

Good thing it wasn't a real Shelby, its destruction would have been a pity. Apparently, the kit to convert a '67-68 Fastback to the "ELEANOR" configuration is available for sale.
Anyway, on a Thursday afternoon, a black Prowler pulls onto the used car lot. Older gent, early fifties, climbs out with his grandson. I was the only salesperson on the pad at the moment, so I introduced myself. He told me that he had been speaking with another salesperson about the Viper, and came to drive it. So I checked, and the other s.p. (we'll call him Joe) was at dinner. I grabbed the keys, told my desk manager what was going on, and started out the door. The desk mgr. asked if I thought I had a "qualified buyer" for this car- I pointed at the guy's Prowler, and said, "Are you kidding?".
Fast forward to Rivers Avenue, the main drag in N. Charleston. I was driving, the customer was riding shotgun. We merged onto I-26, and I was struggling to keep the Viper at legal speed, in third gear. Wasn't easy. The customer looks at me after about 2 minutes of this, and says, "I know it'll do 65...", to which I responded with the look that says,"and your point is?". He says to me that if I get a ticket, he'll pay it. That was all I needed to hear. I checked traffic, pretty light, gave it some gas, grabbed 4th gear, floored it, 5th gear, again to the floor, and then 6th, where I let off slightly after looking at the speedometer and seeing EXACTLY how far over the limit I was.
I pulled off 26 and into the parking lot of a movie theater...switched seats, and let the customer drive back. He pulled the Viper HARD through the gears, and upon arrival at the dealership, threw me the keys to his Prowler so I could get it appraised, and asked, once we got inside, "Where do I sign, I WANT THAT CAR!". You coulda knocked me over with a feather at that point. MAN, what a ride!