fair warning: on block island or manhattan or in missouri, we can be a little salty
5.01.2012
name that ride!
Ha ha, tricked you! We are now taking a little detour into ManLand. It is a land where chainsaws and muscle cars rule. In fact, it reminds me a lot of Missouri. This car is about to leave in a New York-Alaska rally. Can you tell me what it is? Or why it wouldn't start?
This could be a '65 Shelby GT-350, except the suspension looks as if it's been raised from the original build.
The Mustang appeared as a 64 1/2 model, making its debut at The New York World's Fair.
This, if not a '65 Shelby, is a'65 or '66 Mustang fastback. They changed the style in '67. You may recall the film, "A Man and a Woman." A similar car was used by the rally-driver male lead. His was a coupe, though, not a fastback.
If I wasn't in The PressureDome right now I'd say more, but this is a great shot.
Full of promise, and all the excitmement of the open road. Also, these guys are holding wrenches and an ignition key. Not an iPhone. They'll have their fun the old-fashioned way--they'll live it.
No argument with T.H.E. on the Shelby. But it could not have gotten where it is with a bad carb. Much more likely it is trying to tell the prospective drivers is that as a collectable I go for up to $200,000 ad for an Alaska rally you probably want more road clearance. So in short it was saying, "think again."
With all due respect to the posters here, "think again" simply cannot apply to running a New York-Alaska Rally in a 47-year old street machine.
This is the beauty of it.
Case in point: The Merry Pranksters, Seattle to New York in Furthur (Ken Kesey among them); Dean Moriarty and Sal Paradise; Tod & Buzz. And let's not forget Kowalski in his white challenger.
These guys were drivers. They made decisions, not arguments.
The two existentialists wrenching this mustang have it all figured out--without having to figure it out.
1966 GT 350 (H), original Shelby numbers, 289, now 350, 4-speed, modified shock towers, frame, suspension for marathon rallying worldwide, last event in Namibia, Africa, began rally use in Europe (London to Cortina), 1996 under present ownership, "H" designates originally a Hertz rental Shelby color green with gold stripes from California
We are flushing the cooling system. Non-starting several hours earlier due to drained battery, somebody left the headlights on and it wasn't me. Flushing coolant as a pre-rally precaution, intermittent running hot, maybe a bad temp sending unit, have spare, may need further trouble shoot
Though I rarely spoke (except to Super Soul) during the actual filming of "Vanishing Point," I hope my fans understand that an unhappy life can be redeemed through a happy death.
Yes, this may be a little too Irish for a guy named Kowalski but they always said I was a lot like my mother, and she was an O'Casey--descendant of the great playwright.
And by the way, when I had that 440 grinding away at 6,000 rpm, it felt like anything could happen (see Irish).
Final note: there is truth to the legend that if you separate the 8 from D8 (bulldozers) and turn it on its side you have infinity.
Note: the rear quaarter panel louvered window went out with the '65 model year; the rear brake air scoops, which were standard on the '66 Shelby GT350, were removed on this car as they were not truly functional in their factory configuration, and the openings in the rear wheel well interiors were sealed to raeduce dirt intrusion onto the calipers.
wow I am impressed with this whole deal...lots of good info about otherwise the unknown...sounds like a great time for a race...but how did it come to be on the island? Is this where the best mechanics are located? A fact up until now not revealed to me....
@Neruda: many great mechanics come from islands (see Staten Island) and many great races occur on islands (see Isle of Man TT). This is a rally, which is a little different.
I think what you've seen here is loyalty to, and the excitement generated from things Shelby. The guys in the picher, as I see them, are two of thousands who have pushed Shelby iron over the decades and all over the world.
Carroll Shelby is most responsible for putting American on the map when it comes international sports car racing. Henry Ford II (The Deuce) turned to him in the mid-60s when the GT-40 program was ailing. He previously won at Lemans with his Cobra Daytona Coupes and he wound up putting together a four-year winning streak at LeMans circa 66-69 and bringing American drivers and American technology (drivetrain) the respect it deserved. Drivers off the top of my head: Mark Donohue, Bob Bondurant, A.J. Foyt, and Dan Gurney. Britain, Italy, and New Zealand were represented also.
That's Paul and Douglas tuning up the machine. Paul and his wife Mary are racing to Alaska. Back in the day, in the Carrera Panamericana, Douglas and Paul drove the 1954 Jaguar XK120 and Mary and I drove the 1956 Porsche. We beat them, always, because there weren't a lot of parts for the Jaguar in Mexico. And because we were better, naturally.
This could be a '65 Shelby GT-350, except the suspension looks as if it's been raised from the original build.
ReplyDeleteThe Mustang appeared as a 64 1/2 model, making its debut at The New York World's Fair.
This, if not a '65 Shelby, is a'65 or '66 Mustang fastback. They changed the style in '67.
You may recall the film, "A Man and a Woman." A similar car was used by the rally-driver male lead. His was a coupe, though, not a fastback.
Now, where's my darn prize?
She probly wouldn't start because of old fuel turning to varnish in the carbureter bowl.
ReplyDeleteIf I wasn't in The PressureDome right now I'd say more, but this is a great shot.
ReplyDeleteFull of promise, and all the excitmement of the open road. Also, these guys are holding wrenches and an ignition key. Not an iPhone. They'll have their fun the old-fashioned way--they'll live it.
No argument with T.H.E. on the Shelby. But it could not have gotten where it is with a bad carb. Much more likely it is trying to tell the prospective drivers is that as a collectable I go for up to $200,000 ad for an Alaska rally you probably want more road clearance. So in short it was saying, "think again."
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect to the posters here, "think again" simply cannot apply to running a New York-Alaska Rally in a 47-year old street machine.
ReplyDeleteThis is the beauty of it.
Case in point: The Merry Pranksters, Seattle to New York in Furthur (Ken Kesey among them); Dean Moriarty and Sal Paradise; Tod & Buzz. And let's not forget Kowalski in his white challenger.
These guys were drivers. They made decisions, not arguments.
The two existentialists wrenching this mustang have it all figured out--without having to figure it out.
When in doubt gas it.
You watched Vanishing Point too often
ReplyDelete1966 GT 350 (H), original Shelby numbers, 289, now 350, 4-speed, modified shock towers, frame, suspension for marathon rallying worldwide, last event in Namibia, Africa, began rally use in Europe (London to Cortina), 1996 under present ownership, "H" designates originally a Hertz rental Shelby color green with gold stripes from California
DeleteAddendum: louvered 1/4 panel fastback windows changed to solid plexiglass so does not draw in dust on gravel tracks.
DeleteWe are flushing the cooling system. Non-starting several hours earlier due to drained battery, somebody left the headlights on and it wasn't me. Flushing coolant as a pre-rally precaution, intermittent running hot, maybe a bad temp sending unit, have spare, may need further trouble shoot
DeleteThough I rarely spoke (except to Super Soul) during the actual filming of "Vanishing Point," I hope my fans understand that an unhappy life can be redeemed through a happy death.
ReplyDeleteYes, this may be a little too Irish for a guy named Kowalski but they always said I was a lot like my mother, and she was an O'Casey--descendant of the great playwright.
And by the way, when I had that 440 grinding away at 6,000 rpm, it felt like anything could happen (see Irish).
Final note: there is truth to the legend that if you separate the 8 from D8 (bulldozers) and turn it on its side you have infinity.
Believe me I know.
Note: the rear quaarter panel louvered window went out with the '65 model year; the rear brake air scoops, which were standard on the '66 Shelby GT350, were removed on this car as they were not truly functional in their factory configuration, and the openings in the rear wheel well interiors were sealed to raeduce dirt intrusion onto the calipers.
ReplyDeleteNote DaDa: Have you read "Go Like Hell?"
ReplyDeleteIt's a recently-written history of the GT-40 project which I'm sure you're familiar with.
A well-written tale in which Carroll Shelby looms large.
Tell em to bring some paper matches and a clean and dry air filtre. The paper matchbook cover will help setting the points.. roll on
ReplyDeletewow I am impressed with this whole deal...lots of good info about otherwise the unknown...sounds like a great time for a race...but how did it come to be on the island? Is this where the best mechanics are located? A fact up until now not revealed to me....
ReplyDelete@Neruda: many great mechanics come from islands (see Staten Island) and many great races occur on islands (see Isle of Man TT). This is a rally, which is a little different.
ReplyDeleteI think what you've seen here is loyalty to, and the excitement generated from things Shelby. The guys in the picher, as I see them, are two of thousands who have pushed Shelby iron over the decades and all over the world.
Carroll Shelby is most responsible for putting American on the map when it comes international sports car racing. Henry Ford II (The Deuce) turned to him in the mid-60s when the GT-40 program was ailing. He previously won at Lemans with his Cobra Daytona Coupes and he wound up putting together a four-year winning streak at LeMans circa 66-69 and bringing American drivers and American technology (drivetrain) the respect it deserved. Drivers off the top of my head: Mark Donohue, Bob Bondurant, A.J. Foyt, and Dan Gurney. Britain, Italy, and New Zealand were represented also.
OK, this is getting long.
That's Paul and Douglas tuning up the machine. Paul and his wife Mary are racing to Alaska. Back in the day, in the Carrera Panamericana, Douglas and Paul drove the 1954 Jaguar XK120 and Mary and I drove the 1956 Porsche. We beat them, always, because there weren't a lot of parts for the Jaguar in Mexico. And because we were better, naturally.
ReplyDeleteI remember those days and that race....and how cool everything was...
ReplyDelete