One vehicle’s storied history

This iconic 1966 Shelby Group II Mustang is fully documented in the SAAC Shelby Registry which includes its historic SCCA and Trans-Am racing pedigree. It is one of only sixteen 1966 Shelby Group II Mustangs built to R-model specifications to compete in the SCCA and Trans-Am A/Sedan class; it is one of only seven that competed.

As documented, the car was originally built for the famous Shelby American driver Ken Miles. It was then offered to John McComb by automotive design engineer Chuck Cantwell of Carroll Shelby’s legendary racing shop. 

McComb and this Shelby Mustang helped Ford claim The Trans-American Sedan Championship for 1966. Other notable races in 1966 included 1st Place at Pan-American Trans-Am in Green Valley, TX and 1st Place at Continental Divide SCCA National. 

The car Finished 1st in SCCA Midwest Division in 1966 and 1967, 2nd in the 1967 SCCA A/Sedan Midwest and raced at the 1967 Daytona 300 Trans-Am and 24-Hours of Daytona.

With its iconic white and blue exterior, this car would be featured on the covers of Sports Car Graphic in 1966 and 1967, as well as the 1967 Motor Trend World Automotive Yearbook.

The car won 1st Place at SCCA National in Wichita, KS in 1968, where it set an A/Sedan lap record and tied A/Production Corvette of Don Yenko for the second-fastest lap ever run at Lake Afton. It was raced consistently in 1969 but had a limited race schedule between 1971 and 1973. 

After changes in ownership, the car was purchased in 1986 by Gary Spraggins. During Spraggins’ 26 years of ownership, the vehicle underwent restoration work and was signed by Carroll Shelby, McComb, Chuck Cantwell and Terry Doty. 

The legacy continues

In 2015 Shelby experts at Legendary Motorcar completed a show quality concours restoration to Shelby-correct specifications.  Since completion it’s been handled with white gloves and stored in a climate-controlled facility. Current owner and consignor Marc Schiliro of MS CLASSIC CARS purchased the car in 2022. 

The car is powered by an era-correct Shelby American racing 289 Hi-Po V8 engine with estimated 350-400HP. This engine was completely rebuilt and runs excellently. The engine casting date is #C5AE-6015-E with a build date of October 14th, 1964.

The engine is coupled with an era-correct Borg Warner T-10 close ratio 4-speed manual transmission. The transmission was completely rebuilt and has a build date of July 27th, 1965. The power is transferred to the Ford 9” Detroit Locker rear end with 3.89 gears.

The undercarriage is also highly detailed with many correct parts throughout. This undercarriage should be displayed with mirrors at car shows, as the floors were painted in the correct red oxide primer and then over sprayed with white like they were on the factory assembly line.

John McComb and his wife, Vici, were reunited with the car earlier this year, and the sale of the vehicle includes items including restoration photos and a fourth edition SAAC Shelby 1965-1966-1967 book signed by McComb. This Shelby Mustang was verified by 1965-1966 Shelby Registrar Howard Pardee and Shelby Trans Am Registrar Gary Underwood. 

Meet the speakers

Tom Cotter is the host of the Youtube video series, Barn Find Hunter, sponsored by Hagerty Insurance and Shell. He has written 16 automotive books. Cotter was founder of an automotive and motorsport PR and marketing agency called Cotter Group. The agency managed many of the largest sponsors in all forms of racing including NASCAR, IndyCar/CART, SCCA, NHRA and vintage racing.

John McComb is an internationally recognized sports car driver in the SCCA and IMSA. During his three-decade career, McComb drove for six factories and numerous private owners. John was instrumental in securing the 1966 SCCA Trans-Am Manufacturers Championship for Ford/Shelby and was the 1967 SCCA Trans-Am National Champion and holds numerous SCCA divisional titles. John drove for Brock Racing, Group 44 and was a Skip Barber Racing school instructor. 

Toby Stinson is the Director of the New England Auto Auction ™ and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Automobile Museums.