Photos: The Peter Mellor Collection - Part 1

[Rod Grimwood]

Rod

Sign does say that as does a lot of other info on Beechey etc over the years.

First Mustangs were built in March 1964 and are referred to as 64 1/2 and Ford called them 65's.
USA used to/still does release the next years model mid the previous year.

Its a very early K code built Aug 3rd 64 in San Jose and was P = Prairie Bronze and had drum brakes all round ex factory , the fronts Beechey replaced with discs after 1 or 2 meetings.

This sign was on it at MCM at Eastern Crk a few years ago.

Thanks Ellis, yea after I had done thread I clicked about the 64 1/2. Remember reading an article about Norm going and getting it and the work he did to it as he progressed with it. Also have read more than once about it being first to win, so can only go by what you are informed of.

[Robert Bailey]

of note is the final axle ratio of 3.89 ,which even today is a favourite ratio even today with the 289's turning to well over 7,500 rpm.

[Ellis]

Most of the very early K Codes had 3.89 open diffs (Code 8) but as time passed 3.5 (Code 5) become the common ratio.

Later K Codes had code E which was 3.5 LSD as standard . H was optional 3.89 LSD as was a 4.11.
The K code had bigger carb, solid lifters, bigger main caps, bigger balancer, different headers, 9" diff,
CR toploader, twin piston calipers, lowered suspension, quicker steering 16.1 box, produced 271hp at 6K compared to USA A code engine of around 220hp.

Interesting that the USA A code engine was chosen by Ford Australia for the XR GT and called a K in Australia
Been nice if they had fitted the USA K Code.

It was the K code that Shelby used to build his cars from mainly giving them extractors and a head clean up to produce 300hp for the road going versions .
The R code Shelbys built specially to race had quite a few extra mods including front suspension pick up
point mods , weight saving stuff , and heaps of HP

K Codes are very collectable today and known as the poor mans Shelby.
I'm very poor but have one in the shed.