SAAC Forum

The last vintage race of 5R539 in hardtop form was in mid 1972 according to the race pass, and it was parked in the Jüntgens body shop for the 1973 season due to other race cars being used by the team, finally removed to a wrecking yard acc. to all the owners, later attempts to find any remaining traces of it failed.
That is where that story of the 5R539 hardtop body ends.   

It is easy to verify and authenticate the other car in Belgium with a Ford VIN. As of now it is only registered due to previous owners or current owners input, the sections "Verification" and "Guarantee" in the SAAC bible on page 6/7 refer to that kind of status.  If a VIN and a visible stamping is verified and authenticated one day on that other body, the story of 5R539 is continued. If not, it ended 1973.

Somebody could take a pic of this car then on the road at least. It appeared 2004 at Le Mans.
Not many are available from that event and not since that year.


Not saying anything, but it seems there are some questions remaining. Actually the previous owners are not interested in finding out about their big loss, but were pretty sure it was destroyed at that yard.

The question marks arise then after following this trail further.

This is 5R539 at the Salzburgring driven by Rolf Kienen. It seems to have got an aditional roll bar enforcement, but the rest of details are still visible.


This is it ..I think in Spa if compared to the upper picture of the pits


and in Monza 1971 with Kienen/Hegels driving.


Which takes us closer to the dilemma. The Dietrich/Kienen/Jüntgens owned car got wrecked later after being in the way in their body shop.

Seems to be glue residue from the stripe. Here is 5R539 still in original dress after Le Mans 1967 at one of the Zandvoort/Netherlands 67 races acc. to the picture description.


Note that acc. to Claude Dubois own narrating and registered in the bible for SPA 1967 most drivetrain components from 5R539 were put on another hardtop with #2 racing (which appeared in a dark color) but later those items were put back in the white 5R539.

For 1968 the roof of 5R539 itself got removed.

Those signs and the paperwork are proof (to me at least) that the real body of 5R539 went to Dietrich/Kienen.

The other hardtop used for 1967 Spa only with R drivetrain components is the one that was thought to have been sold to them, but the now available pictures tell a different story.  Look at the below pic and it clearly shows that this was a base car only.

Yes, that is the 24hour SPA, the above #177 pic is still marked with big letters from the photographer with 1968 SPA, must be another race or exercise.

This is the 24 hour SPA appearance with #2
https://cdm17257.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=14150&collection=p17257coll1

Note also the curious strange white short "paint stripe", probably a quick scratch repair under the #177 and in the ONS race pass.

I found another nice crisp b/w picture at a recent classic car exhibition ...showing 5R539 after its roof was cut and used in hardtop form at the SPA 1968 event. The only way for driver Claude Dubois to continue racing with his R-Shelby in his preferred class.


Note all the details - a nice task for the eagle-eyed researchers (wiper, electric cut-off button beneath the windshield, bumper openings, Le Mans rear flapper in the wheelhouse et...), because you'll find them on Mr. Dietrichs and Mr. Kienens hardtop later. Claude Dubois once said that he sold the car to his best memory to a german guy (Mr. Dietrich worked for Kleber).

Now look at this Stanford revslib picture and compare Mr. Dietrich/Kienens car at the 1970 DMV Rhein Cup Touring to the 1968 SPA 5R539.
https://cdm17257.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/custom/single-image?id=390316&collection=p17257coll1

I also have the ONS race logbook of Mr. Kienens car showing that "5R539" was registered as a 1969 car in 1969 for them.

Quote from: Dynomax on March 30, 2018, 08:33:11 PM

Quote from: FL SAAC TONY on March 28, 2018, 12:34:10 PM
somewhere in new zealand

I don't believe that this is photo was taken in New Zealand. Registration number is unknown in NZ and the background appears to be European, possibly France? Great photo though!

Belgium plate and I think the car belongs today to a member of this fourm, if my memory serves me right.

Following all these european Mustangs since 26 years with our network of club editor mates and many enthusiastic contributors in Europe... yes, we do have some "foreign" and even locally assembled Mustangs (VIN ANO...) over here, I guess around 5-6000 64-73 in total left or imported. The more interesting ones are certainly up north where they ended up during the oil crisis years, when others could not afford them anymore in the rest of Europe.

I happen to have the pics and articles from John from back then about the Saltzman CJ. Met John 3-4 times I think, last time in Charlotte at the 50th.


The 1971s Mustangs used in Diamonds are Forever were actually min. 5 cars, one 429 and 3 to 4 351 and one 302. The one that was in the UK Cars of the Stars collection is now in the Dezer Collection in FL. There are still some unsolved paperwork and VIN mysteries and claims around them. http://www.ponysite.de/pony/bond.htm

The early white Goldfinger Convertible is another mystery, one person claiming to have it, while other claim it is not and that it was wrecked. http://www.ponysite.de/goldfinger.htm

But  back to the topic...

Quote from: FL SAAC TONY on March 25, 2018, 06:57:08 PM
representing france

Looks like the Bassam collection with the yellow one painted over by Camillo Pardo for their 2009 India Maharadj tour

Quote from: Special Ed on March 25, 2018, 10:12:37 AM
We have both the 69 & 70 428  R-code cj verts here now from london area but we had to ship the 70 Bond car from norway ( thanks to john  b. here who lives in norway & has a 70  R-code pace car vert) but that car was exported to london when new for james bond director & painted red over the green with green interior & this car was loaded with all options including export package. The car was ordered july 69 but wasnt built till feb 70.

A pic from when it was for sale in 2008 when it was green.

Interesting information on the second Shelby test mule delivered to Shelby de Mexico/Velasquez. Thumb up.
Yet the red interior of the Velasquez car looks wrong then, no?

If that one above is the ex-McMillan Shelby GT350, I got some pics from him in 2003.

http://www.ponysite.de/67shelbydb.htm

But it had a different licence plate then in 2003. Typically they stay with the car in the UK.  The last letter G on the licence plate in the first posts pic is correct for a 67 car. Need to find the larger size pics.

Patrick Dallas from the Shelby Club de France may be of help

https://www.facebook.com/ShelbyClub/
www.shelbyclub.net (Flash-site, not sure if safe and working for you)

Well spent money. One might transfer old vintage stickers to the new server box at least for a memory effect?