up" the miles, ideally matching the miles with years of ownership, 5 years, 5k miles, etc.  At a minimum I want to get it to within 1k of matching the years.


South Mountain, 8/24/10 


UP railyard, downtown Phoenix, 8 28 10

As mentioned, the GO is only the 4th car I've owned but my 3rd Mustang.  I still have my first car, a 72 Gran Torino Sport fastback (yes, just like the movie except white) from the original owner on Friday, May 20, 88, when I was 20 and my 3rd, my previously mentioned DD 2000 V6 which I got from when my Dad passed.  My second car was my first Mustang, an 02 GT dlx I got on Apr 14, 03, from Sanderson as well.  I sold it Feb 28, 07, the day after I brought home the GO  Realistically, given the saga of getting the GO, I have to say I've owned 5 cars, 4 being Mustangs.  And as well because of that, there are two more 07 GO Mustangs than there would've been.  One identical to mine except for the stereo, the other identical except for stereo and wheels and those two identical except for wheels.

So that's my Mustang story so far.  If you're a Grabber Orange owner of any year or model, be sure to check us out at www.GrabberOrange.net and check out my Club site www.wildwestmustangsaz.com

Thanks.  Despite all my rewrites and proofreading, I still made errors.  My Dad passed the same year as Mom, Nov 05.   I PMed Scott for the fix.

Fixed. 

What a great read, we happen to have a thing for GO Mustangs!

Fixed. 

awesome write-up alan.

never knew you had so many GO stangs

Thanks X3

AWESOME! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know how you feel about being a splash of color in a black and white world.  I love my GO Gt, Chester.  I had a Yella edge before this and they always draw attention.  I get looks for dudes in vettes, porches and even had a guy in a ferrari check it out.  And they are so photogenic!  specially in the fall!

They are defintely headturners

damn yellow mustangs are taking over the site!!!  Time for a creamsicle party!

I have many pics with "the girls" both with my car alone and the whole group.  But if I link them here they get resized, shrunk down, so...

I guess I can round them up and load them to my Gallery on here, then you could see the full size.