Senior Master Sgt. Tracy Taylor's very first car was a 1981 Mustang. It had a weak, four-cylinder, 88-horsepower motor.

My, oh my, how things have changed.

The 36-year-old Taylor's current ride is a supercharged, 500-plus horsepower 2007 Shelby Mustang GT/SC.

The Western Air Defense Sector Guardsman has always been a fan of cars designed by the legendary Carroll Shelby. He owned a 1989 Shelby Dakota Dodge pickup truck and was hooked from then on. Taylor and his wife were looking for a Mini Cooper for her about a year ago when the couple stumbled upon the Mustang at a dealer in Olympia.

"I've always liked Mustangs, but she said she's always hated Mustangs," said Taylor, an Aiken, S.C. native who works as a mission systems superintendent with WADS on McChord Field.

But his wife had a change of heart when she saw the white, silver-striped beast on the lot.

Taylor didn't need any convincing.

"It's our date car," he said.

And what a date car it is. The previous owner, another Shelby aficionado, added a Roush aftermarket supercharger kit to the already-potent muscle car. The car has custom Shelby wheels on a low-profile suspension kit and a beefed up exhaust system. Taylor also added a fiberglass hood with functional scoops to feed the hungry 5.4 liter V-8. But the real gem is the supercharger perched atop the power plant.

"When that supercharger kicks in it throws your head back," Taylor said.

The Guardsman speaks from experience. After first purchasing the car, Taylor wanted to record some audio and video to send to his brother of the rhythmic whine of the supercharger when it kicks in. Even a short burst of the throttle on the freeway at less than 75 miles per hour caused the rear end to nearly go completely sideways because of the power burst.

"I'd never driven a car this fast," Taylor said. "It scared me to death."

But nearly a year into ownership, the Yelm resident has gotten used to his ride despite putting just 4,000 miles on it.

And the whine of the supercharger still excites him.

"I get on it sometimes," Taylor said with a grin.

The Mustang, which is one of only about 1,800 made, will likely gain value as the years go by - especially since Shelby himself autographed the dashboard. Taylor and his wife (who works for Boeing on the C-17 program) have had fun showing the car off locally in parades and getting involved in events with the local Mustangs West car club.

"There are a lot of nice people in the club," he said.

And Taylor isn't done with putting his personal touch on the car. He plans to add another piece to the supercharger - which will likely push the horsepower to more than 600.