4/2/2018
History - I am the second owner, bought the car as a freshman in college in 1970!
The car was purchased new from a SoCal dealer (San Jose build) by a guy named Bob. Bob's brother in law, Richard, my friend in high school was given first choice to buy the car as a graduation present. Richard was dumb and chose a new VW bug rather than a 4 year old fastback GT mustang. Bob then offered the car to me for $700 !!!!!! I couldn't afford that so Bob let me pay half and then the other half when I could. So I scored the buy of the century. within the first 10 years I did as much Shelby modifications as I could and went to all of the Cobra Club events at Willow Springs raceway. Around 1990, with the pressure of work, raising kids, paying bills, etc I parked in in the garage just as I bent a pushrod. My son towed it to his house in 2003 and supervised minor ding repairs, and a new paint job (same OEM color - Ivy Green)
Fast forward, The car sat from then till 2016 when I saved up enough mulah to star a total restoration. All by myself, I did the following:
- New fuel system, 22 gal tank and sender
- New 3.8" fuel line
- New Baer disc brakes all around
- All new front suspension components including all new steering linkage, bump steer tie rod ends, heim joint adjustable strut rods, etc
- 620# springs, Arning drop, and roll bar were done back in the late 70's
- Carroll Shelby Motors (Dembeste Motors) 331 crate that was originally built as a spare for Pete Brock's Daytona Coupes
- 750 cfm Holley carb
- The close ratio top loader was rebuilt by a local trans shop. Used existing Hurst shifter
- New McLeod clutch / pressure plate - used existing McLeod scatter-shield
- The 9" rear (that I sourced from a junkyard back in the day) was updated with 31 spline axles, Nodular carrier, 3.5 ratio, and TruTrac limited slip.
- All new brake lines
- Wilwood master cylinder, and proportioning valve
- Aluminum radiator
- New package tray
- New Scat seats
- New carpets
- New headliner
- All new interior LED bulbs
- New LED headlights
- Dynamat all floor pan
- Numerous odds, ends, and all new fasteners
- New glove box door
- And finally, a new instrument cluster.
