Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee Is Loaded With Vintage Drag Racing Mustangs
Skinny front tires and fat rear tires will be in style when Mecum visits Kissimmee in January.
Mecum Auctions heads to Kissimmee, Florida January 5-14. While there will be a lot of vintage Mustangs to cross the block, it was the drag racers that caught our eye. Not often do you get a chance to bid on one of these championship winning rides, so we picked out a few to highlight.
“Dyno” Don Nicholson’s ’68 Cobra Jet
This SS/EA Cobra Jet was one of very few Ford-backed efforts to dominate HNRA racing in 1968. Driven by Don Nicholson, and sponsored by Dick Brannan Ford, this Cobra jet has been restored to as-raced livery. The odometer only shows 602 miles, all of which are believed to have accumulated at the drag strip.
Gas Ronda’s A/FX AHRA Champion
Gas Ronda was an early driver of drag racing Mustangs and this 1965 fastback has enough history to fill an entire volume of books. Ford had been exploring with A/Factory Experimental (A/FX) rules. The Holman-Moody built Mustang was raced across the nation by Gas, and took the 1965 championship title.
Gas Ronda’s 1966 Champion “Long Nose”
Gas kept the momentum going in 1966 with the long nose Mustang. In one of the more interesting stretches (pun intended) of the rules, the long nose Mustang was a meld between A/FX and new funny car classes. The long-nose was unique is using the Ford “cammer” engine, and ultimately though play in the rules meant Gas Ronda could be an AHRA world champion in 1966.
1 of 50, and Most Successful ’68 Cobra Jet
Original Cobra Jets are hard to come by, but this one is even more special because it is considered the most successful Cobra Jet of the entire run. Al Joniec was the master behind the wheel, and the combination of Joniec and Ford 428 power was something to be reckoned with. This one was champion of the SS/E class at NHRA Winternationals in 1968, marking it’s significance in the history books.
Never-Used 2008 Cobra Jet
While it doesn’t have the astonishing history of the older Mustangs listed above, this 2008 Cobra Jet is just as worthy of a mention because it seems to have never been used at all. Showing not even 1 mile on the odometer, this must be the most unused Cobra Jet in history. Please, someone change that!
For more information on the road-going list of Mustangs, the main auction list can be found here.
