I bought Ken McLellan's Cobrastang 1969 SS/G factory backed Mustang in 1973 on the way home from the Winternationals in Pomona. Ken got out of Drag Racing when he lost his Ford sponsorship. Ken set the SS/G record many times, the record was 11.09 when I got it. In 1971 Ken won Super Stock at the World Finals in Texas. In 1973 I took the car to the Gatornationals because I broke a converter in my car. I had not driven a 4 speed car in 4 years. With no practice the first time run was 11.11. Broke an axle during qualifying. I raced it only a few times because it was breaking a lot of parts; axles, wheel studs, clutch, etc. I used the engine as a spare for my SS/GA and set the record in 1974 with parts from it. In the early 80's we backed halfed the car, put a roll cage in and stripped it to race brackets (what a mistake). It has been in storage for over 20 years. Only has 21 miles on it.





This is how it looked in 2005



It is finally time to get the Cobrastang out of storage and start the restoration. It has been in storage a long time 









It is in the shop. It looks good in the photo but there is a lot of work to do. This will be a long term restoration because we have to repair it in our spare time. We have a lot of customer cars to work on.

Ken was factory backed and had one of the $1.00 cars. The Cobrastang has 21 miles on it.

I have decided it's time to start working on this project again. Dashboard is ready to install but need to fabricate brackets for the AC first.

It has been a long time but it's back together and running





Getting ready to leave for Norwalk Wednesday.



 

Are the lower front arm strut rods off the shelf from a vendor or did you make your own?

http://www.streetortrack.com/

My first race car bought new was a 1969 Cobra. When I saw the decal of the Snake on the fender on pre order photos I thought it was so cool but when it came in no decal only the Snake. Later Cobras had Cobra under the Snake. My Dad who was truck manager at Grant Ford in St. Petersburg Fl ordered it with the drag pack but it was holding up the order so he cancelled the drag pack. When I first got it I drove it to College but not for long because we went to the first Division II points race in April 1969. On the way to Phenix City Ala towing with a tow bar a tire blew out on the race car and bent the tow bar.  Not sure how many miles away we were but I drove it the rest of the way with open headers and 4.44 gear. We were rained out so we left it at a gas station and came back the next week only to have a problem with the clutch. We also bought a used trailer.

We went to the 1969 Springnationals in Dallas Texas where I ran 12.87 losing to the National record holder who ran 12.66. On the way Randy Payne was driving the Ford Drag Team truck and passed us and pulled over so we stopped. He thought we were someone he knew from Atlanta and said if you need anything come and see him. It's hard to believe but I broke a Detroit Locker and went to Randy and he got us a new one. Because of breaking that Detroit Locker I got to know Randy Payne and Hubert Platt and traveled with the Ford Drag Team for a couple of months after Indy. That is the only thing I ever got free from Ford. We bought Hubert's 1968 SS/FA Mustang November 1969.       

Speedhut gauges came in. Each gauge has a bag with wires, sending unit or whatever is needed to hook it up.





I have to modify the back side of the gauge panel.









I used a half round file to enlarge the hole.



I still have to paint the dash trim black

Any engine rework Rusty, or will you run it as is?

New Edelbrock intake, Quick fuel carb, Mustang valve covers, water pump and fuel pump. Change to the Mustang II oil pan and Mustang II exhaust manifolds. Headers won't clear the AOD trans.





Also have a new flexplate