 This vintage Trans Am Mustang has been raced it's whole life. Trans Am cars from the 1960's are cool. For those not in the know, Trans Am was a road racing series which dictated that the cars competing relied heavily on factory parts. Local racers had the chance to share the track with factory-backed teams and hero drivers like Parnelli Jones, Mark Donohue and Dan Gurney and compete for cash. J. Bittle rescued this vintage 1968 Mustang that competed in the Trans Am series in the late 1960's.
We dig cars like Bittle’s Mustang because it’s a window into a world where professional racers and engineers took a shot at making a stock musclecar work on the track. The rules didn’t allow for major modifications in the form of pure race parts… that is to say, these cars had to use off the shelf factory parts from their respective manufacturers. The cool part is how these racers adapted parts from full-size sedans, added some racer know-how, and created cars that performed way beyond their stock brethren. Bittle’s Mustang was original raced by a Ford enginner named Ed Hinchliff, who had access to the factory team parts to make this car happen. Although Hinchliff may not have taken this car to victory lane every race, this Mustang has its share of stories. Some of the race car elements include a tunnel-port 302 Ford V8, an engine modeled after the larger 427 tunnel port big block. The 302 version was limited to 400 horsepower to comply with the rulebook, but it sounds like it makes twice that. The engine and restoration work were handled by Bittle’s shop, JBA Racing in San Diego, CA. The look of the car is pure race, and we especially dig the way it sits. The tires just tuck into the wheel wells, again, per the Trans Am rulebook. Most of the car has been lightened in some fashion, including the removal of the bumpers, gutting of the doors, scalloping of the hood, and an empty interior. The gray paint inside helps the team discover cracks in the chassis and leaks in the systems. The car rolls on American Racing magnesium 6-spoke wheels, and they’re correct for the car. You see, this car is still raced in vintage racing events, and the rules articulate that the car has to be period correct to compete, save for some safety upgrades. The brakes are cooled with ducts running from behind the bumper, and they're all Ford parts pirated from the production cars Ford was kicking out at the time. This Mustang spent some time on the high banks of Daytona, and you’ll note the tabs mounted to keep the glass in place during high-speed runs on fast tracks. Check out how they formed the trim to fit over the tab in the rear glass. Tracking down a car like this is a story in itself, and the story of how J. Bittle came to own it is told on the car’s website, you can read all about it and see the photos here. These vintage race cars are great sources of inspiration for building modern pro-touring machines, as they were meant to run first, and look cool later. These cars have much to teach about how cars from the 1960’s can be made to really rock and roll.    
 
 
 
 
 
SOURCES J. Bittle's Mustang Site JBA Racing DISCLAIMER: Demonstrations and procedures contained in the V8TV show or website may not provide all necessary or relevant information. Applicable local laws and regulations may vary and should be checked before any project is commenced. Be sure to follow all applicable safety procedures. The Men's Channel and V8TV Productions, Inc. make no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy, or practicality of any such demonstration or procedure or any information with respect thereto contained in the preceding program. © 2006 V8TV Productions, Inc.
» No Comments
There are no comments up to now.
» Post Comment
|
