quote:Originally posted by Joules:
I recall seeing some paperwork online for 4 late model GT5-S Pantera's that Shelby purchased. I was under the impression I he didn't do anything to them by way of enhancements, more they just passed through his hands.
Julian
I do believe that at some point Shelby was aware of the Panteras?
The fact that his name, or corporate name appeared on the invoices was an "accounting" trick.
The 'Boss 429's' were all invoiced to him at Ford and appears to have been part of the issue of him ending the "Shelby" Mustang program at Ford?
Three of the MkI GT40's were invoiced to him as well. I think 101, 102, and 103.
They all were the 'team' cars wearing the dark blue colors. 289's with Webers.
The MarkII's and IIb's I think were Hollman-Moody cars since the 427 program was given to them by Ford.
What team actually prepped and raced them, you need to look in the 'texts' for that?
Same thing happened with the '68 GT40's. They were no longer called GT40's at that point. They were called 'Gulf's' and ran Boss 302's.
In that case I believe Gulf had 'purchased' the rights to the cars and the team was run by John Wyer I believe?
All Ford's money until 1970 when they "dropped out" of racing which is what happened to detomaso's racing plans and the racing development of the 351c which really had come out of Ford's 'Indy Program'.
They had cast the engine up out of aluminum and it never went to any of the racing teams as such.
The engine development was picked up by Bud Moore who was running in NASCAR and TRANS-AM then.
Carroll Smith reported to Ford that the Pantera COULD NOT be made into a race car and everything died except the four Gp4 Panteras.
Considering Warren Stroppe got one through the program because his father ran it for Ford here in the US, those were PROBABLY Ford money also.
The 'Australian block' certainly was but that happened as Ford was cutting ties, i.e., funding to the racing programs.
Just really bad timing for the racing Pantera program.