We’ve all heard about “that guy.” The one who spent an insane amount of money on sticker price and mark-up just to be the first person on his block with the newest model of a car.
Over the weekend, a very generous man shelled out 300 grand for not only the first 2015 Mustang GT in his neighborhood, but the first production 2015 Mustang GT, period. That’s right – VIN 0001.
Every penny of that sum will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, “a leader in the search for an end to type 1 diabetes” for more than 40 years. In exchange for such a generous contribution, the philanthropist gear head will get to choose his ‘Stang’s transmission and the colors for the interior, exterior and outside stripe. Output is still vaguely stated to be “more than 420hp and 396 pound-feet of torque.”
Which colors would you pick for your dream 2015 Mustang? Would you let it do the shifting for you or would you row your own gears?
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
