American Muscle Showroom (post your pics!)

Nice, like the yellow.

 

I thought I'd post a pic of my newest addition.

Anybody here recognize this one?
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

No idea.. but considering the timeframe I'd love to hear the story behind it!

 

looks like the ratty car at the end of "Gone in 60 seconds" that Cage drove off in at the end of the movie.

 

oh yea.... my two muscle cars. just got the Camaro 2 weeks ago. still needs lots of love.

its an evil bastard too. !!!!!!!!
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Is that a Bondurant GT350?

 

It's a '65 Shelby GT350R, specifically, it's serial number SFM5R002; the first Shelby Mustang race car built by Shelby and one of 2 factory sponsored team cars. It was driven by Ken Miles, Jerry Titus and Chuck Cantwell in the 1965 racing season. It won the first race it was entered in on February 14, 1965 and nearly every race that it ran in after that. The attached photo below was taken during its maiden race on that day; yes, with ALL 4 wheels off the ground. It became known as the "flying mustang". (notice the mouths hanging open on the spectactors in the background) Ken Miles was driving at that time. This photo was used widely by Shelby in their marketing efforts after that, for obvious reasons.

This car has a very interesting and significant racing history (which I won't bore everyone with right now). After it was replaced later in the season with R001 (which went on to win the national championship after being positioned to do so by R002), it became a factory test-mule to test prototype components for later GT350R's.

When the factory was finished with it, it was sold to an independent racer in CA, then to another independent racer (who did very well with it), then to a wealthy guy in Mexico who ran it in a few local races there before parking it in an open lean-to in the Mexican desert where it sat for over 15 years before being found by a American Shelby enthusiast who had gone looking for it. He brought it back to the US. It changed hands a couple times, then went into the Shelby American Museum in Boulder, CO; where it's been since 1996.

This is a car that's been on my "wish list" for many years; but I honestly didn't think it could ever become a reality so it was more of a pipe dream than a possibility; however, last week I managed to buy it and add it to my collection.

It will be on the display at the Quail in Monterey in August in case anybody is there and wants to check it out.

It's still in "as-found" condition, the way it sat when it was recovered in the Mexican desert. I haven't decided yet whether to restore it or leave it as-is. Someday later I'll decide.

I've rambled on long enough here. If anyone wants more info, you can Google the VIN number or "Ken Miles GT350", or I can add more if someone is interested.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Great car great story. Well done.

 

Thanks, glad you like it.

 

wow, ! i was wrong, way wrong! what a find !


ps: 1) post more pics!!!!!!!!
2) please post more on the cars history, i am not up on classic racecars of that era ! but i bet its a fascinating read!

Michael

 

Camaro doesn't look so bad...what are your plans?
Love the Trans Am....makes me want to get a cowboy hat...put on a red shirt and raise some hell !!

Nice

 

Absolutely stunning car !! I recall reading some where on the net about a year ago someone requesting information about the Mexican owner....Louis Blancq Cazauz...and what he did with the car and where all he might have raced the car

Thanks for taking the time to write a little bit of history...very interesting...always cool to be able to trace where all these cars have been and who has owned them

Thank you

 

Amazing!

I actually did some digging before you posted the story and found that exact pic, but figured it couldn't be the same car. Glad to see I was wrong.

 

Just my $0.02, and considering it looks like it was dipped in a vat of primer at some point, it might be a good candidate for a very sympathetic resto. I like originals with some rough edges around them, not in a 100-point "sanitized for your protection" kinda way.

Tough call though. Might be cool just to get her moving again and take it from there.


http://www.superstock.com/stock-photography/SFM5R002

 

Owned the car for 15 years. Its been restored but has the original drive drain. Its a joy to drive as a weekend cruiser
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

My 1999 Viper ACR:


My 1998 Hummer OpenTop:


My mother's 1960 Corvette:


Previous vehicles:
1987 Grand National:


2001 Trans Am WS-6:


Nick

 

These were taken at Elite Auto in Arkansas after wheels and brake calipers were painted; and after performance modifications.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Love all 3 of them!

 

Here's one of my "Shelby" Falcon. I shot it at the Cobra Owner's Club meet at Willow Springs(if you look closely you can see 'Ol Shel sitting on the pit wall). Built as a tribute to the original created by Pete Brock back in the 60s. Installed a complete GT350 drivetrain in a Falcon Sedan Delivery and used it as the shop truck. Mine also has that conversion-289HP, top loader 4spd, 9", Konis, etc. The original resides at the Shelby Collection Museum.
We use ours as a "shop truck" for our automotive art business.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

http://fordgtchannel.com/images/2010062900.jpg

 

You have an awesome collection of muscle Steve. Still regularly look at pics of your '70 Challenger.

 

Thanks. Here is one of the newest additions-unconventional to be sure, but muscle nonetheless. 1969 California Highway Patrol spec Dodge Polara. Considered the holy grail of police vehicles, far rarer than 99% of traditional muscle, two fender tags and widely believed to be the fastest squad car built for decades. Remember these things had to run down the muscle of the 60s and 70s. Equipped with a 440 Magnum they'd run 14 flat in the quarter and a top speed over 150.
Mine is rough but complete. Engine is fresh and stout.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Very cool Steve. I went looking for more pictures and came upon this article. I'm sure you've seen it, but just in case...

http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2007/05/01/hmn_feature15.html

Check out the instructions for proper use of the AC.

What a monster.

 

Elwood: It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?
[a brief thinking pause while Jake attempts to light a cigarette]
Jake: Fix the cigarette lighter.

 

My Corvette's. 99 C5 Coupe, and 06 Z06. The 99 has Pfadt coil overs, comp sway bars, pillow blocks, camber kit, Baer two piece rotors, HRE 890R wheels with black chrome centers and chrome lips, Bridgestone Re11 tires. I tracked the 99 extensively and loved every minute of it! I'll be selling it soon as I just picked up the Z06, it came with the LPE 616 engine package. LPE cold air intake, mass air meter, camshaft, valve springs, and American racing long tube headers. Just put a Pfadt camber kit, and Nitto NT05's on the Z, I will be transfering the coil overs from the 99. Love both cars but the 99 will have to go.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login