After setting records last month with the
sale of the 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake and the
1967 Shelby GT500 “Eleanor” Hero Car from Gone in 60 Seconds,
Mecum will once again be offering up some impressive Mustangs at an upcoming auction in August. The collection of pony cars, all being sold by the McMurrey Family, include a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Kar Kraft race car, a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 with just 6,000 miles on the odometer, a 1969 and 1970 Boss 302, a 1965 Coupe K-code, a 1966 Fastback and finally the first production 2012 Mustang Boss 302, the same one we told you about a few years ago that was
purchased by a lucky Mustang enthusiast.
The Mustangs are part of Mecum’s auction in Monterey, CA that will see 750 vehicles sold from August 15-17. The McMurrey Mustang collection will be sold as individual lots on Friday, August 16. You can scroll down below for more details on each of the cars.
Lot F124 – 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe K-code
After first offering the base 101 HP 170 CI 6-cylinder, 164 HP 260 CI V-8 and 220 HP 289 CI V-8 engines in the first early production Mustangs, Ford added more power to its smashing new pony car with 120 HP 200 CI 6-cylinder, 200 HP 289 CI V-8 and 225 HP 289 CI V-8 engines. Buyers continued to clamor for greater performance, and on June 8, 1964 the first batch of a new breed of Mustang rolled off the assembly line to wide acclaim. The K-code Mustang had everything needed to make a genuine performer, most importantly its solid-lifter 289/271 HP V-8 engine. Available only with a 4-speed Borg Warner manual transmission and a choice of either 3.89 or 4.11 gears, the K-code also benefited from the Special Handling Package available for 289-equipped Mustangs that included stiffer springs, firmer shock absorber valving and a front sway bar. The K-code Mustang also used the larger 9-inch rear axle ring gear for added reliability. The high performance 1964½ Mustang coupe offered here from the McMurray Family Collection was built on that first day of K-Code production. According to the K-Code Registry, it is believed to be within the first dozen K-Codes produced. Listed in Tony Gregory’s important book, “The 289 High Performance Mustang,” this first-day K-Code coupe retains its original factory color combination of Rangoon Red with a Red standard interior and is equipped with full wheel covers, Dual Red Band Nylon-belted tires (also part of the K-Code package) and push-button radio. It is also the first Mustang acquired by Joe McMurray for his expansive collection of high performance Mustangs; he proudly points out that it is “all original, numbers matching and built in Bowling Green, Kentucky – this is the car that started it all and I guess the K-Code was Ford’s answer to General Motors: ‘Here we come.’”
Lot F125 – 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302
When Ford hired GM executive vice president Semon “Bunkie” Knudson in 1968, he brought with him another big-name GM talent, stylist Larry Shinoda, who had been instrumental in the design of Chevrolet’s Mako Shark concept car and the resulting Corvette Sting Ray. The first fruit of their collaboration at Ford was the 1969 Mustang, most notably the Boss 429 whose mission was to homologate the new 429/375 HP “Semi Hemi” engine for NASCAR. Close on the heels of the “Boss Nine” was the Boss 302, the purpose of which was to depose the Chevrolet Camaro (which, ironically, Shinoda had designed before leaving GM) from the SCCA Trans Am series throne it held in 1968 and 1969. The 1969 Boss 302 offered here from the McMurray Family Collection exemplifies the template by which the 1970 edition would secure the Trans Am title. Produced at the Dearborn Assembly Plant on May 26, 1969, it was sold new in South Carolina, one of 338 finished in Bright Yellow with a Black standard interior. The Boss 302 engine uses 10.5:1 compression, forged rotating assembly and high flow heads from the 351 Cleveland engine for a factory rating of 290 HP; the requisite Borg Warner 4-speed transmission and optional 3.91 Traction-Lok differential complete the Boss’ potent drivetrain. Special Handling Suspension, power front disc brakes and wide rubber on argent-painted Magnum 500 wheels made the Boss, in the words of Car & Driver magazine, “the best handling Ford to ever come out of Dearborn.” Fully restored in 1988 and well cared for ever since, this exemplary Boss 302 comes complete with original service records and receipts and ownership history with testimonials.
Lot F126 – 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429
Built September 23, 1969 and sold new to Cutter Ford Sales in North Hollywood, California, this early production 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 is Kar Kraft number 2145, the 86th of 499 built in 1970. It was used in the Cutter Ford Racing Program and then sold to the Hayward Racing Club. In 1976 the car was placed in storage with just 6,000 miles on the odometer. A two year rotisserie restoration was completed on the car in 2005. Always a California car to that point in its history, KK2145 left the Golden State when it was sold by owner James Taylor to Rick Prince; a year later it was purchased by Joe McMurray and added to his top-tier collection of Boss Mustangs. At just over 6,000 miles the car remains in glorious as-delivered condition, finished in the original factory color of Grabber Blue with the original White Décor Group interior complete with Clarion knit Corinthian vinyl high back bucket seats, center console, woodgrain trim applique on the dash and door panels, a Rim Blow steering wheel, electric clock, AM radio and Deluxe seat belts. The car’s matching numbers 429/375 HP engine combines with the Hurst-shifted 4-speed manual, 3.91 Traction Lok differential, power steering and power front disc brakes, Competition suspension and Drag Pack for the classic performance that only the Boss 429 can deliver. As the accompanying Marti Report demonstrates, this 1970 Boss 429 from the McMurray Family Collection is the genuine article and a stellar example of the breed.
Lot F127 – 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Kar Kraft Trans-Am Racer
After a disappointing first season in the Trans Am series Ford’s Mustang Boss 302 finally took the Trans Am title in 1970 at the hands of Bud Moore, whose Grabber Orange cars were famously driven by George Follmer and Parnelli Jones. The victory generated so much interest among aspiring Boss racers that Ford took the unusual step of commissioning Kar Kraft to produce two books on how to modify Boss 302 chassis and engines for racing. This 1970 Boss 302 Trans Am racer from the McMurray Family Collection is the original Kar Kraft project car, the modifications to which were documented in the books Boss 302 Engine Modification and Boss 302 Chassis Modification, both available over the counter at Ford dealerships. This prototype is perhaps the only Boss 302 used in the Trans Am series since all the rest began life as plain Fastbacks; and according to the Marti report, it was sold new to Ford as a Special Purpose Vehicle. It was road tested many times by George Follmer and Ford engineers at the Dearborn Proving Ground and, when it was decided to race the car to determine real world performance, was sold to Al Virzy, who headed the Kar Kraft after-hours racing team called the Moonlighters. Kar Kraft engineer Don Eichstaedt raced the car in selected SCCA S/Sedan events in 1970, finishing 3rd at Elkhart Lake, 2nd at Milwaukee and 3rd at Mid-Ohio before Ford ceased racing and the car was parked. When Kar Kraft closed the car was sold to Lola Cars owner Martin Birrane and shipped to England, where it ran in the European Group 2 series and later in hill climb events. It was returned to the U.S., restored to its Kar Kraft specification and raced in SVRA vintage events. Packing an engine built by Lee Holman and retaining the original Kar Kraft modifications, it is fully prepared to meet modern vintage racing requirements and once again represent the Blue Oval in vintage Trans Am competition.
Lot F128 – 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
The first edition Ford Mustang Boss 302 was such a success with Blue Oval performance customers that sales shot from 1,628 in 1969 to 7,013 in 1970. As usual, however, Carroll Shelby also had a few tricks for the Better Ideas Company, one of which was the ultra-rare Shelby Dual Quad carburetion setup mounted on the matching numbers 302/290 HP engine of this very unique 1970 Boss 302. Offered complete with an aluminum intake manifold, dual Holley 4-barrel carburetors, all linkage and a finned aluminum Cobra air cleaner, the Shelby Dual Quad package is one of the rarest over-the-counter accessories ever made available for the Boss 302. Produced on November 28, 1969 and sold new at Jefferson Ford in Fayetteville, Tennessee, the car is one of only 50 1970 Boss 302 Mustangs finished in Bright Gold Metallic paint and a Black interior, in this case the Décor Group version with knitted vinyl high backed bucket seats, simulated woodgrain trim on the dash panels and molded door panels, deluxe steering wheel and dual color-keyed racing mirrors. Beautifully preserved and now showing just 11,800 miles, this gem from the McMurray Family Collection is also equipped with a Hurst-shifted 4-speed manual transmission, 3.50 Traction-Lok differential, chromed Magnum 500 road wheels, front and rear spoilers, Sport Slat rear window shade and an AM radio with 8-track tape player. Small wonder that it is a multiple show award winner and magazine feature car, one that never fails to impress onlookers with its excellent presentation and extra dose of Shelby-grade performance.
Lot F129 – 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 #0001
Collector Joe McMurray describes the value of this 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 with this simple observation: “This 2012 Boss is serial number 0001, and there’s only one of those… you can go to a whole gathering of these cars and you’ll have the only number one there.” Unveiled at the Rolex Historic Races at Laguna Seca, the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 was described by Ford as the “quickest, best-handling straight-production Mustang ever offered,”and yet it is so much more. The new Boss 302 emulates its forebears with a 5.0L/444 HP high output V-8, a 6-speed manual transmission and 3.73 limited slip rear end. There are also special structural and chassis features and obvious visual references to the original in available color choices, body pieces and graphic elements that include Blacked-out front and rear spoilers and hood, aluminum multi-spoke wheels with performance rubber and the famous body side “C-stripes” and Boss 302 callouts that also recall the originals. The new Boss’ interior impresses with high quality materials, air conditioning, an AM/FM/MP3 sound system and Boss 302-specific shift knob, door scuff plates and embroidered seats. One of the car’s most interesting features is the quad exhaust system with dual primary rear exit pipes and separate side exhaust outlets that give the Boss its unique exhaust note. As Joe McMurray explained recently, the very first new-generation Boss 302 was sold new at Randal Reed’s Prestige Ford in Garland, TX. Soon afterwards, the new owner lost his job and Joe was able to purchase the car. Driven fewer than 1,000 miles, 2012 Boss 302 number 0001 is entirely as new and ready to take its place in the ongoing story of America’s original pony car.
Lot F130 – 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback K-code
Built on September 22, 1965 at the San Jose, California assembly plant and sold new at Bowker Motor Company in Ponca City, Oklahoma, this 1966 Ford Mustang K-Code GT Fastback has long enjoyed a high profile in the Mustang community. After an early career as a drag racer with its first two owners, the car passed through a number of hands and over 20 years in storage in Illinois before it was discovered and purchased by Joe Mangione of Pony Car Sales & Restoration in Orange, California in 1990. Mangione then began a meticulous three-year rotisserie restoration of the GT, insisting on the use of Ford NOS parts wherever possible. With the exception of a Distinctive Industries interior kit in the correct Parchment, virtually everything on this Candy Apple Red GT is genuine Ford, right down to the gears Mangione replaced in the transmission. That includes the correct date-coded “K”-spec engine block, whose most interesting feature is not a Ford piece but rather a Shelby one: an exceptionally rare Tri Power carburetion setup incorporating three 2-barrel carbs atop a Shelby aluminum intake manifold that was made available at Ford parts counters and from Shelby American. Topped with a polished aluminum Cobra oval air cleaner and valve covers, the K-code powerplant now shares space in the immaculate engine compartment with a Vintage Air system installed by Joe McMurray. This stunning 1966 GT K-Code Fastback from the McMurray Family Collection has been featured in numerous magazine articles and won many First Place and Best in Show awards – over 30 in the first four years after the restoration – and was featured in Ford advertising for the introduction of the 4th generation Mustang as the SN95’s “alter ego,” a fitting tribute to its quality and stature.
[Source:
Mecum Auctions, Photos courtesy John Hollansworth Jr.]
