Jim Lange explains his "research vehicle" in his own words:

"My father purchased the car from Bob Barker (Nevada) in 1977 after seeing it in an ad in the Competition Press. My father had been racing his 1965 Shelby GT350 (SFM5022) in the southwest region SCCA and hillclimbs and at times was a volunteer corner worker for larger events. He had seen this car raced by several owners including Bob Barker as well as close friend Don Roberts. The purchase transaction occurred in December 1977 and the car picked up in Las Vegas in January of 1978 (bill of sale in my file).

From my notes:
-The car had been painted black just before purchase
-The car had Shelby over ride bars, R model wheels (stamped '65), Valley Head Service heads, Shelby R model valve covers, GT350 front suspension, Shelby hoop roll-over bar
-The front quarter panels were mildly flared, the rear more so
-The dash was set up just the same as the R Models that I've seen over the years with Stewart-Warner gauges, blue and red warning lights etc.

Bob Barker surrendered an SCCA logbook from 1975 but kept the rest. My Father believed that they were kept as memories/keepsakes. 
Some notes from the logbook:

-The car was campaigned during that year painted gold (was described as looking more bronze than Gold)
-Tech notes included comments "Le Mans style gas cap, must change before next race", Shelby roll over loop (original is stamped with log book number)

Miscellaneous note causing some confusion:
-The Shelby purchase order to Ford San Jose is for 5 units and is dated 5/16/1967 to the dealer "Shelby American"

-With the car came original FIA stamped certification of homologation (#5205) dated for the series of cars produced August-November 1967 for chassis 8F01J100001 which would or might indicate a car produced very late in 1967 for the 1968 model year

-The front clip and the rear clip are clearly from two different cars as evidence in the fact that there is a massive weld midway through the floor pan and roof (obviously cut in half). The front clip's Shelby VIN/Plate reads Z67401F8A02481 which according to the Marti Report started life as a 1967 Shelby Fastback

-In a letter written to my father on SAAC letterhead from Rick Kopec dated 1983 Rick states that there were only 11 known 67's ordered/build:
 6 ordered 1/10/1967, 3 1/16/1967 and 2 on 9/1/1967. Kopec acknowledges that he had not seen my father's purchase order for 5 dated 5/29/1967 and further stated "there is very little that we know about Shelby and this program".

Oral history throughout the cars history has been that it is a Shelby American raced prepared 1967 Notchback that was heavily crashed and sold off. In speaking with ex Shelby employees like Chuck Cantwell or Bernie Kretzschmar they stated that it is really hard to track down history with the Notchback's because they were cars coming off the assembly line, prepared for TransAm and raced to their deaths. Nobody really cared about those cars after the fact.

At the end of the day I am either attempting to restore a car that started life as a Shelby Notchback but was heavily damaged, rebuilt or recreated by fusing another Shelby clip to the front or simply an A Sedan that has been raced all of it's life but still the sum of 2 parts. 

I'm exploring the history the best that I can. 
Your good assistance is greatly appreciated."

Jim Lange

The center weld shows that 2 cars got together at some time, at least a blend with Shelby origins, as it looks like.

Is the rear clip from a 1967 Shelby Group 2 notchback? That is the question we are researching. Any hint about the race appearances in the years 1967- early 1970ies is appreciated.

The History of a "1967 AS notchback"

This is the only pic that Jim Lange found so far with Tom States help from the September 1968 Riverside Race showing a Mustang, most probably Ray Wolffs car #9. We are looking for more pictures of it. Please search your photoboxes.

The car with door number 22 as raced in Phoenix/Arizona by Ron Burns in the early 70ies?

This car is one of 5 notchbacks which most probably were bought by Bob Barker. It may be still one of the Shelbys notchbacks, but we are still researching this possibility, not claiming it.

Jim Lange racing in Phoenix/AZ in the mid 80ies

Again Phoenix/AZ in the mid  80ies

The interior of Jim Langes car today with Stewart-Warner gauges etc.

R-model wheels stamped with 5 67 (May 1967). These wheels were used by both  factory and independent racers.

History in short order (updates Nov.2010)
Late 60ies: Raced by  Ron Burns (second owner)

Early 1970ies Phoenix/AZ raced by Bob Barker & Don Roberts

Sold in 1977 to Jim Langes father

1980 raced by Jim Langes father in A/S


Pictures Charles Farley/Taken at the Eloy GP in the 80ies

Status: 
Stored in Jim Langes garage as of 2011, restoration almost complete by now in 2020

We are still looking for 1968 Mission Bell pictures of a blue #9 Mustang entered by Ray Wolff.
Your contribution is very much appreciated.


Read an early 2011 update on the research here