Wyoming People: Desiree Hannabach's Dream 628-Horsepower Muscle Car Took A Lifetime To Get

CHEYENNE — Her uncle got her hooked on Corvettes when she was just a wee little girl. Ever since, it’s always been all about the muscle cars.

Desiree Hannabach remembers having lots of cars as a teenager, but none were quite as cool as the ride she has now. 

“My life dream was either a ’65 through ’67 GTO and that,” she said, pointing to a 2010 Dodge Viper in perfect condition. 

Hannabach said she worked and saved her money for 20 years to afford her dream car, which she now takes to road shows far and wide.

“It is tuned to 628 horsepower, and there are only three cars in that year that had this paint scheme, with the charcoal gray and white,” she said. “It’s black on the interior, and I don’t know what else to tell you other than that it’s very fast.

“And I love the carbon fiber that’s on this car. The carbon fiber back tail over what is called the ‘spoiler.’”

Hannabach’s Viper was one of about 100 special cars that came out for a car party last weekend under the stars to raise money for charities in Cheyenne called Cars, Guitars and Cigars. Some of the most pristine classic cars in all of Wyoming and beyond were at the show. 

Stories about several of them will be featured on national television, including Hannabach’s.

Overcoming Obstacles

Getting Hannabach’s dream car required more than just saving up the money to buy the muscle car she’s always wanted.

She’s also a breast cancer survivor.

Getting through that and then being able to get her dream car has made the ride all the sweeter. She is savoring every minute on her journey down the road.

“I have four daughters and nine grandchildren, and so it’s just kind of cool for me to be living my life now,” she said. “We’re living and doing the things we want to and enjoying our life. There’s nothing like going down the highway.”

Especially going down the highway in such a cool muscle car.

“I have always loved muscle cars,” Hannabach admits. “I’ve had numerous Mustangs and you know, just all kinds of different cars, but this was the one I have wanted for all those years, and so it’s just been a very special thing for me.”

Not Changing A Thing

Hannabach found her dream car as is, and hasn’t needed to change much of anything at all.

“This car was in just pristine condition, I didn’t need to do anything,” she said. “This week it goes into the shop for an oil change and just maintenance and things like that to make sure it stays right where it needs to be. 

“When you have something like this, you want to take very good care of it and not ever let it go downhill or disrespect it in any way.”

Hannabach almost wound up with a Viper that has the reverse color scheme, a white stripe on black.

“There was a gentleman in Kansas City who was selling the opposite color scheme on this, it was the white stripe with the gray, charcoal grey,” she said. “I kept calling him and trying to let him know, ‘Hey, I’m ready to come and buy this car, I’m ready to fly out. And he wouldn’t respond to me.”

Two weeks later, she saw he had reduced his price by $20,000.

“I’m like, I would have paid full price for that car,” Hannabach said. “I sent him emails, I left messages, he never responded. But that was OK, because I found a better car.”

Renée Jean can be reached at renee@cowboystatedaily.com.