Don Pikes Falcon

[TJinSA]

I saw a post on Facebook it was for sale, but no information leading to who has it and what the asking price is. ANY LEADS? The text below is from Facebook.
_______
A piece of American Racing History, going up for sale.

Everyone that's into cars knows about the legendary Shelby GT350 R but what many don't know is that if it wasn't for the help of its older brother it would´ve never come to be as we know it nowadays.
The car I'm talking about? None other than the 1964 Ford Falcon. Now, some of you may be rolling your eyes and saying "well everyone knows that the Mustang shared its underpinnings with the Falcon, this isn't news'''. And you'd be correct but the thing is, this isn't any ordinary 1964 Ford Falcon.
From afar, you might think it is just one of the 13,840 hardtop coupe's built that year.
If you take a closer look, you might even realize it is actually a race car. If you're a connoiseaur, you might be thinking this must be a Monte Carlo Falcon, one of the 14 prepared by Holman & Moody as part of Ford's "Total Performance" Program. The current owner, thought the same when they found it 32 years ago.
In fact, both you and the owner were quite close. Back in the 60's, Ford ordered its performance partner, Holman & Moody to build 2 Falcons to compete in the A-Sedan class in Daytona and Sebring. This particular example, started its racing life as Walt Hansgen's car for Daytona. Were it finished P7.
After those two races, the car returned to Holman & Moody's HQ in Charlotte NC, and was not utilized until a call came from California. A guy named Carroll Shelby, called on behalf of Don Pike, whom became aware this car was sitting in the shop and bought it for $1 US Dollar, from the FoMoCo. The other Race Falcon, was shipped to Comstock Racing Team, (Ford's Official Racing team in Canada) and later won the Ontario Sedan Championship driven by Team Manager Paul Cooke.
A couple of days later, a Shelby American Truck showed up in Charlotte and picked up the Race Car with no transmission nor engine. Story tells, Holman & Moody had started to compete against Shelby prepping the Cobra's, and they did not want to reveal any powertrain related advantage to the competition. Even though, both teams worked for FoMoCo competition was fierce. The truck, delivered the Falcon to long time Shelby American employee and head of its Engine division: Don Pike.
This information was disclosed in an interview published in The Shelby American magazine in 2013.
Don raced his Falcon for two season's in the West Coast A-Sedan Class.
1964: 12 races - 11 wins, 1 DNF
1965: 18 races - 18 wins
Gary Pike, Don's brother was hired to maintain his race cars together with Bill McLean, son of James McLean who was the General Manager of Shelby American at that time.
After his two dominant seasons, Ford requested through its Director of Special Products Division: Jacques Passino (who was a key player in the formation of Holman-Moody) to Carrol Shelby that the car had to be sold outside the USA to avoid harming the reputation of the newly launched Mustang. The Falcon had been constantly beating them. Don was given a new Group II Mustang to race, which replaced his dominating Falcon.
In fact, as this car spent much of its time in the Shelby American shop, it influenced the development of the 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 R. Yes, this very car. They even tested independent suspension in this car in an attempt to put in the GT350's but it ended up being too expensive.
For example, the Monte Carlo Bar, which strengthens the front of the chassis gave more rigidity and improved handling through cornering. It can be found in Shelby Mustangs through 1965 and 1966. Mostly placed in the Rally cars due to the rough roads, this car did not have it when it raced Daytona and Sebring for handling and weight-saving reasons.
After it was shipped to Perú in 1967, it had some trouble going through customs but was eventually cleared and raced on multiple occasions by members of the "De Las Casas" family.
In Perú, it raced and beat Shelby Mustangs, including 1965 Compettition models. You might not know this, but 5 of the 34 "R" models were originally shipped to Peru. An outstanding number for a relatively small country. The Falcon set various records and won races throughout the late 60's and 1970's. It adopted the nickname "Looks are the least important", because although some people argue it was an ugly car, it never failed to perform.
Can't argue with them, the yellow paint it had towards its last years racing in the 70's in Peru did not suit it well.
The specs? Well, this car was restored by its original builder, Holman & Moody to its 1964 specifications, including a 289 engine with racing parts such as Cam, Rockers and Heads. It is matched to a T10 aluminum 4-speed transmission. The engine is supposedly rated at roughly 300hp for a car that weights around 1,000kg or 2,200 pounds.
Additionally, the body panels are extremely light as they are fiber glass built, and it has plexi-glass windows. The interior consists of an aluminum dash with the required gauges to race, as well as the original anti-roll cage.
This car that was once abandoned for roughly 30 years, has its story fully documented including.
In fact, Mr. Pike handwrote a letter to the current owner and was in constant communication during the restoration process which started in 2001 and finished in 2003. The car's current color, 1956 Dodge Royal Blue is the color Don remembered it the most during its very successful racing years in the US.
Such letter is not the only piece of documentation, the owner has been extremely meticulous in the saving of documents, magazine articles, and communications that back the uniqueness of this car, and its key role in the development of other performance icon's of the 60's.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/584189309247014/permalink/1095516078114332/?mibextid=Nif5oz

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Don't have Fakebook any pix you can post? Here is one from in period w IRS and Halibrand Touring magnesium wheels. I had the R Model gas tank from his Coupe in my street cars for several years. Finally sold it to a guy in Arcadia when he offered me $1,200 for it.

[Side-Oilers]

^^ Brett, I really dig the look with the under-bumper scoops and those wheels.   

New owner should consider doing that to the car.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

^^ Brett, I really dig the look with the under-bumper scoops and those wheels.   

New owner should consider doing that to the car.

I doubt you'll find the wheels. They were magnesium with lots of sharp stress points where cracks could start. At least OVC will sell you an IRS setup for about 10 grand. You can pick up the bungee cord hood tie down at any Harbor Freight.......

[FL SAAC]

very kool ride, thanks for sharing