Barn Finder Levi A has referred this particular car to us and I am really grateful for that. Every now and then a car comes along that you feel that you are destined to write about, and for me this is one of those times. As a now-retired driver with a fifty year involvement with dirt-track speedway, this 1968 Mustang is right up my alley. Listed for sale here on Craigslist and located in Clear Brook, Virginia, the seller has listed a price of $6,500 on this beauty. Being a dirt-track car means that there is no title or VIN# for this car, but the seller will provide a Bill of Sale.
The seller states that this Mustang used to compete on the Morgantown Speedway in West Virginia until the track closed in 1978. The car was then stored in a barn until about two months ago. It was the brought out of storage and the current owner set to work reviving it. This entailed new fuel lines, fuel cell, plugs, distributor, oil, filter and brakes. Once done that mighty 400ci V8 roared back into life. That engine is something special, as it features 351 Cleveland heads and a 12:1 compression ratio. Naturally pump gas is out of the question, so this operates on racing fuel. The engine is backed by a 4-speed top-loader transmission. The car runs, goes and stops exactly as it should.
If we’re going to talk about interior trim and comfort then it’s going to be a very short conversation because there is precious little of either. In spite of that honking great V8 under the hood weight is always the enemy in any form of racing. As a result there is no sound-deadening material, no headliner, no door trims….nothing. The only concession to comfort is some padding on the aluminum racing seat. Everything else is purely functional. You get gauges to monitor the health of the engine, a big tachometer to tell you when to shift gears, and a heap of bar-work to protect you if it all goes horribly wrong.
The chassis and body panels are genuine Ford products modified to suit their purpose. Right now I can hear Mustang fans hyperventilating en masse. This practice used to be quite common, and a fine motoring pedigree didn’t guarantee immunity. I know that one of the former Bud Moore Trans Am Mustangs that was lovingly hand-built by Kar Kraft suffered the fate of becoming a dirt-track car where it was eventually beaten to a rusty wreck. This Mustang is in amazing condition. The wheel arches were enlarged to allow fitment of those massive Hoosier tires. You look at this particular car and it honestly looks brand new. I’m not sure if the owner undertook an external restoration of this car, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is exactly how the car looked when it rolled out of the barn as car owners know the importance of preventative maintenance due to the dirt and moisture that their car experiences at every meeting.
I’ve seen and written about some cars on Barn Finds that I would love to own. I can guarantee you that this is one time when I’m glad that I live in Australia because otherwise I would buy this one no questions asked. Historic speedway is gathering ever-growing interest now, and this might be a great way to become involved in the sport. If you do buy this car then all I can say is that I envy you…. and I have my suit and helmet ready if you need me!
It may be a shame that it was hacked up, but this is going to look incredible in someone’s collection of dirt track memorabilia. A rolling piece of history.
Something is not right about this car. I grew up at dirt tracks around Ohio, penns., west virginia. Way too straight for seeing much action. Windsheild???
Street allignment on front end. No wear on seat. Decals perfect.
I dont know it is a good example but they did alot of bumping and banging.
this car did not.
IMO, it’s a re-creation of a dirt track veteran, in the same way that some people put full sets of “racing decals” on brand new, purely street-driven mini coopers or bmw sedans—all for show.
This car is as it was when It was raised at Morgantown West Virginia, parked in the garage and never touched since just clean the dirt off and got it running
J.T:
I was thinking the same thing. The dirt track cars I used to watch race when I was a kid were just this side of junk, with dirt everywhere.
This car looks like its never seen battle of any kind. I think Jett is right.
Kind of wants to make you watch 6 Pack W/Kenny Rogers again!!!
I love it, not a bad price either.
I am going to link this to my local group where someone is almost finished his 1957 chevy street stock build.
Good place for a 57 Chevy. This looks pretty good and a hell of a project. Would like to see it finished.
Ok….show of hands. If this actually had a VIN and title, how many would consider making this legal enough for the street? I know some of you already had that thought. Admit it. Lol
I am with you there. i have a set of vin plates with a “homebuilt” title. Very tempting indeed!!!
That legal ? Set of vin plates ?
Cool car! 😎
Part it out there has to be a V decent profit … IMHO !
This is actually a 70’s era modified. I drove IMCA modifieds back in the 90’s and wish I had kept one of them just for kicks. I hope this car is saved as is.
Poof… it’s gone.
It just screams I am fun
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Clear spoiler. Red flag ? Vintage?
Ran against a few of these Stangs on dirt and paved ovals and I concour that this body never hit either one.
Street set for suspension.
I took pride in how my autos looked and after a race of bumping or get out of way spent hours hot wrenching, hammer, dollies and Bondo with paint,.
Never perfect up close, after all it was a
circle tracker, and the only foreign paint and marks I left towards end of year came about from a Stand that actually was airborne when it landed on hood, it even let tire rubber tread marks, I called
it my “Jesus” marker.
Yes with a title I would fix up legal enough for street, but even without one, this puppy would be out in toulies in buds
barn, where now and then dust devils would roil out behind me
on paved roads with black dog for beer and dog treats of pepperoni sticks for her and I, at country store.
Too purty to be true.
Sold as posting deleted
Was a good deal
Since it was done when these cars were of little value, I don’t have a problem with the way it is. In fact I find it much more compelling than any of the too many Eleanors.