Mustang Monthly Magazine, started in 1978, is not only one of the bestselling, most interesting and popular mustang magazines on the racks these days, with a distribution of 75,000 but it has one of the greatest staff of any magazine anywhere, in the opinion of Mustang Madam.

I am almost embarrassed to say this, but, I did not know how to drive a manual transmission until today. Yes, ok fine. Tease me. I am a Mustang Lover, I love cars and every aspect of them including the smell of oil and gasoline and I didn’t know how to drive a stick shift. I didn’t have any brothers growing up and my dad was more concerned with me learning the sciences.


When one of the editors (Miles Cook) of Mustang Monthly Magazine found out that “ Mustang Madam” needed a lesson on driving a car with a manual transmission, he stepped right up to the plate with his 1967 Mustang T-5 Fastback, which has a 289 and a 5-speed manual transmission from a late-model 5.0 Mustang.

Yes, it’s a sexy car, and yes, Miles is a true gentleman. I know when I told him last week at Bob’s Big Boy that I did not drive a manual transmission his eyes glazed over with a look of horror, and he probably thought to himself “ This is a tragedy we must remedy immediately!” So he offered and I accepted.

What a guy! And an AWESOME teacher! Not to mention - WHAT AN AWESOME CAR TO LEARN IN! I have never had so much fun, and driving has a new meaning to me now. WOW!!!!! I guess I felt like I was a part of the machinery of the car, since in fact you are - the part the engages the transmission and the engine. Anyway, I am so sold on manual transmissions now, I want one. I asked Miles if he’d sell me his 1967 Fastback - which I would buy in a second if I had an extra $30,000. Now I am going to have to find random extremely urgent reasons to borrow it from him. I think I look kind of natural with it…

I have to say the 5th gear makes it run smooth as glass going at high speeds, I don’t know why almost EVERYONE with a car that’s driven with any regularity doesn’t convert their classics to a five-speed manual with a 5th gear overdrive or a four-speed automatic with a 4th gear overdrive. I am going to be changing my 1965 coupe’s C-4 three-speed automatic to an AOD four-speed which has a 4th gear overdrive, which I am SO looking forward to doing.

Anyway, by the end of my lesson I was ready to drive us to go eat at MO’s diner on Riverside, Near Bob’s Big Boy – which was through rush hour traffic. It was great! I’m addicted and I want more!

I really want everyone to know what an awesome service Mustang Monthly Staff did by taking hours, gas and time to help Mustang Madam. KUDO’S!

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write to: MADAM@MUSTANGMADAM.COM

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