This Mustang is so amazingly hot in person, one finds it hard not to paw up and down its panels.
RM Auctions Amelia Island really aced this huge sale — earning $984,000 for its original driver and owner, Charlie Kemp.
Mr. Kemp and his top mechanic were on hand with some fascinating insights about the racecar, shared in the below video around the three-minute mark.
The most exciting things I learned from him were regarding the extremely low suspension setup to limit aero drag, the paint job, and the top speed at redline.
— Aero and structural stiffness enhancements: the car rode a full half-foot lower than factory Mustangs, which was the only way to keep it tight on tracks at huge speeds. As well as a roll cage, this GT350R wears boxed suspension braces above and below the engine to keep the nose under control in racing
—– This hood buckle, they say, opened extra panel gap room for any trapped air to vent more effectively — again to limit lift at high speeds.
— High speeds? In a 1960s Mustang? How does 180-mph-plus at 8,400 RPM sound? It raised my eyebrows when Mr. Kemp said it, that is for sure!
— What about that smashing paint job? Added by Charlie Kemp and crew to identify the car for other drivers.
He once started a race in 40-th position and was in the top five before the end of the first straight-away — so a unique and memorable paint finish was required to get drivers out of his way the next time he lapped them.
—– The bumper also lost a huge central chunk when modified with this rosy orange color — again to aid in engine breathing and power delivery.
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.