CAR OWNER

GARRETT LONG FREEDOM - 1998 MUSTANG GT

CAR NAME–YEAR & MODEL INFO

MEMBERS OF THE STANG MAG FAMILY ARE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT FUN AND INCLUSION THAN THEY ARE THEIR CARS AND THAT SAYS A LOT!

My name is Garrett Long and I’m a disabled Army Infantry Veteran. I’m happily married to my beloved wife Amanda Long, and we have two amazing boys Aydenn and Gunner. This is our 1998 Mustang GT.

If you asked me if I thought I’d be writing an article for STANG Magazine for my car this time last year I would’ve said no. If you asked me if I would be writing it about a different car than the 2005 Roush Mustang I had I would’ve said hell no. I loved that car but acquiring this one reinvigorated my passion for car shows and events!

It came factory with a 4.6L sohc V8. I am currently working on upgrading it to a 4.6L dohc V8. Everything you see done to this car, one of our hands has made that happen. When I originally purchased this car it was all but ready for the scrap yard, though it served its purpose of getting me back and forth when I was working at the Sheriff’s office. After being medically forced to resign from the Sheriff’s office after over two years of working there, I went down hill pretty quick. When people say you don’t know what people are going through, you truly don’t. After I healed from one of my back procedures, my wife pushed me to find a hobby. I started working on the car. It was in really bad shape. It was solid but that’s the only thing it had going for it. Starting with an interior swap from a pick-n-pull, that kinda sparked that it could actually be something kind of nice. After calling a few places for wrapping or getting it painted, the options were out of the question. We just simply couldn’t afford it. I started watching videos on body prep and paint. It was then I decided to do it myself. I knew I couldn’t make it any worse than it already was.

I talked the idea over with my Dad and he let me clear out his shed to use as a paint booth. Using his advice, what I learned online and a whole lot of luck, it came out awesome. Freedom earned his name and has now become not only a beacon of hope for myself but to so many others. We now use the car for fundraising and events. We are raising awareness that America hasn’t given up hope, freedom isn’t free, and even though heroes are gone, they will never be forgotten.

I met Daniel Ramey at a Beltway Mustang show and won my spot with STANG Magazine in their Carlisle Ford Nationals display. Needless to say I wasn’t sure what to expect being that I didn’t know the people attending and was going by myself.

The STANG Mag family welcomed me in from the very start and made me feel like one of their own!

Members of the STANG Mag family are more passionate about fun and inclusion than they are their cars and that says a lot! I can’t wait to see what’s to come in 2022!

I’d like to add a special thank you to my wife for not giving up on me, believing in me, and pushing me past the finish line.