Is the rear clip from Jim Langes A/S Mustang a former 1967 Shelby Group 2 notchback? 
That is the question Jim Lange and we are researching seriously since a while. Any hint about the race appearances in the years 1967- early 1970ies is appreciated.

Read Jims initial earlier research results here

One of the earliest pictures: The car with door number 22 as raced in Phoenix/Arizona by Ron Burns in the early 70ies. Previous owner was Dick Guider.

Wolfgang,
I had originally emailed you in April of 2010 as I was beginning to research the history of my Fathers 1967 Mustang Notchback A Sedan race car. Just to remind you this car is the sum of two parts, a GT500 front clip (Ford VIN 7R02Q201960, Shelby VIN 67401F8A02481).  As I had shared with you at that time, for years it was rumoured that the car was a clipped 1967 Shelby American competition coupe, but without an associated VIN it would be nearly impossible to prove, as noted in our many email conversations. Because I was still intrigued by the car’s history I immersed myself in research and believe that not only have I proven this car’s chain of custody I have also located a second 1967 Shelby competition coupe previously lost to history, complete with VIN.

During the past 10 months I have personally interviewed the previous owners of my Father’s car documenting the many phone calls, emails, letters, and face to face visits as well as obtained period photos. The chain of custody and brief individual histories are as follows:

-1969 Richard “Dick” Guider, then living in the Los Angeles area, purchased 2 1967 Shelby competition coupes from Shelby Racing Company in Torrance, CA. both cars having been updated to 1968 Trans Am specifications and were back up cars for the 1968 Tran Am season.  Dick, in my Father’s car, competed in SCCA A Sedan races throughout the West that 1969 season to include the 12^th Annual Los Angeles Times Grand Prix A Sedan support race at Riverside Raceway in October. The car was campaigned that year painted orange and entered as M & R Racing Enterprises. The car was parked in storage at the end of the 1969 season until it was sold to Ron Burns in 1974 for the sum of $2500 and “installation of a burglar alarm” and delivered to Ron in Phoenix, where Dick also had a small auto shop competing with Don Roberts’ Mini Sports.

-1974 Ron Burns, then living in Phoenix, AZ purchased the car specifically because “it was my clear understanding  it was one of 2 left over Shelby American cars from the 1967 Trans Am season” and the car had “all the right bits and pieces”. Ron painted the car gold, secured sponsorship with Black Forest and enlisted fellow Phoenician Don Roberts as his mechanic (Mini Sports and Don Roberts Race Engineering). Ron raced the car in SCCA and ASRA (Arizona Sports Racer’s Association) events in 1974 and shared driving duties with Don Roberts in endurance events that year. The car was sold to Don Roberts for $2000 in 1974, but he never raced it.

-1975 Robert “Bob” Barker of Las Vegas, NV purchased the car for the sum of $2500 and “some JC Penny’s stock”. Bob participated in various SCCA races the period 1975-1977. Late in 1977 the car was painted black, given large flares, a California Special rear deck treatment and “signature gold racing wheels”. In 1977 the car was advertised for sale in the Competition Press.

-1977 Jim Lange of Phoenix, AZ (my Father) bought the car for $1700 in December of that year, and picked the car up in January 1978. The car was raced in various ASRA events, Hill Climbs, and the Eloy Grand Prix where it was damaged in 1984. It was then repainted red with a black hood and raced until 1998 when it was again damaged, this time at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix. The car is currently undergoing preparation for restoration back to 1967-1968 specifications.

Although I have proven an unbroken chain of custody since 1969 I cannot prove, at this time, how the car became clipped even though I do have my suspicions. When questioned, the responses were “not me”. This matter has caused skepticism as the original rear clip, sans VIN, has been enjoined with a 1967 Shelby GT500 front clip.

Please share my up to date research findings with the readers of ponysite.de as I hope that someone might come forward with even more information that may be useful in solving the few remaining unknowns. Hopefully, this plea for assistance from your readers and the SAAC community will bear fruit. I am anxious to learn more from the experts.

Jim Lange, February 8th. 2011

Dick Guider visits Jim Lange sr. and together they inspect for 2 hours the welding, individual parts and pieces of the rear 1/2 of Jim Langes surviving AS racer with the 67 Shelby front.

Dicks final words: 
"..there is no doubt in my mind that the rear half of your car is my old car"

Now just a few more proofs need to be collected about Dick Guider buying those 2 SA notchbacks and Jim jr. and sr.  will be done with a 3 years up and down research adventure. Paperwork and more is on the table to be puzzled together.
And then there is the second SA notchback still waiting in Dicks container for its final coming out. More soon.