Blind purchase, registration hassles... Philippe, 60, finally drives the Mustang of his dreams

From his home in Saint-Cloud , Philippe tells us about every step of his dream: to own a classic car . "I thought about it for at least five years before taking the plunge," he says. The 60-year-old is passionate, someone who began following the world of automobiles by regularly going to exhibitions to admire the cars. "I went to the Rétromobile show several times; this world fascinated me," says Philippe.

At the top of his list of desires are models from the 1960s, a time when cars were made that had "a unique charm." His desire quickly turned into a goal. "As soon as I had a little money, I started with two criteria: I wanted a car to use - not a garage car that you look at lovingly three times a year - and I especially wanted to take my kids in it, so I needed 4-5 seats." It's 2018.

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Philippe visits garages and classic car owners to gather good advice. "I can't do anything with my hands, so I needed a robust car with accessible parts that were easy to find." He considers British cars or Mercedes, but no luck, the owners of these types of models make him understand that parts cost an arm and a leg: even the slightest repair can be a financial drain.

Unable to find what he was looking for in France or with our close neighbours, Philippe turned to importing. "I looked in France, but found nothing that matched what I was looking for. I contacted a company that specialised in importing, the guy reassured me, gave me confidence, and showed me a car a few weeks later, explaining that it was magnificent, even more beautiful in real life, according to him."

This is how Philippe found his dream car: the Mustang . “It ticked all the boxes: easy to maintain, a great look ... The icing on the cake was that I wanted a car that was exactly my age, and the importer offered me a model from my birth year: 1965. ”

However, the small operation is not without risk. His friends warn him: "You're crazy, you have to pay 100% of the price before importing!" Despite their concerns, Philippe takes the plunge, making a transfer of 37,000 euros. The wait is long, punctuated by doubts and excitement. Then, one day, the long-awaited phone call arrives. "Here's your car, it's arrived, it's in Le Havre ." Philippe feels his heart racing, the adrenaline rising: the dream is finally within reach.

Receiving the car has a few surprises in store for Philippe. When he discovers the Mustang, he notices several details that don't exactly match what the exporter had promised him: a chip on the dashboard, an imperfection on the paint, and the rear carpet which, without being completely damaged, is not impeccable. The car, announced as being in perfect condition, turns out to be simply "in very good condition" , notes Philippe. Faced with his complaints, the exporter remains inflexible: "I won't give you your money back, do what you want with the car" .

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Upset, Philippe decides to consult an expert. This specialist examines him carefully and reassures him: "You got a good deal , the base is sound, the engine is in excellent condition." Philippe can finally rest and drive his car with peace of mind.

That's not even counting the paperwork involved in registering the car . Just as he started the process, he discovered that the procedure had just switched to digitalization, rendering the system "totally dysfunctional." In short, he had to wait six months before actually getting the registration.

Faced with his urgent desire to finally drive his Mustang, he opted for a makeshift solution. "I asked a dealer if they had an American license plate on hand and ended up driving for six months with plates that had no legal value..." Philippe finally received the long-awaited registration document. "The highlight was that the registration ended with my initials: PR. This car was made for me!" exclaimed the sixty-year-old.

Since then, Philippe has been enjoying his Mustang to the fullest: he uses it every week to commute to work or simply to escape to his country house. Maintenance remains accessible thanks to a trusted mechanic, and for several years, the car has only had servicing done: no repairs required.

The pleasure also lies in the way others look at his jewel. One day, while the Mustang was parked in Saint-Cloud, Philippe surprised two teenage girls in the middle of a photo shoot in front of the car, posing for Instagram. A little embarrassed when he arrived, they were invited to climb aboard to immortalize the moment. "What's incredible is that the Mustang makes young and old dream as much as it does. It really crosses all generations," he sums up.

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But Philippe finds true delight every time he gets behind the wheel. "Here, there are no electronics, no driving aids. You really have to feel the car, listen to the engine, pay attention to every movement," he points out . The rumble of the V8 , the raw steering, the demanding braking... Everything recalls a time when mechanics took precedence over sensors. For Philippe, driving his Mustang is an authentic experience and rediscovering the simple and powerful taste of automotive passion.