Finally got my Mustang project rolling

My car was customized into a Shelby'ized Mustang in either the late 60s or early 70s. It was originally a 68 lime gold J code 4 spd fastback with a tach cluster. The owner installed original Shelby fiberglass, rollbar, taillamps, roll bar, intake, and valve covers. The front fiberglass was off of an acapulco blue Shelby but had quite a bit of damage that was repaired. The left lower side scoop had damage the had been repaired and both were frenched in. The trunk was off of a red Shelby and painted acapulco blue. Then the car was given a cheapie highland green paint job but the trunk was still blue....not sure why but I suspect it was installed later after the paint job. From what I can see is the owner found 1 or maybe 2 wrecked Shelbys and used the parts to build this car.

My dad bought the car cheap in 1975 with 40,700 miles because the engine was sludged and it broke a u-joint. The paint was cracking in areas then but the interior was perfect so I can only assume the modifications were done several years earlier. He thought it may have been a real Shelby but they really weren't that big of a deal then. Turned out it wasn't the real deal and he promised I could have it if I fixed it so it would be my first car. I pulled the poorly repaired frt fiberglass off and dad swapped it for a 1969 Boss 302 intake. Dad then bought new frt fiberglass at the Ford dealership he worked at. I removed the frenched in side scoops, sanded down the upper scoops and spoiler end caps then pulled the motor out all around 1978....and that was it. I stopped and never touched it again. I was 11 yo at the time.

1975



1978



2011







Over the years I've owned and restored many Fords but this one stayed stored away. Now my kids are off in college, I'm getting closer on the Maverick and I have more time on my hands so I figured I'd finally start on this one.

First thing was a new set of Cragars and new tires so I could move it around.







Stripped some of the paint off and found damage that had been repaired which re-enforces my theory about the Shelby parts coming off of 1 or 2 wrecked Shelbys. In the end the only reproduction Shelby parts will be the lower scoops. I bought them from Tony Branda already. Everything else is production or dealer service parts.



I sold my extra pick up truck so that gave me money to get started. I just ordered a complete saddle interior, a complete frt end rebuild kit and a Scarebird disc brake conversion (the one that uses Ranger rotors).

I already have a fresh 5.0 roller motor that will hook to the stock toploader. Just need to find some heads next. It will be highland green when it's finished. I love the green/saddle combo but I've only seen it on convertibles. I want it to look 100% Shelby on the outside except the wheels. The interior will just be standard Mustang....not deluxe like real Shelbys had. Just trying to preserve what this car was...not build a complete fake. It's a touchy subject with the Shelby guys.

 

looks like a great place to start!

 

This is going to be awesome...

 

Just a heads up, the roller block does not have the mounting holes for the Zbar bracket so look for a way to adapt that before dropping it in. Looks like afun prioject though. Must be nice working on a Mustang and you can buy all the parts you will need new, instead of having to find OE stuff or make the stuff like on a maverick.

 

I've already got the adapter bracket and the correct flywheel. It is a good thing you can get everything for a Mustang...much easier that the Maverick parts hunts and cross-overs.

I think this car will be much easier than the Maverick project. I'd like to get both of them ready for paint at once so I can build a make-shift booth in the garage to paint them in at the same time.

 

I got a Laurel Mt Mustangs frt end Super Kit. I saved a bunch of money because I'm eliminating the p/stg on this car and this kit includes idler arms and all tie rods. That just left me to get a center link and pitman arm for manual stg.

The brake conversion sounded interesting to me. It's a bracket and spacer set up from Scarebird that allows you to keep the stock spindle but install Ranger rotors and S-10 calipers. You use a 74 Maverick master cylinder and Caddy brake hoses. The kit works on Mavericks as well. I'll end up with a little more in this with new parts than I would have invested in a core Granada set up that would still need new rotors, brgs, calipers and hoses.

Down side is the rotors are 10.5" but I really don't think that's bad. The plus is the parts are at any parts store.

 

Do you have the Shelby vin plate, for the car the parts came from? Awesome project!

 

No there's just the J code Mustang vin on the door. A few Shelby purists basically told me I have no right to keep these parts and I should sell them to Shelby owners who need them and use the money to restore the car as a stock J code Mustang. They call it a fake or clone to slander but to me it's a little more than that. I've had it since I could ride a bike nearly. I'd never claim it to be a real Shelby, but I think it's cool that someone took the time to round up all of these parts and add them to this car. Heck I could never afford the real thing so it's good enough for me.

 

Screw the Shelby snobs! Enjoy the car, it's awesome!

 

I say "forget" those Shelby purists! Fix your Mustang, the way you want it. It will be one sweet ride, when you're done.

 

:bananamanI love how it looks.

And will love to see it in the road...

 

Looks like a great project with a great story behind it. Make it what you want and enjoy it. I have never been big on the purist thing. That is what hot roding is all about. Modifying them to make them what you want.

 

I received the Scarebird kit today. Looks pretty neat. Can't wait to try this stuff out. Gonna pick up the rotors tomorrow. Still waiting on the frt end kit.

 

Looks like a very nice project.