The new right hand drive Ford Mustang
WHEN a Donegal businessman collected his new Ford Mustang on Friday last from main Ford Dealer, Hegarty’s Auto Services in Letterkenny, he made a little bit of history.
The man, who asked not to be named, became the first person in Ireland to own a right-hand drive version of the iconic Ford Mustang.
Launched in the US in 1964, the car was only made in left-hand drive versions for the North American and special export markets. However, that all changed back in December 2013, when Ford announced that a specially developed ‘European’ version of Mustang would be sold in Europe.
A fan of Mustang and Ford performance cars in general, he went along to Hegarty’s placed the first order for Mustang in Ireland.
Last weekend, he took his son on a 1,159 kilometre round-Ireland trip in his new 2.3 litre EcoBoost petrol Mustang.
“I bought my first Mustang when I lived in Philadelphia and I took my first one home to Donegal in 2002 so I was delighted to hear that they were going to launch a sixth generation right had drive car for the European market.
“At 8am on December 5, 2013 in California they officially launched the car and I went down to Hegarty’s at 2pm (Irish time) that afternoon and paid a deposit on one. It was the first ever right hand Mustang in the world to be ordered and it took two years and thirteen days before it landed – but it was well worth the wait,” he said.
“I can’t describe the feeling of getting behind the wheel of my very own Ford Mustang. I have always loved the look of Mustang cars and this latest version is one of the most beautiful ever. I am delighted to be the first Mustang customer in Ireland,” he added.
Less than a day after picking up his new car, he took off on a road trip that saw him travel through Sligo, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Cork on the Saturday and Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford, Dublin and Belfast on their way back to Donegal on Sunday.
“It was a lovely trip with my son. I suppose it was like a stag party without the beer. It’s something I don’t think either of us will forget in a hurry,” he said.
Andrew Hegarty, from Hegarty’s Auto Services, wished the businessman many years of happy and safe motoring in his new Mustang.
“With the help of Pat Hart from CAB Motors in Cork, we were delighted to supply him with the first Mustang in Ireland and we felt we had to mark this very important occasion so we gave him a framed certificate recognising him as the first Mustang customer in Ireland,” he said.
The new Mustang is available in 2.3 litre EcoBoost petrol 317PS or a V8 5.0 litre petrol 416PS.
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