Hi All,
I enjoy looking at Mustang sale postings and videos, and of course wish I had the foresight to keep a couple of the mustangs I had as a kid. Especially a GT500 that might have been valuable if I'd kept it. I sold it after heading off to college in '74 and always wondered what became of it. Read on if you're curious. I'd love to hear if the car is still in tact or what's become of it. Maybe I can fill in some blanks for the current owner?
I bought it as 2nd owner around '72 from a Ford exec in my Farmington Hills, MI neighborhood. White, gold stripe, fastback, auto, a/c, auto tilt away steering wheel, maroon dash with Cougar gauges.
The story was that it was one of a few used for testing engines and the exec purchased it for his daughter with a fresh engine. She drove it a while until having a minor accident leaving it undriveable. I bought it and repaired it with help from my dad and the Ford dealer he worked for- new front end including left fender, hood, and misc bump/paint. The inner left fender should have been replaced but we scrimped and instead had it bumped out. It cleaned up like new and was a blast to drive.
I sold the car, and included the original 428 and boxes of parts with it in '74. I vaguely recall the purchaser displaying it at the Detroit Autorama the next year re-painted silver. That's the last memory from 45+ years ago. I wonder if it survived and where it is today?
If you had any idea of the vin number or last sequential numbers maybe in any of your old papers for example it would be helpful.
Hi Bob,
I only have a single polaroid snap shot of it in the driveway...and fond memories. No paperwork.
Quote from: Had1once on December 13, 2020, 08:29:13 PM
Hi Bob,
I only have a single polaroid snap shot of it in the driveway...and fond memories. No paperwork.
I understand. I have a few Shelby's in my past that I didn't record the vin before understanding the relevance that it may have years later.
There was a 1970 with Cougar dash [prototype car??] that would
come to the Motor City Show & Go at World HQ in the 70s & 80s.
2820 2860 is a 1969 GT500, white with a red cougar dash
Poor Ron, sounds about right that my buyer may have continued showing it after I saw it at the Cobo Hall Autorama in '75.
Coralsnake- I'm a newbie here- how do I get access to see any info for 2820? Is anything available? I'm pretty certain mine was titled as a '70 though.
Here are the only pics I have.
and...
Pete isnt that rexs dads car?
Is the the entire interior red?
Yes, its the only factory, red interior, Cougar dash car. It was a 1969.
You will need a Registry or contact the 1969 registrar for more information.
The factory would have used blue side stripes. Would have been owner modified if it was a 1970 model.
Thanks for posting the pics Had1once - we all love seeing vintage photos.
Now that's one Shelby I would feel at home in 8)
- Phillip
It came from the factory with gold stripes. Maybe whoever picked the interior color thought blue stripes would clash.
Quote from: Coralsnake on December 14, 2020, 05:54:44 AM
The factory would have used blue side stripes. Would have been owner modified if it was a 1970 model.
After seeing the pics is it possible it came with those stripes being a red interior prototype car? Gary
Quote from: Had1once on December 13, 2020, 11:28:38 PM
Here are the only pics I have.
Thanks for sharing. Are you still in the Detroit area? I never saw it at the SAAC MCR shows but I started going to them in the 80s. I don't recall a silver painted 69 either and I have been "on the scene" since the early 80s going to shows and I have always been a "West sider". Gary
I saw it once at Cobo Hall Autorama displayed by my buyer and think it must have been in '75, possibly '76. I could be wrong on the color it was changed to- I just remember is was completely re-painted but am pretty sure it was silver/grey. Never saw it again and never attended a saac event. I moved west in '85 where I remain. The Ford exec I bought it from is long ago retired and is in Florida.
The factory protocol was blue stripes. I wont say it could not have been striped in gold, but it would be very very unusual.
Can you provide any more information, like the Ford executive's name?
Yes, an unusual example GT500 which is why I thought the current owner would be interested in the history. I'll respect the execs privacy but might be willing to share it with the current owner. He/she can pm me if interested.
Can you share it with the registrar?
He will keep it confidential. He may have other information
Vinman@infionline.net
I corrected the number. The car I spoke of is actually 2860.
It certainly appears to be the Cougar dash in your photograph.
I thought Orlando Mustang had a Pastel Gray GT500 with a red interior in their shop about 4-5 years ago. I think it belonged to them and was for sale. I don't recall if the dash was for a Cougar.
Since they closed up their shop, they have purged all of their restoration history from their website.
That car had a black Mustang interior. Number 606
I sent the original poster a private message
For Propayne! ;)
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/8-161220142427.jpeg)
Thanks Pete!
Wow, that is very, very interesting.
XR-7 dash, wonder if the Snake on the passenger side is original? And the stuff on the console between the shifter and armrest/storage compartment (square thing looks like an ashtray?) do not look familiar to me.
These cars are endlessly fascinating.
- Phillip
Thats the Shelby console insert. Its red as is the whole console. I have seen many red interiors with black consoles. The toggle switches are not installed. Likely wired into dash gauges instead.
The snake is likely original. I have seen it on another Cougar dash Shelby.
What do the four dash switches normally operate?
Cougar xr7 options
From left to right we have the Map Light (above the glove compartment), Courtesy Light Switch (pillar lights, hardtop only), Panel Light Switch (lights underneath each end of the instrument panel) and the last one is either Convertible Top Switch, Defog Control Switch or if the XR-7 isn't a convertible and the defogger wasn't ordered it is a non-functional accessory switch.
Would all of those functions correspond on a Shelby?
- Phillip
There are normally two toggles on Shelby console
Interior lights and fog lights
Would be fascinating to see how these XR-7 switches originally functioned on this Shelby.
On the interior pic you posted it looks like the toggles are missing.
- Phillip
Correct, not installed in that car. I would like to see how they connected underdash to headlight harness!
Surprised nobody has mentioned the Quarter Horse Mustangs. There are two floating around, rumors of a total of 4 possibly built. I have forgotten the guys name in SoCal that owned one of them over 15 years ago. I know that it changed hands and was to be restored, it may have been the Boss 429 one?
Love the Quarter Horse Mustangs - they were running "Dan August" on MeTV late at night. So cool to see the blue one (with the red one's hood?) in action in that show.
How many production Shelby's came from the factory with a XR-7 Cougar dash?
Is this the only one?
- Phillip
I believe five Cougar dash cars
Wow, I have a registry and have read it but didn't pick up on that - that is surprising.
- Phillip
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/134-161220210530.jpeg)
Scott (aka Krelboyne), my fellow Cougar enthusiast pointed out to me that what I posted is a 1970 Cougar XR-7 dash which differs from the '69 which is what the Shelby's were, of course.
My first car was a '70 XR-7 and I still have the owners manual so I scanned that.
- Phillip
Quarter Horse ;)
Not sure as to how correct the info provided is ? ?
Mike
no photo credit, found long time ago ::)
That red interior is Gorgeous.
Quote from: Coralsnake on December 16, 2020, 08:47:39 PM
I believe five Cougar dash cars
The gold car I do not believe has the cougar dash as earlier reported
The Gold 1969 Shelby with Gold Cougar Door panels has a Mustang dash pad. Mongo
Wasn't the red Quarter Horse used in the Dan August TV show
Yes and I dont think paperwork shows ether of the quarter horses actually having the b429 motor.
429 Thunder Jet is what I think I have read the non B9 engines in the quarter horse cars are called.
Quote from: Bob Gaines on December 17, 2020, 06:29:20 PM
429 Thunder Jet is what I think I have read the non B9 engines in the quarter horse cars are called.
Believe that is the same name Ford used for the 4V 429's installed in T Birds and big cars.
On paperwork Ford used allot of different names tied with common engines likely for PR/sales purposes
Quote from: J_Speegle on December 17, 2020, 07:19:46 PM
Quote from: Bob Gaines on December 17, 2020, 06:29:20 PM
429 Thunder Jet is what I think I have read the non B9 engines in the quarter horse cars are called.
Believe that is the same name Ford used for the 4V 429's installed in T Birds and big cars.
On paperwork Ford used allot of different names tied with common engines likely for PR/sales purposes
+1
Quote from: Coralsnake on December 16, 2020, 02:24:52 PM
For Propayne! ;)
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/8-161220142427.jpeg)
Coralsnake & propayne, interesting to compare the interior of the engineering car with this shot, 2nd. image, of the interior of the
'69 Cougar 'vert from the James Bond film posted by 2112 in the thread on the auction of that car.
Mike
Here is another photograph of 2860. I am not sure what motor that is, but it does not appear to be a CJ manifold. Perhaps it is a still a 427?
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/8-191220082051.jpeg)
I believe that is a 385 series. (429/460)
No thats an FE engine
Quote from: roddster on December 19, 2020, 12:07:49 PM
I believe that is a 385 series. (429/460)
In the picture the breather tube is where the water outlet/thermostat housing would be located on a 385 series. 429 below. Agree with Pete that its a FE of some form
(https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/gallery/9/6-230218162438.jpeg)
Have a white 700 super cj auto with red interior car.