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Buy with confidence!
If for any reason
you're not
completely satisfied
with an item, simply
return it within 7
days and the
purchase price will
be refunded.
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We ship world wide.
All international
orders must be paid
online. Checks or
money orders drawn
on non-US banks will
not be accepted.
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1965 – Destiny Fulfilled
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Bill McDuell’s Ultimate A/FX 1964
Comet was one of the most beautiful of
the breed. The car was EDN Top Dog
in A/FX for 1964. (Alan Wood)
McCoy Mercury sponsored this
injected 427-powered T-Bird in
Modified Sports competition. (Alan
Wood)
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Mustang Delivers Youthful Image, Sales Numbers, and Racing Championships
The First A/FX Mustangs
In the spring of 1964, Bill Holbrook and the Experimental Vehicles Garage crew were able to get
their hands on a 1964 Mustang coupe from the Ford fleet. They immediately set about building the
first A/FX Mustang drag car. The body was shipped to Dearborn Steel Tubing where the engine bay
was modified to accept the 427 High Riser engine. Then it was back to the X-Vehicles shop where
the car was completed.
A T&C top-loader 4-speed transmission transferred the 427’s estimated 500 hp to a 9-inch rear
housing that carried 4.86 gears and a Detroit Locker unit. Special 66-inch-long traction bars
extended from the rear housing to the transmission crossmember and effectively connected the
front and rear subframe rails.
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To get the car’s weight down to 3,236 lbs, a fiberglass hood, front fenders, and doors were
mounted. Plexiglas was used for side windows to further reduce weight. Originally white, it was later
painted in the gold-and-black paint scheme of Bob Ford. Len Richter raced the car locally around
Detroit for a short time before selling it off to Kenny Salter for the pricely sum of one dollar. I wonder
what that investment would return today if the car could be located.
Former dragster driver Ron Pellegrini joined forces with Hawkinson Ford during the 1964 season to
test the waters of Super Stock competition. Hawkinson took delivery of three Thunderbolts–two 4-
speeds and one automatic. The automatic transmission car was sold and one of the 4-speed
vehicles became the Hawkinson Ford Thunder Hawk. This car was a successful competitor in the
Midwest Super Stock ranks during the season, running mid-11-second elapsed times at over 123
mph. Having contacts inside of Ford and seeing the escalation of the horsepower war being waged
by the automakers, the Hawkinson team thought the new Mustang might be just the ticket for
staying ahead of the competition.
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The Kenz and Leslie team ran both carbureted and supercharged wedge Ford-powered
dragsters starting in 1960. (“Pete” Garramone)
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After talking Ford out of a new Mustang coupe body, Pellegrini and company proceeded to cut up
the second Hawkinson Ford T-Bolt and apply all the parts to the Mustang. Within a short time of
completion, the car recorded times in the high 10s and established Pellegrini as a top competitor.
He won the A/FX class at every meet entered and took not only class honors, but also the title of
Overall Stock Eliminator at the U.S. 30 Dragway Meet of Champions on Labor Day weekend 1964.
An interesting story about the Hawkinson Ford Mustang and a match race at Pocono Drag Lodge
finally surfaced nearly four decades after the fact. As testified, the former track owner was tired of
seeing the Fords come in and defeat the competition on a weekly basis. As a result, an additional
$500 would be added to any negotiated match-race purse of any GM car that could come forward
and defeat a Ford. Ron Pellegrini was booked into a match race with a Z-11 Chevy out of the south
called Good Old Mr. Wilson.
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Unbeknownst to Pellegrini, the Chevy showed up packing a 500-ci engine and had every possible
ounce of weight removed. Mr. Wilson also made use of rosin on the starting line and although he
shared some of the gold dust with Pellegrini, he neglected to inform him as to how to properly use
the product. This resulted in the Mustang having trouble getting off the starting line, costing Ron
the match. Needless to say, Mr. Wilson collected his extra $500 and the Chevy fans at Pocono
finally had something to cheer about.
The Hawkinson Ford Mustang was later sold to Dick Loehr who re-christened the car Stampede
and ran it until later receiving a Mustang funny car. The Thunder Hawk Thunderbolt found a
second career as a winning Super/Stock car in the hands of none other than Barrie Poole.
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The Wyatt Mercury
Renegade 427 Wedge
Comet is shown here at
Dragway 42 in 1967. (Larry
Davis)
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Previous | Next
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This has been a sample page from
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Total Performers: Ford Drag Racing
in the 1960s
by Charles Morris
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The 1960s was arguably the most important decade for
drag racing. It had exciting cars, thrilling races, and most
importantly, factory participation. Among the best high-
performance cars and engines were those coming from
Dearborn, Michigan. Ford Motor Company’s “Total
Performance Years” saw a breakthrough as drag racing
helped the younger, performance- and style- conscious
consumer to begin receiving some recognition.
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Factory participation in drag racing pushed the
envelope for high performance developments. Ford's
FE-series engine, Police Interceptor, GT 390, Single
Overhead Cam, Cobra Jet, and Boss 429 are all
covered in detail. See the cars and the drivers that
made them famous – Dick Brannan’s Goldfinger, Bill
Lawton’s Mystery Mustang, “Dyno Don” Nicholson’s
Eliminator Comet, Gas Ronda’s stretched Mustang, Al
Joenic’s Batcar, and more.
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Click here to view sample pages from
each chapter.
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Chap. 1 - 1960 Fords in Drag Racing
Chap. 2 - 1961 Fords in Drag Racing
Chap. 3 - 1962 Fords in Drag Racing
Chap. 4 - 1963 Fords in Drag Racing
Chap. 5 - 1964 Fords in Drag Racing
Chap. 6 - 1965 Fords in Drag Racing
Chap. 7 - 1966 Fords in Drag Racing
Chap. 8 - 1967 Fords in Drag Racing
Chap. 9 - 1968 Fords in Drag Racing
Chap. 10 - 1969 Fords in Drag Racing
Chap. 11 - 1970 Fords in Drag Racing
Chap 12 - Ford of Canada Drag Racing
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Accomplished journalist and life-long Ford aficionado
Charles Morris takes you back to the Total
Performance Years through first-hand accounts as well
as over 400 rare photographs. A drag racer since
1966, Morris has run cars in both Stock and Super
Stock classes. He is currently the owner of the original
Norristown Ford 1963 _ lightweight Galaxie and races
the car in Nostalgia Super Stock as part of the 422
Motorsports Drag Racing Team. This book is a must
read for all drag racing fans, not just Ford enthusiasts.
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Hardbound
10 x 10"
192 pages
130 color & 290 b/w photos
Item # CT407
Price: $Discontinued
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Click here to buy now!
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This is a great book any Ford
enthusiast will love!
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Other items you might be interested in
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Gasser Wars: Drag Racing's Street Classes: 1955 to 1968
Author Larry Davis combined his own image archive with many rare,
never-published images from racers, fans, and track photographers all
over the country. He also did extensive research and interviews with
former drag racers. The result is a comprehensive, entertaining, and
nostalgic look at drag racing history.
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Price:
$22.95
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Factory Lightweights: Detroit's Drag Racing Specials of the '60s
Among racers it has never been a secret that a lighter car is a faster
car—particularly in drag racing. When Detroit’s automakers got
involved in organized drag racing, they paid heed to this principle,
issuing a series of rare race-only cars that became legends in their
own time. Factory Lightweights: Detroit’s Drag Racing Specials of the
‘60s chronicles these rare cars that still inspire admirers and imitators
today, like the Ford Fairlane 427 Thunderbolt.
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Price:
$22.95
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Ford Galaxie & LTD Gold Portfolio 1960--1976
Contemporary road and comparison tests, specification and technical
data, driver's reports, long-term tests, new model introductions. 176
pages, 475 pictures and illustrations. Softbound.
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Price:
$29.95
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Mercury Comet & Cyclone Limited Edition Extra 1960-1975
This portfolio encompasses the first decade and a half of the Lincoln-
Mercury Division’s Comet and Cyclone. The models featured include
Comet S-22, GT, Caliente, Cyclone-GT, Cobra Jet & Montego,
Convertible, and Wagon. 128 pages, 200 b/w illustrations. Sftbd.
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Price:
$22.95
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Shipping is combined and discounted for multiple item purchases!
Buy more and save on shipping!
We ship Worldwide! See International Shipping for more information!
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Search Our Store for More Great Ford, Lincoln & Mercury Items!
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If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact us. We look forward to serving
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Thanks for your business!
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MRE
PO Box 47
Grinnell, IA 50112
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