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RIDE OF THE WEEK: 2005 FORD MUSTANG GT
Of all the cars submitted for Weekender Motorhead, the Ford Mustang is probably the most popular, and that is probably for good reason.
On April 17, 1964, Ford Motor Company decided that it was going to introduce a whole new breed of automobile, the pony car. The Mustang sold 22,000 units the first day and more than 1 million units in its first two years, and today, still in production nearly 45 years later, the Mustang is still successful and still at the front of the line of the only class of muscle cars that still exists.
This week’s ride is a 2005 Ford Mustang GT owned by Troy DeLuca of Scranton. DeLuca says that he is very happy with the car, but he isn’t happy with the way he ended up with it.
“I took over ownership of the car because of some sad developments,” DeLuca says.
The Mustang was originally purchased brand new in late 2004 by DeLuca’s father, Steven. Unfortunately, DeLuca’s father passed away soon after.
“My mother wanted to sell the car right after my father died,” DeLuca says, “because she had no use for a Mustang, she doesn’t know how to drive a stick shift, and she didn’t want to keep it.”
“But,” DeLuca says, “ I stepped in and I decided that I wanted to keep the car, and, as a tribute to my father, now want to turn it into the best car I know how to.”
DeLuca’s Mustang is capable of producing 300 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 320 lb./ft. or torque at 4500 rpm. The Mustang features a 4.6-liter aluminum block single overhead cam V8 engine. DeLuca says that his Mustang can go from 0-60 mph in just a little more than five seconds. It has a five-speed manual transmission. The Mustang rides on P235/55 R17 Pirelli tires and also features twin piston calipers, vented disc anti-lock suspension, front/rear independent MacPherson struts, along with a solid axle with coil springs.
DeLuca’s Mustang, which is rear-wheel drive, doesn’t see much driving action in the winter.
“I’m afraid of what the salt will do the bright red finish on the car,” DeLuca says. “So, during the winter I drive my ‘old’ car, which is a 2004 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, and during the summer I take dad’s car out on the weekends and plan to enter it into some car shows this summer.”
DeLuca has added a GPS system to the Mustang and plans on adding some wireless Internet features to the car over the next few months so that it is all ready for when the warmer weather comes around.
The Mustang has a black and grey interior, and DeLuca says he is also considering adding black wheels to replace the silver aluminum wheels that the Mustang is currently riding on.
DeLuca says that his friends have been great in helping him with the car.
“They know how important this car was to my father and how important it is now to me, and I can’t thank everyone enough for how supportive they’ve been in helping me make my dream come true.”
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