The Group 2 Shelby Ford Mustang that Ken Miles never raced

Hands-on look & dive into the history of this 1966 Shelby Ford Mustang Group 2 Racer Originally Built For Famous Legendary Shelby American Driver; Ken Miles!
#12 of 16 Shelby Group II Racers Factory Built In 1966
Purchased New By John McComb And Raced From 1966-1969
1st Place At Pan American Trans-Am, Green Valley, TX In 1966
1st Place At Continental Divide SCCA National In 1966
John McComb And This Car Helped Ford Claim The Trans Am Manufacturers Championship For 1966
Featured on the December 1966 cover of Sports Car Graphic
Participant in the 24 Hours of Daytona, 1967
Finished 2nd in 1967 SCCA A/Sedan Midwest
Complete Rotisserie Restoration By Legendary Motorcar
LMC is very proud to offer for sale this 1966 Shelby Group II Racer
There’s no telling how Ken Miles would have helped Shelby and Ford in the 1966 SCCA Trans-Am series; he died in August of that year without having driven this Shelby Mustang that was factory prepared for him. Yet John McComb made the best of a tragic situation by racing this Mustang to two wins and helping Ford clinch the manufacturers’ championship that year.
According to SCCA rules, the Mustang fastbacks - which, of course, Shelby based his G.T. 350 upon - were classified as two-seaters, leaving them ineligible for Trans-Am’s A/Sedan class (which also specified that entrants have all-steel bodywork and no hood scoops). Regardless, Ford wanted a "horse” in the Trans-Am race, so Cantwell built 16 notchback K-code Mustangs with G.T. 350R underpinnings (along with another four with street G.T. 350 underpinnings built for European FIA rallying) and stripped them of every non-essential item the rule book would allow him to get away with. The equipment included a Shelby-built 289 CI engine with an aluminum high-rise intake manifold and 715 CFM Holley 4-barrel carburetor, Borg-Warner close ratio 4-speed, Detroit Locker rear end, high-capacity fuel tank with quick-release filler, heavy duty front disc and rear drum brakes, Koni shock absorbers, heavy duty oil cooler and radiator, 15x7 American Racing wheels and more. Shelby, which had dissolved its factory racing effort at the end of 1965, sold the cars as Ford Mustangs to privateer customers.
This 1966 Ford Mustang Group II A/Sedan racer is number 12 of 16 built by Shelby American to compete in the SCCA Group II amateur racing series created in concert with the professional Trans Am series. Invoiced August 24, 1966 to Turner Ford in Wichita, Kansas, this car was purchased by John McComb. When McComb put in a request for one of the Trans-Am Mustangs with his friend Cantwell, all 16 had been spoken for; it wasn’t until after Ken Miles death in August 1966 while testing a Ford GT40 J-car at Riverside that Cantwell called up McComb to let him know that one of the Mustangs had become available. McComb, who was based in Hutchinson, Kansas, at the time, said he picked up the Mustang in Los Angeles and within two weeks won two races - at Continental Divide in Castle Rock, Colorado, and at Green Valley Raceway outside Fort Worth, Texas, the latter tying Ford with Chrysler for the lead in the manufacturers’ championship. In 1966 this was with the help of this very car, that Ford would go on to claim the overall title. It also appeared on the December 1966 cover of Sports Car Graphic Magazine. It was purchased by Keith Thomas in June of 1967, who finished second in the 1967 SCCA A/Sedan Midwest Region behind McComb. The following year it set the A/Sedan lap record at the Lake Afton SCCA National. It eventually disappeared for 28 years until it was discovered in a Texas garage.
It was then brought to Legendary Motorcar where it received a no-expense spared rotisserie restoration. The car was carefully disassembled, stripped to bare metal and refinished in its factory Wimbledon White with Lemans Blue stripes. The goal was to restore back to its period correct racing glory, while also being able to be shown at any major concours. The result is stunning with attention to detail to reproduce the factory markings, correct numbering and paint methods. The car is also signed by the man himself Carroll Shelby as well as John McComb, Chuck Cantwell and Terry Doty.
Below is the link to complete photo album of the restoration:
www.legendarym...
Hit the like button right now if you like the video, it's the only way for us to grow!
This is the Legendary Motorcar Show. We're gonna show you some of the coolest cars ever made! Subscribe for weekly content including reviews, PURE sound, drives, tips for restoration & buying/selling classic cars, and guest appearances from some of your favorite celebrities in the car community!
Visit us at www.legendarymotorcar.com to see our inventory, services & more!

[@Ty_N_KC]

31k subscribers???? Are we really living under rocks now people?? This channel is fantastic

[@dave99887]

LMC has some legendary cars.

[@Ty_N_KC]

@@dave99887 your not kidding.... have a good night man!

[@bebechu8421]

Absolutely

[@nevillejohnson8316]

Was free to air in Australia for a while when his dad did Dream Car Garage. Still well and truly up there...

[@totljag1]

Ur as great at telling these car stories like ur father is , great job kiddo , I love ur guys videos, keep ‘em coming !

[@stevemcintyre4398]

My lust for Mustang's grew in the late 60's with an expat Canadian in Allan Moffat through the 69 Boss 302 factory racer. He was my Ford hero here in Oz for many years, still is for that matter. Our Australian GTHO is fetching multi 100k's these days, even more for low milage examples .Anything Shelby or 60's Mustang or Ford mucle get's my attention. Look him up on the tube and Ford Touring car History .

[@JamesDoylesGarage]

Wow, What a historian Gary and the team are at Legendary Motorcar are. This has got to be the best place to send auto history to if you are going to restore.

[@scottbrown7415]

I have been gathering components to build a Tour deFrance replica. The actual TDF Mustangs were pre production 64.5 hardtops that were prepared by Holman & Moody race shop and then sent to Alan Mann racing in Britain. These are the first Mustangs to win an international race. I think that one of either of these coupes would make a great track toy or autocross event tool.

[@stevepavelko-h9s]

great job, was fortunate to see LMC sundays with my father when your dad did show!!! as a younger man... iwas hooked on cars when born in 1964

[@gurneyforpresident2836]

Yes! I most definitely want a car like this. Especially being a Ford guy.

[@johnmccombmac4591]

Steve, Allan Moffett’s first drive in a Shelby Mustang was in my ‘66 Trans-Am coupe. He had the Allan Mann Cortina’s at Stuttgart, Arkansas in 1967. I let him drive it a few laps. John McComb

[@craigyirush3492]

Cool to hear that John. Been reading Moffatt’s bio where he talks about racing in the Trans Am.

[@RichGT350r]

Amazing story of an Amazing Car! Thanks for sharing it with us! 👍👍🐍🐍

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

I agree Rich!!!

[@redalfa22]

Yes...I WANT a car like this!!!!

[@garyslentzii2796]

You tell the stories very well Gary. I would rip the snout out of that car.

[@christopherkraft1327]

This Shelby Mustang is stunning!!! Thanks for sharing this exciting video!!! 👍👍

[@trajanad28]

As always, excellent presentation and production....well done! Question: Would you know if those notchbacks started out as HiPo K-Codes like the Shelby fastback GT350s did?

[@jeffgagnon4557]

Gary Great review and I learned something about a car I didn’t know about. Great job!

[@stephenbonshire5678]

I can only imagine what that beautiful peice of automotive history is worth!!!.🤙🇺🇸🙏

[@kennaaye8596]

Thanks guys 😎

[@paulmoore4651]

Another frigin goodn eh? Love the show!

[@GDPTD]

Always liked the first gen Mustang Coupes the best. Just a timeless design that does not look dated or odd in any way. When I initially saw a first gen fastback I thought it looked like a fish station wagon with those gills on the back. I have grown to appreciate the fastbacks and think they look cool now but the coupe or "Notch back" is still my favorite by far so I think this thing is really neat.

[@joegarrett8166]

Dang, dude your doing a better job than dear old dad!!! Way to go!!!

[@281cobracar7]

Great piece of Shelby history. I feel like I'm well versed in Shelby history but I always learn a little bit more from you guys.

[@terryandrews7271]

You do a hell of a job Gary, Your old man can relax His business is in good hands🏎🏎

[@unknownsoldier5141]

Great video... watched it 3 times already .....and YES I definitely want a car like this

[@undergroundhousesounds]

Excellent channel with true enthusiasts

[@nickefgen9219]

Great video thank you

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Great vid!!!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍

[@wynder1472]

Just saw her, 41A, at Owls Head Transportation Museum in Maine TODAY!

[@kevin92foxbody67]

The car is stunning but the story and men who built them and drove them are legendary. Oh..by the way loved watching you and your dad on t.v.!! It was a great show! Hope to see you guys on again??

[@legendarymotorcar]

Thanks Kevin, We're sticking to youtube, lots of old Dream car footage on our channel as well!

[@kevin92foxbody67]

@@legendarymotorcar I can understand that..I'll be watching and thanks for what you and your dad do you guys are a class act for sure does your dad still have that challenger that y'all built to run against the super car? That was a bad boy!" I loved it!! God bless and stay healthy 😷✌

[@Yan1nc]

This is a very high quality vid, awesome ! But am i the only who doesn't understand that's a Coupe but it's called a sedan ?

[@LITTLE1994]

Nice old Mustang.

[@craigyirush3492]

McComb says in an interview on the Barrett Jackson site that he had to pick the car up from his local Ford dealer.

[@tshannon237]

I'm a Chevy guy But I Would loveToHave the other car

[@lasseellingsen4779]

I need it for groceries

[@markhale8084]

“Straight out of a GT350”… you should say “Straight out of a GT350 R-model.” Beautiful car…now how about the 67 model your dad has been behind the wheel lately!

[@totljag1]

I need that car 🚗

[@genemounceSr]

Bitch'n Gnarly Cool car ! \m/ In the process of making a comfy streetable clone of a '68 Trans Am coupe. :)

[@legendarymotorcar]

Right on!!!

[@mauser2134]

is the tach supposed to be canted like that?

[@geoffmcnew5863]

SWEET!!!

[@freakindawgen]

What's a force heater?

[@dandavis4306]

Anyone know how to make your headlights like this?

[@ctsv-2s]

also there was a notch back that raced at bridgehampton L. I. N. Y.

[@cornishrider]

Fabulous car, given the chance Ken would have really smoked it!

[@bryanh762]

Grand turismo sound track 👍🏼

[@tedshantz6193]

i agree

[@bofa83]

Why is the tach rotated?

[@kevincowan4887]

Me,, hey babe I found my new Daly driver ,, seats 4 has good pic up in traffic lol

[@mrfiestas]

An observation not addressed: Is this a GT model or not. It doesnt seem to be as it has regular Mustang side and rocker trim and not GT trim. So its apparently not a GT but then why the GTs light bar ??

[@fustyblatherskite2142]

I have a problem with the statement that a Shelby could not run cause it was a 2 seater, and that may be true. The problem was that no other manufacturer had a "fastback" sedan and "fastbacks" had a definite areodynamic advantage. To keep an even playing field Ford had to use their Mustang "coupe". In 1966 this Mustang would be competing against Novas, Darts, Valiants, and maybe the Corvair!

[@markhale8084]

Not true, based on number of seats not body style. Porsche 911s were even more “fastback” than a Mustang 2+2 (Ford did not call them fastbacks) but they were homologated as a 4-seater and raced as sedans in SCCA whereas the GT350 was homologated as a 2-seater and raced in sports car class. With the popularity of Trans-Am Ford saw value in homologating their performance Mustangs as sedans and thus changed name to “Sportsroof” and added windows for the rear passengers.

[@fustyblatherskite2142]

@@markhale8084 then why was the Mustang 2+2 fastback not allowed to race. Yeah I said fastback, I think that ford called their two Mustang body styles Sportroof and Coupe. The term fastback is a cliche from 1965 and everybody used it. The 2+2 nomenclature means two front seats and two back seats. I don't remember Porches running in this class or in the later Trans Am classes. But there were two classes that competed together, two liter and under, and the five liter and under. In 1967 Porche lobbied SCCA to reclassify the 911 as a sedan and it dominated the two liter class. In reality Mustangs and Porche raced together, but in different classes.

[@fustyblatherskite2142]

@@markhale8084 also remember that later, when their was Barracudas, Challengers, Camaros, Firebirds, Cougars and Javelines competing, the sportroof Mustangs were allowed. BUT not in 1966!

[@markhale8084]

The 2+2 body was allowed to race but not as a 4 seat sedan. The GT-350 was homologated as a 2 seater and I’m sure Ford never tried to homologate a standard 2+2 as a 4 seat sedan. Ford called them 2+2s in 65 thru 68 (65/66 even were lettered as such on front fender). That is basically saying car is not a sedan as the +2 is extra seating in a pinch. Back in 60s there were Mustang 2+2s racing alongside Mustang GT-350s (they were originally called Mustang GT-350s and not Shelby GT-350s) in B-production while the “notchbacks” raced in A-sedan or Trans-am because they were homologated as 4 seaters. Besides, except for maybe Daytona I doubt there was much of an aerodynamic difference between the two body styles on your typical SCCA track. You still can’t ignore fact that 911 has a fastback yet was homologated as a 4 seater and thus raced as a sedan. As far as the later sportsroof, as I indicated already, Ford saw value in having the performance models race in Trans-Am and thus the 69/70 “fastbacks” were renamed sportsroof and grew extra windows AND then were homologated as 4 seat sedans.

[@fustyblatherskite2142]

@@markhale8084 you keep talking about 67, 68, and 69. This KZbin video is about a 1966 Mustang. Things were different in 1966. Mustang had a "Sportsroof" and a "Coupe". No other manufacturer had a fastback model in 1966, except the Plymouth Barracuda. And also, you must remember that the SCCA will have one race and there may be two, three or maybe five classes competing in the one race. You may not be the first to cross the finish, but you could be first in your class. In the late 1960s, Porche and Mustang competed in different classes. The surprising thing is, it was not unusual for the two liter class to cross the finish line ahead of the five liter classes. To the best of my knowledge and research, these classes never raced at Daytona, but top speeds of 160 were somewhat common. I think that a fastback body style would be worth 50 to 75 horses at that speed. Or maybe 10 mph on the top end.

[@modelracecar]

If Ken did get to race it he would have rebuilt it first. One of the finest British racing drivers of all.

[@gartwilliams3347]

Sold…$700.000.00, Barrett Jackson Scottsdale, 2023

[@kevinpts9932]

WAS THIS GARY SPRAGGINS OLD CAR, HE SHOULD BE THE OWNER THAT WAS IN TEXAS

[@darryllspalding5211]

rad??????????????????????

[@bigl6322]

needs got nothing to do with it!!

[@trajanad28]

Sorry...should have read your spiel first...I see they were K-Codes!...thanks

[@davidlyon1899]

Looks bloody awful, like it's made out of plastic. Ridiculously over restored.

[@legendarymotorcar]

Only one way to fix that... take it racing

[@joemanzanares8194]

They are COUPES! NOT notch backs. Jeez...