August 2003
Bill and Nancy Griffin recently retrieved their 427 SC Cobra from the California engine shop where a few more horses were added to the all aluminum 477 cubic inch FE. They've owned the car for about a year now and decided to return to the site of their first outing with the car, the Monterey Historic Race held at Laguna Seca Raceway in California. This was the 30th annual event held, with each event having a particular theme. Ford had an area set up celebrating "A Year of Ford Racing Heritage". There were a lot of Ford & Mercury Trans Am cars, GT-40's, NASCAR rides, and straight line runners! Here are some pictures Bill shot.
An original 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe Chassis CSX2286 driven at the 24-Hours of LeMans in 1965 by Dan Gurney & Jerry Grant (DNF)
Parnelli Jones yellow 1970 Trans Am Mustang Boss 302.
The red #4 MK IV (4th of 4) built for Holman-Moody and driven by Lloyd Ruby & Dennis Hulme at LeMans in 1967.
An original orange GT40 owned and driven by a vintage racer.
#123, a vintage 1965 Shelby GT350 Mustang driven by it's owner.
An original 1965 Daytona Coupe chassis #CSX2601 driven by Bob Bondurant & Jo Schlesser during the Reims 12-Hour race in 1965 (5th OA/ 1st GT)
Bill Griffin's Cobra, CSX4266 in the Shelby display.
A 1967 Mercury Cougar Trans Am car driven by Dan Gurney.
Another picture of Parnelli Jones #15 Mustang Boss 302.
A 1967 Shelby Mustang.
Parnelli's Mustang on a parade lap.
A shot of the famous flip top Cobra along side of another original Cobra.
An original GT40.
The #5 MK II 427, originally tested with an automatic transmission and first driven by Richie Ginther and Ronnie Bucknam DNF at Sebring in 1966, other famous drivers had driven #5 including AJ Foyt and Mark Donahue. The car had been painted several different color combinations.
The wild MALCO GASSER driven by Ohio George Montgomery. This car ran in AA/GS, one of the forerunners of today's Funnycars.
A Ford Cosworth Indy car engine.
One of the first Carroll Shelby all aluminum big block Ford FE 427 motors fitted with a Vortech supercharger. Bill told them that they could put it in the back of the his truck after I took this picture, they didn't go for it!
Thanks again to Bill for the pictures and details! Now if we can get that Cobra of his back out on the road.......
