Old rumor dept. Did CS' own automatic 289 figure in 1966 purchase of facility for AAR

[Historybuff]

I was reading a forum entry in a website called Autosport by Chuck Jones who said he sold an 8000 sq. ft. racing shop to Dan Gurney in '66 to AAR. (which according to other sources started in '64 but maybe in smaller shops) Anyhow the Cobra part of it was that Shelby was supposed to be at the meeting but was late but when he arrived the negotiations were almost complete and Jones said to Shelby (I am paraphrasing)"If you throw in that Cobra you arrived in, it's a deal." and he did. Good story but the one thing that didn't jive with what I've read before is that there were a lot more than two small block Cobras fitted with automatics and Jones says there were only two but maybe it was just two at that time. I was wondering if anybody ever heard that story?

Also when Gurney had later success with AAR, between '66 and '70 (especially in '68) , why is it you don't see mention in books or articles of Shelby being on the scene with Dan to accept congrats? Maybe Shelby was far from an equal partner, just an investor...but anyhow like to hear opinions on Shelby and AAR's beginning and about that automatic Cobra

[Silversmith]

I remember seeing magazine article, early 70's. Showing Shelby standing next to a S/C type AC. Saying his favorite AC was his 351C powered Automatic. I thought it strange @ the time. But those guys built a lot of different type AC's back then. The 1st AC I ever looked over close was a 260, #53. It had a 2 gallon peach (cut to fit) can for a air duct from the factory! Go figure!!

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Silversmith

I remember seeing magazine article, early 70's. Showing Shelby standing next to a S/C type AC. Saying his favorite AC was his 351C powered Automatic. I thought it strange @ the time. But those guys built a lot of different type AC's back then. The 1st AC I ever looked over close was a 260, #53. It had a 2 gallon peach (cut to fit) can for a air duct from the factory! Go figure!!

For the sake of clarity, it was CSX2589 (Shelby still owns this car) that had a 351C installed by Mike McCluskey some time in the 1970's. McCluskey removed the original 289 to install the 351C and used the original C4 automatic. Some years later, Mike replaced the 351C with it's original 289.

FYI, there were 16 leaf spring Cobras with automatics produced.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by A-Snake

For the sake of clarity, it was CSX2589 (Shelby still owns this car) that had a 351C installed by Mike McCluskey some time in the 1970's. McCluskey removed the original 289 to install the 351C and used the original C4 automatic. Some years later, Mike replaced the 351C with it's original 289.

FYI, there were 16 leaf spring Cobras with automatics produced.

Did you ever notice the amount of innuendo laced questions that Wally asks as if he is attempting to compile his own Cobra facts registry without just simply spending the money for a set of SAAC registries

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Did you ever notice the amount of innuendo laced questions that Wally asks as if he is attempting to compile his own Cobra facts registry without just simply spending the money for a set of SAAC registries

Bill,

You are such a bad man!!!!

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

Bill,

You are such a bad man!!!!

Sadly, Wally will eventually have enough information to actually publish a book, which of course he will call "his own research" even though his only research is making posts like this one above. Even sadder is that he will twist this "research" into his version of an alternate reality. Worse yet, someone will buy it and actually believe what he has written.

Yes, the truth hurts.


Bill S.

[computerworks]

Further sadly ( and without malice) there is almost never a follow-up post to his threads....either with a "thanks" or a follow-up question.

I really believe he does not return to his many threads.

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by computerworks

Further sadly ( and without malice) there is almost never a follow-up post to his threads....either with a "thanks" or a follow-up question.

I really believe he does not return to his many threads.

CW,
Maybe you should give Wally a chance to redeem himself and let him in on the news about the V-12 SOHC engine. It would give him a chance to research the full story and get back to us. There is still a lot of missing information on that engine.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by A-Snake

CW,
Maybe you should give Wally a chance to redeem himself and let him in on the news about the V-12 SOHC engine. It would give him a chance to research the full story and get back to us. There is still a lot of missing information on that engine.

You are probably right...he would jump on it.
Should I post the article here or on a new thread?

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by computerworks

You are probably right...he would jump on it.
Should I post the article here or on a new thread?

I think a new thread would be good, you can still put a link here to the thread in case he actually comes back.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by A-Snake

I think a new thread would be good, you can still put a link here to the thread in case he actually comes back.

One for the Historybuffs- Lost V-12