Kauai King II Mustang...Could be something, could be nothing...?

[rwhite692]

A friend of a friend here in the Bay Area recently told me about a Mustang fastback which sounds like it might (emphasize, might) be a genuine factory AFX car. The car is a manual trans car and nearly a stripped shell, and as of right now I don't know if it is a 67 or 68 (don't have any other good pics yet) It is not known if the car is for sale. I am just wondering if this may be a car of more historical significance than is currently realized, so I'm wondering if anyone here may have heard of the driver, or the car?

It has this placard riveted to the dash sheetmetal:

A google search didn't turn up anything...

http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/43362/2826519820011691741S500x500Q85.jpg

[67Fastback]

That looks pretty promising. It's going to be something special.

I'll post it over at vintage-mustang.com

[clill]

Can I have it ?

[67Fastback]

Did some digging. If it was raced in Kauai - the only track I can find is Mana Raceway but I cant find anything that says how long it's been around.

[rwhite692]

Found out that it is actually a 66, Trying to get more pics.

[rwhite692]

Well, it is a little more than just a shell...I don't see any evidence of safety equipment (cage?) ever being in the car....and what's up with those tail lights?...Maybe this is just a 60-70's custom? (already asked about the yellow 67 camaro - spoken for, apparently)

http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/44542/2848900450011691741S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/20161/2183413210011691741S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/45597/2426074780011691741S500x500Q85.jpg

[70rs]

Hey Rob. There must be more to that car. Now you have me curious to see what it was. Why would the dash tag be there? Unless some guy raced it a couple times or someone just thought the tag was cool? Maybe they were building thier own version of a tribute car to match a local one?
I'd love to find out. Keep us posted please.
Eric

[FreddieCougar]

Well, it has Camaro tail lights...and Deluxe "Pony" interior....steel bumpers and valence...shelby 1/4 windows....
Looks more like a custom than any kind of factory race car.....but a solid 66 FB is worth some $$, especially one that complete. I'll take it!
Tim

[rwhite692]

Tim - I don't think those are camaro tails (proportions are different...too wide horizontally / too short vertically)

[FreddieCougar]

Tim - I don't think those are camaro tails (proportions are different...too wide horizontally / too short vertically)

it's quite likely that I am wrong there! That was my first impression, but my "expertise" is certainly more Ford-oriented!
Tim

[Fluid Power]

Didn't Shelby Mustang California's have that cougar style (or camaro) tail lights?

Darren

[ArisESQ]

Didn't Shelby Mustang California's have that cougar style (or camaro) tail lights?

Darren

67/68 Shelby had cougar tails... Like this one:

http://www.shelby-mustangs.com/1967-shelby-mustang-003-3.jpg

But as far as I know, 65/66 cars all utilized the factory tail lights (could be wrong). The ones pictured certainly do look like 68 Camaro taillights though...That doesn't necessarily mean it isn't an original Shelby car though. Those could have easily been done anytime between 1968 and now.

[Jimi-FM3]

This might be a silly question, but has the wheelbase been altered? If it has, that would be a big clue, if not, the tag doesn't make any sense. I love mystery cars like these, even if they don't turn out to be anything, it's great fun trying to figure it out!

[ArisESQ]

what does it mean if the wheel base is altered??

[rwhite692]

I don't have pics of it but was told that the car has leaf springs on the front and was setup to run a straight axle. It does not appear to be an altered-wheelbase car.

[CNDbowtie]

well that tag says a BB Cobra-jet and the 65-66s couldnt fit a BB between the shock towers..now you said it might have leaf springs in the front which might be possible if they cut the shock towers out to fit in that motor

[Jimi-FM3]

AFX stands for Altered Factory Experimental and was a class back in the 60's where the rear axle (and sometimes the front suspension as well) was moved forward sometimes up to 12 inches in order to get a better weight transfer at launch. There were many AFX cars campaigned by Ford including Mustangs and Mercury with the Comets. It's pretty easy to recognize an AFX car, they look pretty unique.

[Jimi-FM3]

Here's a picture of Dyno Don Nichloson's AFX Mustang

[rwhite692]

Check out the shock towers...I guess this explains a lot and the leafs, LOL!

http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/42414/2545474300011691741S600x600Q85.jpg

[youthpastor]

COOL- why didn't u put that on the trailer!!!

[awr68]

Rob, you need another project!! ;)

[CNDbowtie]

i thought the 65-66 Shelby AFX`s where all 427 Cammer motors though..no Cobra jets where out in that year?? but all the other signs make it look like a AFX car the leafs..the teardrop hood..shelby access

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

those taillights are from a 66 Catalina...

i know because I have a 66 bonneville..

http://www.ritzsite.net/Pontiac66/Pontiac_Catalina_Ventura_Coupe_1966_white_r3q.jpg
http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/44542/2848900450011691741S500x500Q85.jpg

[rwhite692]

Rob, you need another project!! ;)



NOOOooooooo......



Just trying to figure out what the heck this thing is. I got the owner's number so will call him tonight.

[rwhite692]

those taillights are from a 66 Catalina...

i know because I have a 66 bonneville..


Cool! Thanks! (And that car of yours is a beauty!)

[Fluid Power]

Mr Vengeance nailed it!

Darren

[Jimi-FM3]

What an oddball!! Pontiac tailights, shelby quarter windows, no shock towers, leaf springs?? It looks to me like the front fenders and grill have been replaced - the primer to me is a dead giveaway. Wonder if somebody took an old AFX car and tried to return it to a street car? I've never, ever seen an AFX car with a headliner and sun visors!

Curious there's no cage or evidence thereof. I know the old AFX mustangs actually extended the front fenders by a lot rather than move the rear axles, so I suppose its possible someone replaced the extended front fenders with original style after the racing was done. This should be evident under the car. HMMMM, I love a good mystery!

[rwhite692]

Spoke to the owner, nice guy. He has been trying to determine the car's history for a long time. He feels certain that the car was raced during the late 60's - early 70's, In Hawaii. He does know that the car spent much time in Hawaii as a street registered car (he has the Hawaii plates and some DMV paperwork) and he tried a DMV search but could not find the last registered owner (nor the named owner/driver on that dash plate). He hasn't tried stripping the gold paint to see if there is any lettering, etc underneath.

He theorizes that the car may have been an original 66 AFX car prior to being picked up by a subsequent owner/racer (maybe the one named on the plate?) and raced with the 428CJ motor....He thinks that maybe the plate was an attempt by that owner, to preserve the identity of the car (? who knows?)...and at some later point had the front fenders swapped out and was put on the street; the front axle centerline isn't properly aligned with the wheel openings. (but on the other hand, isn't so far back as to indicate a shortened wheelbase?)...it would be interesting to see if there is any evidence of the leaf springs being mounted further back, in the past.

He is not actively trying to sell the car at this time. I told him I would relay any interesting info that may pop up. Who knows, maybe someone out there will recognize it.

If that car could talk, I'm sure it would have quite a story to tell.

[Jimi-FM3]

Does the car have an original FOMOCO plate on the fender? Thank might help things a lot. All the original Shelby's had a FOMOCO bucktag under the shelby tag.

[J-440]

An AFX car would be easy to spot and I don't think they put leaf springs up front in what would be considered a "funny car". Leaf springs up front and a big block in that car would suggest the owner was racing a "gasser" style setup. As for the other mods, it sounds like the owner just added some custom touches to make a truly unique ride. Just my 2 cents.