Wish upon a car: She wanted a fab Mustang -- and got it

What happens to someone who desperately needs a car and then wins the car of her dreams?

That's precisely what happened to my friend Colleen Donnelly on Sunday, when, after a painful 10 months of public transportation reliance, she won an 8-cylinder 1965 Mustang GT in a contest.

Earlier this year, Colleen totaled her 1998 Mustang in a otherwise relatively minor crash in Long Beach. Since then, she's been stuck either riding her bike or taking the bus to classes at Cal State Long Beach and social events. She even lost a potential internship for not having a car.

The rub is that Colleen isn't someone -- like me -- who really digs mass transit. She loves cars, especially Mustangs. She even has a blog for the school newspaper devoted to her love of cars.

Earlier this year, Colleen entered a contest by Goodguys Rod & Custom Assn., which promotes class car events. In September, she was notified that she was -- really! -- one of 32 finalists, but to find out if she won the car, she had to attend a car show in Pleasanton in Northern California to see if a key she was given fit the Mustang's ignition.

The rest is history. Colleen still must pay taxes, registration fees and insurance -- no small feat for a struggling college student –- but her parents have agreed to help.

"It's the ultimate step up," Colleen recently said. "Not only a classic, but everything I ever wanted in a Mustang."

--Lauren A. Williams

Photo credit: Thomas Donnelly

Comments

[Ken Alpern]

You and I are on the same page on that point, Jim!

Arguably, the biggest complaint I have with this current presidential administration is that it was so cruel to urban transportation efforts. Rail projects don't fit so well in rural areas as much as they are mandatory in urban areas, because density and lack of open space in urban areas don't give as many choices to create roads and freeways.

Roads and rail, cars and mass transit, bicycles and buses...none of them are mutually exclusive, and we need to subsidize and prioritize them all equally.

[JimS]

Ken, that's true.

I just wish rail had equal funding to road and air travel. If they are meant to be equal choices they should have equal subsidies.

I'm tired of so much of my taxes paying for other people's transport when so little of their taxes goes to pay for mine.

[Ken Alpern]

It's a free country, and transportation should be based on alternatives. I'm glad she got her dream-car, so enjoy! Keep smiling!

Cars, bicycles, mass transit...they're all just alternatives and we should all do what fits our particular needs. The best way to encourage mass transit is suggest it as another alternative, not to demand it as a civic duty.

[JimS]

Actually, to clarify, I'm not saying Colleen is a bad driver (like the first poster did), she might actually be a very good driver. Pushing individually-operated multiton steel objects carrying single occupants around at high speed without a fixed guideway is just an inherently unsafe enterprise.

Every time I drive I realize that I'm potentially killing people. That's why I avoid doing it as much as possible in urban areas.

[JimS]

I dig cars. I love fast driving in rolling hills and twisty roads. It's fun!

I dig horses too, they're fun and nice and a horseback ride in the countryside is great.

...but both of them cost a ton of money, require attentiveness and care (the horse for its own life, the car for the lives of absolutely everyone around you including yourself)... Frankly if I'm just going to work/school every day I'd rather take the train. I think putting everyone's lives in peril just for basic transit needs is kind of a bad idea. =/

[johnny]

Well, I'm glad that at least someone involved in this post "digs" mass transit and bikes. I live in Long Beach, I have embraced travel by bike, bus, and train and I know plenty of people who have done the same. But nevertheless, best wishes to Collen and her new car. If its any consolation, the 10 months she was relegated to the scourge of mass transit were the same 10 months when gas reached $4.50 per gallon, so she probably would be out a lot more cash if her dream car had come in early.

[Gary Kavanagh]

I guess this cancels out my decision to voluntarily give up owning a car. Drive safe.

I'm not a fan of cars, but I think Steve really needs to chill out.

[Kevin]

Are you kidding me, Steve? Where do you come up with that based off of a small mention of the accident.?

[Colleen]

Excuse me, but please do not assume my driving skills based on a blog. I am not a danger to anyone, and I have never been involved in a major accident. The insurance company decided my car was totaled, not me. I was barely driving 10 mph when the other car sped in front of me. It was due to serious blind spots in Long Beach, not my ability to handle a car. And don't assume I've been involved in multiple major accidents either. If anything I've learned from my mistakes and have become a better driver because of my minor accident.

[Steve]

learn how to drive at a real driving school like a car racing school...college student and has already totalled 1 car?She s a danger to the public and herself.
This car may very well be her last if she doesnt learn how to drive.Sorry,but people who get into major car accidents shouldnt be driving at all let alone in old v8 mustangs.Thats just begging for disaster.Good luck-to the general public.