Mecum - Indy 2023: #16/16 1966 Shelby Group II Mustang

[silverton_ford]

We talked about this car at length when it came out of long term storage a few years back before the forum crashed.  With #12 selling recently, this will be fun to see how it does!

Link: https://www.mecum.com/lots/SC0523-554045/1966-ford-mustang-scca-asedan-group-2-race-car/

1966 FORD MUSTANG SCCA A/SEDAN GROUP 2 RACE CAR

1966 Ford Mustang Notchback no. 16 built by Shelby American, Inc
One of 16 1966 SCCA A/Sedan Group 2 cars
Largely unrestored and never raced
Painted Orange by original owner
In storage from 1977-2014
Copy of letter from Rick Kopec of Shelby American Automobile Club verifying authenticity
289/350 HP Trans Am spec V-8 engine
Aluminum high rise intake
Holley 715 CFM carburetor
Borg Warner close ratio T10 4-speed transmission
18 quart Ford Galaxie radiator
11.3 inch front disc brakes
10x2.5 inch rear drum brakes
One inch sway bar
Koni shocks and 1 inch sway bar
Lowered A arms and 4-point roll bar
Maintenance on critical systems only

[silverton_ford]

2015 auction - https://www.mecum.com/lots/SC0515-214263/1966-ford-mustang-scca-asedan-group-2-race-car/

1966 Ford Mustang Notchback no. 16 built by Shelby American, Inc

One of 16 1966 SCCA A/Sedan Group 2 cars
Largely unrestored and never raced
Painted Orange by original owner
Sat from 1977-2014
Copy of letter from Rick Kopec of Shelby American Automobile Club verifying authenticity
289/350 HP Trans Am spec engine
Aluminum high rise intake
Holley 715 CFM carburetor
Borg Warner close ratio T10 4-speed transmission
18 quart Ford Galaxie radiator
11.3 inch front disc brakes
10x2.5 inch rear drum brakes
One inch sway bar
Koni shocks and 1 inch sway bar
Lowered A arms and 4 point roll bar
Maintenance on critical systems only
New master cylinder and rear wheel cylinders
New front calipers and pads
Rebuilt proportioning valve and new rubber lines
Heads hot tanked, blasted and magnafluxed
Oil pan dropped and pump flushed
Original calipers and pads included

In 1983, SAAC co-founder Rick Kopec received an inquiry about a 1966 Ford Mustang Hardtop. Its owner, Wayne Bard of Seminole, Florida, believed that it was one of 16 built for Ford by Shelby American to compete in the SCCA's A/Sedan Group 2 amateur racing series created in concert with the professional Trans Am series. To the delight of both parties, Kopec was able to confirm Bard's suspicion after finding a list of serial numbers of the cars converted by Shelby to Group 2 specifications. All were produced in Wimbledon White with Black interiors, 289/271 HP 4V engines, Borg-Warner close-ratio 4-speed transmissions and 3.89:1 rear axle ratios with Detroit Locker differentials. They also employed 15x6-inch steel wheels, front disc brakes, adjustable shock absorbers, export brace, heavy-duty front springs and GT fog lights. While entered as Fords, when completed by Shelby these were almost identical to the competition-prepared Shelby GT350R Fastbacks. The suspension was modified to 1965 Shelby specifications: lowered front A-arms, a 1-inch front sway bar and Monte Carlo bar, GT350 Pitman and idler arms. Override traction bars were installed at the rear; these later became crucial to distinguishing these Shelby-built cars from privately prepared entries. The Shelby-modified engines were balanced and blueprinted with ported and polished heads, Cobra aluminum high-rise intake manifold and 715 CFM Holley four-barrel carburetor, a 7.5-quart Cobra aluminum oil pan, steel R-model valve covers with special breathers, Tri-Y headers and 2.5-inch straight exhaust pipes exiting in front of the rear wheels, an oil cooler with remote Cobra oil-filter adapter and 18-quart Galaxie radiator. The stock Mustang interior was fitted with a four-point roll cage, a 16-inch GT wood-rimmed steering wheel with dash-mounted horn override switch, full R-model instrumentation including 8,000 RPM tachometer and Ray Brown 3-inch competition lap belt and shoulder harness on the driver's seat. A Stewart Warner electric fuel pump was installed in the trunk, which was also home to the relocated battery and an R-model fuel tank complete with snap-open cap and spun aluminum splash guard. The trunk and hood latches were replaced with quick-release hold-down pins, and American Racing magnesium 15x7-inch wheels installed with Goodyear racing tires, which like the R-models, required rolling the wheel openings for proper clearance.

The work order on this car, serial number 6R07K191915, was opened May 11, 1966. According to the list Kopec found, a total of 20 cars were built in a group. Six were initially built to Group 2 specs, the next four as Group 1 cars and the final 10 as Group 2 racers; the car presented here was the last one converted. Mostly unrestored and never raced, it was repainted by its original owner and then sat idle from 1977 until 2014, when it was removed from storage and given a detailed mechanical evaluation. In order to maintain the car's originality, maintenance was restricted to critical systems only. Specifically, the brakes were completely rebuilt, including a new master cylinder, proportioning valve and rubber hoses; the cylinder heads were removed, hot tanked, media blasted and Magnafluxed; the oil pan was dropped and the oil pump flushed. Except for replacing the old tires, no further work was done to the car, which is ready for either a general refurbishing or a complete restoration. One of nine Group 2 cars known extant at this time, the car is very well documented and comes with a copy of the letter by Rick Kopec confirming its authenticity. The present owner sums up this unusually rare Shelby-prepared Mustang thus: "The exclusivity of the 1966 Mustang Group 2 cars is without question. The number of cars made and surviving leaves this car as a prime example of the Shelby marque and would be a cornerstone of any Shelby Mustang collection."