1967/8 Mustang Notchback - Mexican racer 
Mystery car ???
© JCB, Wolfgang Kohrn - March 22nd,2013 updated Sept. 2014

 


All pictures JCB 

 
The History of an obscure Mexican racer that ended up in the US again 
JCB contacted us about this car and the photos he got. He has remainders of the car in his ownership and would like to get any help on finding out what it is. He has been in touch with Alvarado Diaz already. According to narrations this car has been raced in Mexico once and has returned to the US. We might soon publish pics of the surviving remainders, if the owner permits.

My first impression was, that it certainly looks like a Shelby team car or replica at least, yet the drum brakes were probably refitted and anybody might have had just a Shelby car in mind when he did this one. 
What the experts noticed so far:

".. is the turn signal hood as well as the main hoop leaning back. That to me says it had a 4-point roll bar at one point and later a full cage added. The lean back is due to the main hoop tubes on 4-point bars bolting to the rear floor pan rather than the upper section under the seat area." 

"The nice fender flares, lack of any serious damage, windshield wipers and the style of roll cage really point to it being only an ex-road racer. The only theory I can think of on the drum brakes is that the discs could have been cannibalized, and someone just put drum spindle assemblies on it to be able to move it around. Car looks like it was well built (the fender flares look professional). My guess is that was some sort of independent T/A car or even an A/Sedan  SCCA club racer. Interesting car, curious to see what you guys find about it. Reminds me of my 67 Mustang road race car."

"I had noticed the 68 turn signal hood, and the blue is the correct Ford Corporate Blue not used until 68. The fender flares are definitely Kar Kraft 68 flares and were not added after this car was painted. The condition of the paint certainly suggests it was painted a very long time ago, very possibly 1968. The drum brakes were most likely refitted as anyone who as ever been in Mexico knows that parts are very difficult to get, so the original SA/KK Lincoln spindles, rotors, and calipers would almost be impossible to get in Mexico, the drum set up would have been much easier and cheaper to obtain south of the border.
   Now, everything points to this being a 68 car except the cage seems to have started out as a 67, then upgraded to a complete 68 cage. The one thing that really has my interest that I can see all that well is the lack of side marker lights in the front fenders which would mean they were 67 fenders. Maybe you can see better. I am leaning towards the fact this may have been a 67 car converted to a 68 at KK....
Also the hood pins are in the correct location, the door number circle is the correct size and in the correct location, but it is obvious that it has been repainted white, making one wonder why. I am of the opinion that this is a real car, with at minimum the body and paint done at KK, and very possibly a converted 67 car. I will contact Alvarado Diaz to see what he knows about the car."

Update March 28, 2013:
Meanwhile the owner has rechecked his files and will post of detail shots of the items he has in his posession to clarify the history. He is not sure where the pictures were taken nor when. But talking to Diaz he heard "that it was indeed a mexican road racer and that the car came back to the US via Texas". But he will recheck his notes about this statement. 
"From what I have read, Kar Kraft made the flared fenders in 1968. Maybe a few discrepancies.. (are visible - editors note)."

I have heard that this car might have been build by Smokey Yunick...

While checking the pictures received in detail, we found interesting newsbits in the background. 
 Obviously the car was parked behind this shop next to a ..Drive-in or Grill station, when pictured. The car had been returned into the US from Mexico, so this shot could be from a garage/gasstation  near a Grill station in Texas - our best clue as of now. 

Collected narrations say, at the time of these shots it was converted for circle tracks, maybe dirt tracks and may have received less expensive components like the drum brakes and other items. The hood however seems to have been on the car as the paint is the same l like on the fenders. With wipers and a turn signal hood, it could have been an independent road racer in Mexico.

Update Sept 5th, 2014
Craig Olson stopped by and told us that he once inspected this specific car at the shown location.
"I remember the trailer and truck box in the background. The KK parts JCB shows... I don't believe they would have been on that car when it raced; I think a subsequent owner later acquired those parts to put this car back together, not knowing they are for a 69/70 car. The drum brakes on the notchback in these pictures.. at least as I recall... tell me, all the good stuff went to another race car and the drums were the quickest way to make it a roller! I'll bet there is a "plane-jane" rear housing in the back. I have some idea what this car was, but would need to talk to JCB. (We try to get him hooked again)

If you have anything more on this car, point us to the right direction with your memories or observations.
Send your mail to webmaster(at)ponysite.de

Sources:
 JCB
Experts (upon further research we will publish the names as well)
Craig Olson

E-Mail
Back to 67/68 Notchback Mustangs overview
Back to Homepage