Читать книгу 1968 Shelby Mustang GT350, GT500 and GT500KR - Greg Kolasa - Страница 6

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Whether you are a supporter or detractor of Carroll Shelby, you have to concede that his management philosophy of surrounding himself with the best, brightest, and most talented people to accomplish an objective, worked. That’s the approach I followed in creating this book. Although the appropriateness of using Shelby’s technique to write a book about his cars is certainly apparent, the real reason I followed that model was because it works. There is some degree of lunacy to penning any work on Shelby’s Mustangs without tapping into the vast resources of the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC) and its registrars and concours judges, so I took full advantage of their willingness to share their collective expertise. Rodney Harrold, Dave Mathews, Howard Pardee, Pete Disher, Jeff Speegle, and SAAC founder and National Director, Rick Kopec (who also shares more than a little of the blame for launching my literary career, if I dare call it that) took it as their personal challenge to make me sound as if I know what I am talking about; I am thankful for their success.

While I can claim responsibility for some for the photos of the Shelbys, Mustangs, and other Fords that appear between these covers, others are the work of the car owners, some of whom went far above and beyond to provide superb images of the wonderful machines (many of them driven regularly) of which they are caretakers. Sincere thanks to

Dennis Blocker (CSX 3311), Tim Brillhart (8T02R206064-02591), Dominic Ciliberto and Diana Duffee (8T03S115994-00136, 8T02J188441-02993, and S.F.M. 6S2050), Tom Clark (1968 Mustang GT California Special), Colin Comer (8T02J205264-03218), Tony Conover (8T02R205374-03447), Rich DiMarino (1968 Mustang GT California Special), Pete Disher (8T02R204798-03206), Lee Dixon (8T02S129547-00555), Scott Fuller (8T03S185133-02837, 8T02R205375-03447, and 8T03R216160-04391), Bev Harrold (1968 Mustang GT California Special), Rodney Harrold (8T02R201713-02267), Bill Hartmann (1964-1/2 Mustang Hardtop), Dan Hayenhjelm (1961 Ford Falcon), Mike Hudock (8T02R210376-03760), Martin Jackler (67200F3-0069), Peter Larkin (S.F.M. 6S327), Charlie McHose (8T03S134540-00987), David and Kellie Meador (8T02S143434-01561), Gary and Deb Miller (8T02J126809-00397), Gary and Jason Miller (1967 Shelby “Little Red” replica), Paul M. Newitt (1968 Mustang GT California Special), Scott Nickett (1962 Ford Thunderbird 09KR0166), Carol Padden (S.F.M. 6S1012), Howard Pardee (S.F.M. 5R095), Linda and Len Perham (S.F.M. 6S2377), Robert Perruso (8T02J193184-02085), Richard Pozarycki (8T02J192467-02184), Bill and Cyndi Prohidney (07H0318), David Russell (67400F8U00723), Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum (CSX 2287 and XGT-1) Scott Smith (8T02J134489-00930), Jan Sochurek (S.F.M. 5S392), Mike Tillery (8T02R205338-03382), Lance Tarnutzer (8T03R2210094-03473), Samuel Vassallo (8T03S149444-01445 and 8T02R216177-04408), Brian Walshe (’66 Mustang GT “K” fastback), Fred Warf (8T02J204810-03271), and Jim Wojcik (8T02R210136-03515).

Kevin Marti of Marti Autoworks (martiauto.com) provided valuable assistance in decoding VIN and ID tags and determining various cars’ build dates; Marty Jackler willingly shared his vast knowledge of Ford parts and their applications (past and present); and Scott Fuller of Scott Fuller Reproductions (sfreproductions.com) supplied more information than I ever knew even existed on the many unique aspects of the ’68 Shelbys and High Country Special Mustangs. Jerry Heasley and the good folks up north at Legendary MotorCar Company (legendarymotorcar.com) happily shared their spectacular images of the prototype 1968 GT500s and Bob Wilson pitched in by neatly filling a photographic void that developed in Chapter 4. Perhaps nobody knows more about the California and High Country Special Mustangs than Paul M. Newitt; his tutelage on the subject was invaluable and equally appreciated. Frank Costanzo, Mike Deliberto, and Rich DiMarino of the Garden State Region Mustang Club generously offered their assistance in tracking down the owners of some of these “almost Shelby” notchbacks.

As I sat down to condense all of this information into (hopefully) coherent text, Carol Padden proofread my multiple attempts at each chapter. And speaking of chapters, since a complete itemization of the assistance provided by Lowell Otter and J. D. Kaltenbach would fill a separate one, I will simply, but most sincerely, say “thank you” to them, to all the other generous folks, and to anyone I have thoughtlessly omitted. Their assistance made this book what it is and I am grateful.

Having a file cabinet full of factory documents for reference is great but it is only partially complete without the personal anecdotes and experiences (think of them as explanatory footnotes) of people who were there “back in the day.” A very big “thanks” is due to GT350 Project Engineer Chuck Cantwell; Ford stylist Charlie McHose; SAAC Registrar (and original ’68 Shelby owner) Vincent Liska; and ACSCO Products President Tom McIntyre, for telling their tales of how things really went down.

And finally, I know that I can speak for Shelby enthusiasts everywhere when I say that we are appreciative beyond words to Jack Redeker for not only so generously sharing some of his wonderful period images but even more so for not heeding the “no photography allowed” admonitions given during his 1968 A. O. Smith factory tour in the first place.