© Information
and pictures courtesy Conny Klintare, Billy Stabile, Randy Richardson, Mikael Zingmark
hosted by Wolfgang Kohrn - February 2022 - updated Dec 7th, 2023
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
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| Treadwell Ford Racing Team #99 | Daytona 24hours 1966 |
In the original 1966 Daytona 24hr race a competition Shelby Mustang (R-model 5R538) driven by Roger West and Dick Macon with sponsorship from Joe Treadwell appeared, but went out of the race after 168 rounds of 3,8 miles. Illinois based Roger West unfortunately passed away in the age of 78 in 2019. Richard Macon was from Birmingham, Alabama and passed away already in 2010. Joe Treadwell became owner of a Ford dealership in 1955 and was known for many charity actions. The dealership moved in 1967 to Mobile. The foundation still exists today. The second Treadwell Ford was a GT40 #98 entered in the same Daytona 24hours race. Billy Stabile, president of Hollywood Car Company, served the producers with about 100 cars, all for a leasing fee. 28 cars came from Fran Hall from Race Cars Replica (RCR) incl. the GT40 replicas. The Cobras, GT40 camera cars came from Superformance. The Treadwell Mustangs were prepared at Billys own shop. 4 Mustangs were turned into the Shelby Treadwell "notchbacks". The main scene at the 24hours Daytona race filming required that it got hit by a green GT40 with # 95. The stunt driver in the GT40 was Paul. Actually the green GT40 did not hit the burning shell, it was pulled prior to the approach in the driving direction, which you can spot here in this video  |
The Movie car
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 The two Mustang stunt cars that were turned from I6 to V8s staged at the racetrack. |
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2 of the
Mustang hardtops were shells,
the other two made tough to withstand real race action. Both
cars got V8s, although they were originally I6 built Mustangs. Racing fuel cells and a separate break circuit were installed for the speedy real life track scenes. Billy Stabile was of course on site at the track, when the action took place..not only to keep an eye on his cars.  We contacted him to get some insight on the actual filmwork and some behind the scenes shots. Stay tuned.  |
Stunt car #1 End of 2021 I learned about this car being in existence. Mikael Zingmark posted it on Facebook and since he was already an FB friend, I took the chance to pick up earlier conversation about Group 2 cars. It turned out that the car he bought from the US is one of the two stunt cars. It was built from an I6 base Mustang into the #99 main stunt car. The car will be shipped to Sweden these days in February 2022 from California/L.A.   The stunt car received a lot of tube framing to protect the stuntmen during the action scenes on the racetrack.   Since the stunt cars were planned to receive a high-speed sidekick, the trunk was protected on each side with tough bracing.  To avoid explosion during a rear knock out, a safe race fuel cell was mandatory, of course. We will keep you updated about the details soon. Mikael is the proud new owner in Sweden. The car turned up in one piece in Sweden and Mikael is taking care piece by piece of it now. |
| 20 Stunt drivers
were part of the movie. Robert Nagle was the stunt coordinator. Another more famous name is Jeff Bucknum, son of Ronnie Bucknum, used to drive at speeds of 200miles per hour. We will list all of them soon here. |
Stunt car
#2 This Mustang was originally ex-factory built with an I6. Converted for the stunt works with a V8 incl. 5-lug conversion and a proper rearend, it received similar tube framing inside the drivers cabin and the trunk area.  This car took the main punch from the green GT40 in the movie scene, but is still running straight and driven occasionally to car and coffee shows.   The right side is more or less intact after the movie. The engine sufffered from a piston slap during the race scenes, quite understandable given the high revvs to keep pace with the GT40ies and the other cars. Still the engine prooved reliable and runs despite that. Stunt car #2 was finally advertised on the LA Craigslist end of February 2022 and the ad disappeared soon after a few days. It was sold to a dealer in north eastern Germany. It obviously arrived in May 2022, but has not shown up yet since aside from a snap shot from the lot. The owner has taken it to 1 or 2 local shows meanwhile and likes to take it out once and thon on his own ground to drive a few circles remembering "Ford vs. Ferrari". It is in good hands and preserved as is for show and shine purposes. |
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Stunt car
3 and 4 were just rolling shells. One got set up at the track to be burnt up. The scene was not used in the movie itself, but is properly documented in the movie car listing.    This car #3 was bought by somebody who wanted to built a racecar out of it. He later decided to replace the damaged roof with a Fastback roof to recreate the original R-model maybe. Since this picture was taken the car got sold again.  |
Stunt car #4 was more seriously burnt
and the right side even more warped as you can see in this picture. Stored at
Shelby American.  | |
