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GIVEAWAY #25 WINNER PROFILE:

Eric Conroy and the Shelby GT500

717 Supply’s epic giveaways have proved to be life-changing for the winners. Most recently, this involved the good fortune of Eric Conroy, a Florida dog trainer who snagged a drool-worthy Shelby GT500 Mustang, 717 Supply’s 25th monthly offering.

On a “Scale of 1 to 10, I’m a 12,” Conroy exclaimed upon seeing his prize in person. His win had a simple start: buying two dog-themed shirts, one for himself and the other for his best friend, a K9 officer. That $80 purchase would lead to numerous entries into the Shelby GT500 giveaway—including the winning one—and “the number one day I've ever lived.”

Conroy looks back at receiving the announcement call from 717 Supply Founder Mike Hyssong: “I was literally trembling.” He said, “I had tears coming out of my eyes. It's not a sad thing, it's an overwhelming emotional thing—this actually can happen.”  Less than a week later, Conroy was in Pennsylvania taking delivery of a one-of-a-kind Shelby GT500 in Twister Orange. Conroy’s six-figure win also included $30,000.

Even though Conroy knew what was coming, the in-person reveal still blew his mind. The disbelief was written all over his face as he uttered, “That’s awesome!” and “Holy crap!” Upon surveying the Shelby from all sides, he remarked, “It looks way better in person.”

Conroy’s winning story is especially meaningful because the Shelby GT500 matched his tastes. “I swear it's like you took it out of my brain and made it here,” he shared with Hyssong in the reveal video. Hyssong, who also helms the popular Street Speed 717 YouTube channel, takes a hands-on approach to customizing every giveaway vehicle.

Capping off his muscle car adventure, Conroy participated in a ride-along for an upcoming 717 Supply giveaway of a Dodge Challenger Hellcat Super Stock. Occupying the co-pilot seat with Hyssong behind the wheel, Conroy summarized his Mopar experience with the 1,100-horsepower beast as “ridiculous,” and added, “Dude, my face…hurts from smiling.”

After all the excitement, Conroy reflected on how this dream had come true. He commented that his friends cast doubt on the giveaways, saying, “A lot…thought it was a scam for sure,” but he’s living proof otherwise. Conroy has followed Street Speed 717 and 717 Supply for about five years and has periodically entered the giveaways over the last two years. 

His advice to those considering entering? “Take a stab at it. Life is short, and you might as well take a chance of winning something special, especially when you're getting stuff you like for the money you spend.”

Conroy also shared his thoughts on being the latest 717 Supply giveaway winner: “It's better than anything I could ever imagine.” He added, “It has just been mind-boggling how easy it is. Everybody's been so nice—it's literally like a family.”

 

What are Conroy’s plans now that he has one of the most sought-after performance vehicles on the road? He’ll make his head-turning Shelby GT500 a weekend driver and take it to car shows. He might even let young car enthusiasts sit inside to inspire the next generation of dreamers.

Poster

About the 2021 Shelby GT500

So, what did Conroy win? Let’s dive into the details. Few vehicles have the street presence of a Shelby GT500. This ultimate Ford Mustang is arguably the pinnacle of American muscle cars, from its dominating grille to its bulging rear quarter panels. For this giveaway, 717 Supply started with a well-optioned 2021 GT500 in glistening Twister Orange for an extra bold appearance. With only 9,000 miles on the odometer, this supercharged monster looks good on the showroom floor or the track. Inside, the coveted factory Recaro sport seat upgrade keeps the driver and co-pilot secure during spirited outings.

This supercar came from the factory cranking out 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque—it can hit a top speed of 180 mph. Standard features include a 5.2-liter Predator V8, a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission, adaptive shocks, and a magnesium front tower brace. Car and Driver recorded a neck-snapping zero-to-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds for a similarly equipped example.

 

But stock form is never good enough for Hyssong. As with all 717 Supply giveaway vehicles, he went to work modifying this Shelby. Under the hood, a new JLT cold air intake helps maximize V8 power. Then, the base exhaust was swapped for a premium Corsa system to take the GT500’s already aggressive sound to the next level. Black exhaust tips completed the installation. Finally, Signature bronze-finish rims with low-profile performance tires helped fill out the Shelby’s muscular wheel wells.