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."
Photo credit: Thomas Donnelly
