Tag Archives: Mustang

Thundertang – Mercury Cougar

Ever ones to spot a niche market by 1967 Ford Motor Company saw a gap between their face lifted Mustang and Thunderbird models and planted the Mercury Cougar right between the two, in much the same way as General Motors the same year planted the Pontiac Firebird above the Chevrolet Camaro in it’s line up.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Mercury’s first generation “pony car” was only available as a two door hard top in either base as seen here or XR7 variations.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The Cougars platform was derived from the some one as the ’67 Mustang, but with a 3″ longer wheel base covered in an all new body.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

A 200hp 4.7 litre / 289 cui Windsor V8 powered the base version of the Cougar, though a GT option offered a 335hp 6.4 litre / 390 cui FE motor.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

With it’s headlights hidden behind the front grill and tail lights, sequential as per contemporary Thunderbird the electric shaver styling front and rear of the Cougar completely disguises it’s Mustang underpinnings.

Mercury Cougar, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Among the cars accolades Motor Trend named the Mercury Cougar as Car of the Year 1967, and the sale of 150,893 units in 1967 contributed substantially to the Lincoln Mercury divisions place in the market.

Gwinny seen here was purchased new from a dealer Chicago Il in January 1967 and shipped to the UK by the original owners nephew in March 2011 making her a one family car with 50,000 miles on the clock, both the 289 motor and exhaust have been replaced.

Thanks for joining me on this “Thundertang” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Americana Paddock Questions – Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

At the end of May Geoffrey Horton popped along to the Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival and kindly sent a large number of photographs, including those selected today which have an American theme.

Kurtis 500S, Tom Claridge, Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival,

Built in 1953 Tom Claridge’s Kurtis 500 S #022 was originally supplied with a de Soto motor, after an accident in 1954 the car was rebuilt with the current Chrylser Hemi # C53-8-I5990, this car has been seen at the Goodwood Revival meetings.

Chevrolet Corvette, Bruce Miller, Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival,

I am not sure of the racing provenance of Bruce Millers Sunoco liveried 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, but I understand the chassis number is #30867S118408, if you know more please chip in below.

Mercury Cougar XR7, Ike Keeler, Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival,

The racing provenance of cars raced in the 60’s is never easy, there are references pertaining to Ike Keeler’s #14 Mercury Cougar,chassis #7F91C597587, being the Bob Estes sponsored #79 driven by Mark Waco which do not tie up on the dates I have found elsewhere on the internet, a Burien Mercury sponsored #14 Cougar was driven at least twice in 1967/68 by Dave Tatom, again if you can clarify these anomalies please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Doug Schultz, Dodge Daytona, Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

I beleive Doug Schultz’s #7 Hilton Charger is a 1969 Dodge Daytona driven by 1966 and 1973 NASCAR Camping World Series West Champion Jack McCoy who recorded 54 wins during his career from the late 1950’s to early 1990’s.

Ford Boss Mustang, Jim Hague,  Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival,

Ken Epsman’s #16 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 appears to be the car Bud Moore entered for Peter Gregg in the 1971 Trans Am series.

Pontiac Firebird, William E. (Chip) Connor, Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival

After an accident during practice for a Trans Am race at Road America Jerry Titus lost his life in August 1970 after crashing his #8 Terry Godsall Racing Pontiac Firebird similar to the one belonging to William-E.-Chip-Connor above.

Chevrolet Camaro, John Hildebrand, Sonoma Historic

2011 Indy Rookie of the Year JR Hildebrand was inspired to start racing after watching his Dad John race the #56 Peerless Racing Chevrolet Camaro that I believe was raced by Craig Carter from late 1978 to 1979.

If you have any additional information on any of the vehicles above please do not hesitate to chip in below. My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Americana Paddock Questions” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at five favorite Ferrari’s that have appeared at Silverstone Classic. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Secretaries Turnkey Racer – Shelby G.T.350 R #SFM5R098

Allegedly when Carroll Shelby first saw a Ford Mustang his original description was of a mere “secretary’s car”, but that did not stop him building a run of over 500 2 seat 350 G.T.350 variants to meet the Sports Car Club of America’s requirements and a special run of 34 G.T.350 R turnkey racers like today’s featured chassis #SFM5R098.

The 34 G.T.350 R cars were fitted with blue printed motors that produced up to 360hp, weight saving plexiglass side and rear window’s and Goodyear Blue Dot tyres mounted on American Racing 15″ x 7″ wheels.

Shelby G.T. 350 R, Concours On The Avenue, Carmel By The Sea,

Today’s featured G.T. 350 R, photographed by Geoffrey Horton at Concours On The Avenue, Carmel by the Sea, a couple of years ago is the 7th to have been built and the fifth to have been delivered to a paying customer in the form of Ned Owen.

Ned raced this car, which featured an Essex Wire Black stripe with orange pin stripe in SCCA class B Production races from 1965 to 1967 with Ford drivers Skip Scott and Ken Miles also said to have had one off drives in the car.

Shelby G.T. 350 R, Concours On The Avenue, Carmel By The Sea,

In 1967 #SFM5R098 was purchased by a Canadian who crashed it in 1969 after which it remained in an Ontario barn until it was bought unseen by Shelby aficionado Rick Kopec of Connecticut for $5,000.

Rick had #SFM5R098 restored to the condition it was in when bought new by Ned Owen only changing the race number from Owen’s customary #92 to #98 in deference to the cars chassis number.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing today’s photographs.

Thanks for joining me on this “Secretaries Turnkey Racer” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Cobra Hi Riser – Shelby Mustang GT 350

In order for Ford’s new 4 seat Mustang to compete in the SCCA’s B Production class Carroll Shelby set about building a series of Shelby Mustang G.T. 350’s to meet the series regulations which stipulated a requirement for a minimum 100 examples of a “2 seat sports car”.

Shelby Mustang G.T. 350, Niello Concours At Serrano

To power the new “sports car” Shelby used the K-Code 271 hp 4.7 litre / 289 cui V8 modified with the aid of the Cobra “hi riser” intake manifold fed by the scoop in the fibre glass bonnet / hood and dual side exhausts, to produce 306 hp.

Shelby Mustang G.T. 350, Niello Concours At Serrano

Having opted for limited engine modifications the SCCA permitted more radical race suspension options which in the G.T. 350’s case ran to lowered A arms, heavy duty shock absorbers and upper arms, a heavy duty Ford Galaxie rear axle and “over rider” traction bars fitted above the rear leaf springs.

Shelby Mustang G.T. 350, Niello Concours At Serrano

The space where the back seat had been was taken up by a full size spare wheel comprising Goodyear Blue Spot tyre on either a 15″ steel wheel or a 15″ cast magnesium Crager Shelby item.

Shelby Mustang G.T. 350, Niello Concours At Serrano

34 G.T.350 R race spec cars were built and between them they captured 3 consecutive B Production class SCCA titles from 1965 to 1967 with Mexican Freddy Van Buren winning the ’67 title along with the 1966 and 1967 Trans Am titles.

Shelby Mustang G.T. 350, Niello Concours At Serrano

The rest of the Shelby G.T. 350’s, including today’s featured car were built for road use though the owner of this one confesses that “Driving a 1965 Shelby Mustang G.T.350 is a blast for the first 20 to 30 minuets… after that it starts to hurt”.

Shelby Mustang G.T. 350, Niello Concours At Serrano

All 562 Shelby Mustang G.T. 350’s were painted Wimbledon white and had the Guardsman Blue rocker stripes with the G.T. 350 logo, only 28% had the full length Guardsman Blue Le Mans stripes from new, though now nearly all of them do.

My thanks to Geoffrey Horton for sharing his photographs taken at Niello Concours at Serrano a couple of years ago.

I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at one of my all time favourate FIAT’s. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Code C,A or K – Ford Mustang GT

After retooling in August 1964 Ford offered it’s sensational Mustang with a GT equipment package that included a V8 motor, grille-mounted fog lamps, rocker panel stripes, and disc brakes, an instrument panel with a speedometer, fuel gauge and unnumbered temperature, oil pressure and ammeter gauges in five round dials.

Ford Mustang GT, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Today’s featured car is registered as a “Mustang GT” and carries a 289 / 4.7 litre V8 though it is unclear if today’s featured car has a 200hp C Code 289 with a two barrel carburetor or perhaps one of the four barrel carburetor options either 225hp A Code 289 or 271hp “Hi Po” K Code 289.

Ford Mustang GT, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

As can be seen this particular vehicle has been prepared to racing spec with bonnet / hood pins and roll cage and it appears to have been raced by Louis Bracey in HSCC events in recent years.

Thanks for joining me on this “Code C,A or K” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a poor mans 250 GTE. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Turning You Into Nuvolari – Ford Mustang 2+2

When Ford announced the Mustang 2+2 in 1965 they claimed, quite rightly that Europe no longer had the monopoly on “four wheeled flair”.

Ford Mustang, Goodwood Revival,

This particular vehicle was advertised as a 1965 ‘Stang at Goodwood Revival a few years ago.

Ford Mustang, Goodwood Revival,

It was described as having had a full restoration in 2002, the same year it was first registered in the UK.

Ford Mustang, Goodwood Revival,

Among the upgrades it received were a 5 litre 302 cui ‘blue printed’ motor only a Mustang option from 1967, replacing the original 4.7 litre 289 cui unit and uprated disc brakes.

Ford Mustang, Goodwood Revival,

This vehicle was described as having been fitted with a ‘Tremec TKO’ 5 speed manual gearbox.

Ford Mustang, Goodwood Revival,

The ride was described by Ford in their contemporary advertising as like “a little cloud” a description which seems at variance with Fords advice to …

Ford Mustang, Goodwood Revival,

“Don’t forget the looks: that’s what turns Main Street into Via Veneto … and you into Nuvolari.

Thanks for joining me on this “Turning You Into Nuvolari” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Modern Elegant Fiat. Don’t forget to come back now.

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Jethro Bodine’s ‘Stang – Mustang Ranchero

Ever wondered what you might get if you crossed the Personal Luxury chique of a Ford Mustang pony car with the all round practicality of a Ford Ranchero pick up ?

Mustang Ranchero, Cartier Style Et Lux, Goodwood Festival of Speed

There is an unsubstantiated myth on the intelnet which says that from 1965 to 1966 Beverly Hills Mustang Limited in California built 50 such vehicles with Ford’s blessing, and further more somewhere around 60% of them were exported to Europe !

Mustang Ranchero, Cartier Style Et Lux, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Beverly Hills Motors Limited of 9280 Alden Drive Beverly Hills, California, did indeed build some pick up Mustangs, one ex employee believes only 3 or 4 may might have been built using fiberglass beds.

Mustang Ranchero, Cartier Style Et Lux, Goodwood Festival of Speed

However a German Pony Car site points to this particular car being built by a Mick Bull who started with a 66′ basket case Mustang for which he fabricated the bed, subframe connectors and a gas strut operated tailgate.

Mustang Ranchero, Cartier Style Et Lux, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The motor is officially registered as 5,331 cc / 325.32 cui which does not equate with any Ford motors I can think of. According to some sources the car is also said to have a 331 cui motor, but again the only motor of this size I know of is the mid to late fifties Chrysler Poly motors. If you know better please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Mustang Ranchero, Cartier Style Et Lux, Goodwood Festival of Speed

It is said the Beverly Hills Motors Mustero conversions cost the same as a Shelby Cobra, over $6,000, which made for prohibitive sales though Harry Morgan and Debbie Boone are believed to have shown an interest in at least one of the cars as it was being built probably at some point in the mid to late 1970’s.

Mustang Ranchero, Cartier Style Et Lux, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Having a love of both Mustangs and pickups this car appeals to me as the kind of upgrade someone might have tried to sell Jethro Bodine in an episode of the Beverly Hillbillies.

Thanks for joining me on this “Jethro Bodines ‘Stang” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Ferrari Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !

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