Posted on 04/18/2021 8:08:01 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
How was the only Ford Mustang with only 2 seats, known as “Shorty” saved? That is a story just like those written by the Brothers Grimm.
In the early ‘60s, the company Ford planned to develope a sports version of the Mustang with two seats. But, at that time Ford was still influenced by the former conservative president Robert McNamara, so chances for the production of this model were minimal. From the drawing tables, this wonderful car turned into a functional prototype and with an interesting game of the destiny it managed to “survive”, although it was scheduled for destruction.
The prototype that was constructed by Vince Gardner was based on the pre-production model Mustang from 1964, it was shorter than the classic one by 16-inch, and the rear window was made of Plexiglas. Under the hood there was the already famous Ford 260 V-8, but it was updated. Its capacity was increased to 302 cubic inches and it was equipped with 3 carburetors. Yes, this experimental engine would later become the most popular and the most wanted engine in the range of “muscle cars.”
After showing it to the US public during the tour in the USA, this nice “Pony” was scheduled to become scrap metal. Vincent Gardner was a technical genius, but just like every other genius he had a special, sometimes a little strange character. He was accepted and respected by his colleagues, but at the same time he was a loner who defended his ideas with great energy.
1964 Ford Mustang Shorty
Knowing what was going to happen, the designer managed to hide his work in a warehouse and the company officials did not know about that. Ford reported that the car was stolen, after the insurance company paid an adequate compensation to the Ford Company.
Later, by a strange game of the destiny, the only two-seater Mustang on the planet appeared again in public. The owner of the warehouse accidentally discovered the unique car after 6 months, because Gardner stopped paying the lease of the area where the car was sheltered.
Because Ford has already received money for the reported theft, the car belonged to the insurance company. The next owner, Chris Snyder of Ohio, a passionate lover of cars, also accidentally found out about this and bought it from the insurance company.
The world had the opportunity to see “Shorty” again, after almost 50 years at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in Florida. After 47 years in his possession, Chris decided to sell this beautiful car at the end of March 2015, at an auction in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. What is the price for which this unique Mustang was sold? – $ 511,550!
Imagine what the late Vince Gardner would say about this.
What do you think? Would this have been successful in production? Or did it fall way too short of the Corvette?
There's an interesting parallel to the Hunter Biden laptop. In both cases, the property was abandoned and the store/warehouse owner became the new owner of the property for non-payment of fees.
I don’t think it would have been a success in the marketplace. It’s not swoopy enough to have survived at the time, especially because the import invasion was starting and as a two seater it had to compete against many better looking cars. In fact, the American car market almost killed the two seater as a product niche in the 1970s, to the point where GM had considered ending the Corvette line with the C3, which was the last American two seater/’sports car’ in production until the Viper appeared.
It was automatic? I’m sad.
Only 1 in the world... you would think that the price tag would be at least double that.
That was my first thought when I saw the picture. (I prefer to shift for myself, even in 2021, even though I turn 70 this year.)
(At first I didn't see any political aspect to this story, but that must be it.)
I loved my “ Pete “ with an 18 speed
From the rear it looks like the Datsun “Z” cars. Not quite as smooth and polished. But it is a one off prototype.
Yes, but the front doesn’t really match the back. The front is more classic Detroit styling.
Reminds me of a Javelin.
o_O
“Would this have been successful in production? Or did it fall way too short of the Corvette?”
From the day the Mustang hit the market, I never thought it to be remotely the equal of the Corvette.
Sometimes prototypes or pre-production vehicles would be sent to Warhoops wrecking and salvage to be crushed. A few fell between the cracks and were later re-discovered there over the years.
CC
It gave better weight distribution on launch, similar to the gassers with their elevated front ends and straight front axles.
A convertible would have been better.
the amx looks similar in some ways...
Here's another concept car, a variation of the T-Bird that was manufactured by my company. We tried to sell it to Ford but they turned it down so we approached AMC and they turned it down also.
It sat in our showroom at our corporate office in Troy until it was donated to the Henry Ford Museum in 1997.
Budd XR-400: The AMC Mustang that wasn't
Javelin/AMX, yep.
:)
Yes. Ford already had an answer to the Corvette at that time - The Thunderbird. It was later dropped. Corvettes were already adding a big block V8 at the time as well. Ford didn't need to add another looser.
the javelin and amx look similar but the javelin is longer and a 4 seater, the amx is a 2 seater and shorter...
from a side view you’ll notice the difference in length between the two where the front of the rear wheel opening meets the back of the door seam...
the quarter panel is around a foot longer in that area on a javelin...
and the reason i always preferred the look of the amx...
“... the property was abandoned and the store/warehouse owner became the new owner of the property for non-payment of fees. “
Not according to the story.
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