Rent to own is not a new concept, it works with big screen tv’s,
appliances, and even Harley Davidsons. But back in 1965, a chicken farmer named
Carroll Shelby was building a Shelby Mustang GT, and was looking for more
exposure. He cooked up the sweetheart deal of the year with Hertz, the rent a
car people, to buy 1001 of his specially prepared Mustangs to rent. Essentially
a race car, it had 306 hp, would go 0-60 in 6.6 seconds and could be rented from
Hertz for $17 day and 17 cents per mile, if you were a Hertz Sports Car Club
Member. Sign me up! Of course you had to be 25 to enjoy all the benefits, and
despite Avis trying harder, it was hard to beat Hertz. And letting Hertz put
you in the racer’s seat was sure more fun.
Initially the cars had 4 speeds, but reports of burned out clutches changed
the final 916 to automatics. Sold to Hertz for a whopping $3887.45 each, almost
1 1/2 times the price of a new Mustang, the racing set soon found out, and the
lines were long. Win on Sunday, sell on Monday became rent on Sunday and back
to work on Monday as the few who were fortunate enough to rent one took them
racing. These cars were flogged to death, with rumors of leaving the rental
garage, driving right to the track and racing. Some were even rumored to have
the motors removed and put in their own cars for the weekend, then swapped back
and returned. We all know of the abuse rental cars take today, you can only
imagine what these cars withstood then. And strangely for many years after,
were not sought after, just another abused rental, but today are highly sought
after. Known by their Raven Black pint and gold stripes, some were finished in
blue with white stripes, white with blue stripes, and candy apple red with
gold. But today, the faithful lust after the black and gold, with the
distinctive stripes, hood scoop, and racing seat belts. All high end race stuff
back in 1966. For only $17 per day....you could go racing!
And not continued in 1967, perhaps due to the finicky public, and Hertz
only renting current year cars. They were almost half of the Shelby production
for 1966, and the first ones off the line, and by the summer of 1966 the new
Mustangs for 1967 were coming out. So Hertz cancelled, Shelby still produced
his GT, but now you had to buy one. And in 2006, the 40th Anniversary, they got
together again and produced a Hertz GT-H. 0-60 in 5 seconds, and only available
with an automatic, a 5 speed now, but still rentable at the time. And for only
$149.95, still gotta be 25, and 39 cents per mile-oh how 2006 must have been
fun. But almost 10 years later, you can buy a Shelby with over 565 hp, that
will blow it in the weeds for under $60k. No rent to own-the cost of ownership
has gone up, maybe you can rent one to your friends. Suddenly you can see why
Hertz got out of the rent a racer market. And like most of us know, it is more
fun driving someone else’s car, especially a race car.
So add Hertz Rent a Racer to the list of rental cars, work trucks, and
loaners that take abuse at our hands. That go through more daily torture than
any factory testing, and still perform every day. Cars and trucks that don’t
get serviced regularly, cleaning is minimal, what’s detailing?, then they get
sold to the public. With Budget’s ads telling us what a great deal we get,
would you let anyone do that to your car? Would you lend it to someone who
would? And would you buy it knowing its past? Broken in, and broken now have
two distinct meanings. But there was a time long ago, where there was a place
known as Camelot, and they rented Shelby Mustang GT’s!
Now I leased a car once, which essentially is a long term rental. Under
the threat of being billed for misuse, I kept it very clean, only to find out
when time to turn it in, that I could buy it. And the girl told me, the price,
which seemed good, but her response to “did you want to look at it?” surprised
me. “We don’t care if it comes in a box, its your car now.” And all the waxing
and servicing paid off, I was buying a one owner lease car, and I knew the
owner, and its history. Such a deal, but with no racing history. But her words
“in a box,” stuck with me.” For we will all end up in a box some day, some
sooner, some later, for the death rate is still 100% today. And the better you
take care of yourself, you can live better, and have a better standard of
living. And make for a prettier corpse. But if you live life like a rental
car, some day it will catch up to you, and you will only be worth the $20 of
chemicals left in your body. But if you live for Christ, your body may only be
worth $20, but your testimony will be priceless. Today a restored 1966 Shelby
Mustang GT-H is worth upwards of $150,000-not bad for an ex-rental car. But
again your body will be priceless, and fully restored in heaven, the only cost
taken care of by Jesus. Burned out lives replaced as burned out clutches were.
All evidence of hard miles replaced by a new body in heaven. And every step I
take on cold mornings make me looking forward to that. And a new heart, for my
plastic aorta will be replaced and beat on forever. But we have all this
available now...just join the club.
No daily fees, no mileage penalty, and no dues. Meetings weekly, but you
get to go, you aren’t forced. The club comes with an owner’s manual, and will
guide you through anything life throws at you. And isn’t available to
rent...for you have been bought with a price, no rent to own, or lease to buy
with Jesus. He tells us you are either for me or against me, no window decal
will fool him. No fancy Bible cover will gain access to heaven. It takes
knowing God, and it is only in Jesus we can know him. All types of shapes and
sizes, even racing models. Even motorcyclists, hookers, junkies, and
Pharisees. All are welcome, no FICO score needed, just a clean heart. And the
desire to have Jesus change it, and you will be born again.
The days of putting him off grow shorter everyday. The Hertz GT only had a
short run, only one year. Tomorrow is promised to no man, so God tells us today
is the day of salvation. And for many it will be. But sadly for many it will
also be the day of damnation, as they decided no to Jesus, or they would wait,
or would check him out, or any other excuse. Just like being the next one
inline when the GT’s were all rented, miss Jesus you miss heaven. So make your
reservation now, turn to Jesus and be assured. Why rent when you can have all
of heaven. Today many will build Shelby tribute cars, using a base Mustang and
building one of their own, but the numbers don’t match, and the value isn’t
there. Just a pretty face that looks like, may drive like, and sound like the
real thing-but isn’t. Don’t settle for anything, or anyone less than Jesus.
Your life depends on it. Let Jesus put you in the driver’s seat today. Trying
harder will never get you there. Only Jesus. Anything else is just a look
alike.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogsspot.com