anacar312
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2020
- Threads
- 19
- Messages
- 349
- Reaction score
- 487
- Location
- Fontana, WI
- First Name
- Chris
- Vehicle(s)
- HEP R Chassis LR268
- Thread starter
- #1
So it has arrived. A car long sought with many ups and downs. It seems like everyone like to post here when they get their Shelby, so I figured I'd share my story.... and no better than here because it was the unsolicited assistance that was given by some kind forum members why LR268 now resides in my family garage.
My brother, 9 years my senior, was a huge Ford/Shelby/SVT guy. We lost Randy in 2018 after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Randy was my best friend, best man, and my business partner. I spent more time with my brother than any other human on this planet. It was finding a connection to him that was the spark that started me down this path. When the Heritage Edition Package was introduced I knew I had to try.
After a few conversations with my wife (the whole "limited downside" argument of car buying) and she was on board. In August I went to my brother's Ford dealer that he frequented to see if they would sell me a HEP R at sticker, or better. Two days later I put a deposit on a 2020 HEP R with cover and CF I/P. It was imperative that it was a non-tech car as I can hear my late brother yelling how more speakers and puddle mirrors just add weight and are useless as they do not service the primary purpose of the car (he was a purist). Best part.... they were going to sell it to me at $800 UNDER sticker. WOW!
Fast forward to the weekend of October 3 and I call my salesman as inquire to my order as the order banks has closed and I still did not have a VIN. A day later I am offered a NON-R heritage, but was told that they would not get me a R. That was a kick in the balls.... but I swore I was not going to chase the car and get sucked into the "fear of loosing something you do not yet own" syndrome.
As my friends and I are racing our crap can e46 sedan at Gingerman Raceway in the 24 Hours of LeMons series that October weekend... I spent every minute of downtime I had either in @corrieb spreadsheet or on the phone calling those dealers on the spreadsheet. By the end of the weekend I am in deep talk with Metro Ford in Madison Wisonsin about a loaded HEP R that was incoming (naturally they did not know was even on the way until I called). Were were down to a $2000 ADM (started at 10)...... and I passed. It just was not the right car. It has the tech package which in combination with an ADM was a deal breaker. Sad face.... I start to look at a Magnetic R that was only 30 miles away... showed it to my wife and she said "your settling... it's the Heritage R or nothing" and this is one of the many reasons why I love her so!
So The frantic scanning of the spreadsheet and phone calls slow over the next few days and I start to come to grips that maybe this just was not meant to be. Then, like a guardian angel from above a forum member reaches out to me in a PM and initiated a conversation that continues over a few phone calls. The knowledge and information shared was invaluable and the dialogue was free flowing. So a number of days pass by this member reaches out again and generously provided a lead on a MSRP HEP R.... but not just a HEP R but a HEP R with absolutely no other options. Exactly how my late brother would have ordered it (yes, my original order had the CF I/P which he would have never done either).
Then my new friend points out the VIN number. The last 3 digits specifically. They are 666. This is interesting because as we all know 666 can be interpreted as a symbol of the devil. Also known to be a symbol of the devil is the snake/cobra. This is significant because of my late brother's tomb stone. His wife had debated whether or not to put the Shelby Cobra on Randy's marker because a family member objected because "the snake is a sign of the devil" but my bother's wife, as awesome as she is, went ahead and he now as the Shelby Cobra on his headstone because to know Randy was to know his love for Shelby Mustangs. It's not like I'm a big Motley Crew fan, but their song "Shout at the Devil" seems like something that will have to be on my driving playlist (if for some reason I want to listen to something other than the exhaust note).
This all just seemed to fall into place like it was kismet. Like I had some help from up above. I feel blessed, grateful and thankful to be in a position to own this car. The car arrived at the dealer just before Thanksgiving.... arranged for an inspection and then sent payment. A super smooth transaction from the team at AutoNation Ford in Mobile, AL. RMS Auto Brokers arranged for transport with Masney. It was picked up Tuesday of this week and I was told dit would be here Sunday. Like a kid before Christmas I had trouble sleeping.
So this morning I woke up around 6:30am... got my 4 year old twins and wife out of bed at 7am and dragged them down to the parking lot because I knew at least one of the girls (the one that watches F1 with me) would want to see Daddy's new car come out of the truck.
It was an emotional morning especially since my father passed on Friday after a long painful battle with Alzheimer's. However I was smiling ear to ear knowing that not only my brother was able to see me take delivery of the car, but my dad was right next to him.
Lastly, to my new friend, @PP0001, I am forever grateful to you. Thank you kind sir!
My brother, 9 years my senior, was a huge Ford/Shelby/SVT guy. We lost Randy in 2018 after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Randy was my best friend, best man, and my business partner. I spent more time with my brother than any other human on this planet. It was finding a connection to him that was the spark that started me down this path. When the Heritage Edition Package was introduced I knew I had to try.
After a few conversations with my wife (the whole "limited downside" argument of car buying) and she was on board. In August I went to my brother's Ford dealer that he frequented to see if they would sell me a HEP R at sticker, or better. Two days later I put a deposit on a 2020 HEP R with cover and CF I/P. It was imperative that it was a non-tech car as I can hear my late brother yelling how more speakers and puddle mirrors just add weight and are useless as they do not service the primary purpose of the car (he was a purist). Best part.... they were going to sell it to me at $800 UNDER sticker. WOW!
Fast forward to the weekend of October 3 and I call my salesman as inquire to my order as the order banks has closed and I still did not have a VIN. A day later I am offered a NON-R heritage, but was told that they would not get me a R. That was a kick in the balls.... but I swore I was not going to chase the car and get sucked into the "fear of loosing something you do not yet own" syndrome.
As my friends and I are racing our crap can e46 sedan at Gingerman Raceway in the 24 Hours of LeMons series that October weekend... I spent every minute of downtime I had either in @corrieb spreadsheet or on the phone calling those dealers on the spreadsheet. By the end of the weekend I am in deep talk with Metro Ford in Madison Wisonsin about a loaded HEP R that was incoming (naturally they did not know was even on the way until I called). Were were down to a $2000 ADM (started at 10)...... and I passed. It just was not the right car. It has the tech package which in combination with an ADM was a deal breaker. Sad face.... I start to look at a Magnetic R that was only 30 miles away... showed it to my wife and she said "your settling... it's the Heritage R or nothing" and this is one of the many reasons why I love her so!
So The frantic scanning of the spreadsheet and phone calls slow over the next few days and I start to come to grips that maybe this just was not meant to be. Then, like a guardian angel from above a forum member reaches out to me in a PM and initiated a conversation that continues over a few phone calls. The knowledge and information shared was invaluable and the dialogue was free flowing. So a number of days pass by this member reaches out again and generously provided a lead on a MSRP HEP R.... but not just a HEP R but a HEP R with absolutely no other options. Exactly how my late brother would have ordered it (yes, my original order had the CF I/P which he would have never done either).
Then my new friend points out the VIN number. The last 3 digits specifically. They are 666. This is interesting because as we all know 666 can be interpreted as a symbol of the devil. Also known to be a symbol of the devil is the snake/cobra. This is significant because of my late brother's tomb stone. His wife had debated whether or not to put the Shelby Cobra on Randy's marker because a family member objected because "the snake is a sign of the devil" but my bother's wife, as awesome as she is, went ahead and he now as the Shelby Cobra on his headstone because to know Randy was to know his love for Shelby Mustangs. It's not like I'm a big Motley Crew fan, but their song "Shout at the Devil" seems like something that will have to be on my driving playlist (if for some reason I want to listen to something other than the exhaust note).
This all just seemed to fall into place like it was kismet. Like I had some help from up above. I feel blessed, grateful and thankful to be in a position to own this car. The car arrived at the dealer just before Thanksgiving.... arranged for an inspection and then sent payment. A super smooth transaction from the team at AutoNation Ford in Mobile, AL. RMS Auto Brokers arranged for transport with Masney. It was picked up Tuesday of this week and I was told dit would be here Sunday. Like a kid before Christmas I had trouble sleeping.
So this morning I woke up around 6:30am... got my 4 year old twins and wife out of bed at 7am and dragged them down to the parking lot because I knew at least one of the girls (the one that watches F1 with me) would want to see Daddy's new car come out of the truck.
It was an emotional morning especially since my father passed on Friday after a long painful battle with Alzheimer's. However I was smiling ear to ear knowing that not only my brother was able to see me take delivery of the car, but my dad was right next to him.
Lastly, to my new friend, @PP0001, I am forever grateful to you. Thank you kind sir!
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