A major piece of American motorsports historical past is being provided on the upcoming Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Collector Automotive Public sale: a 1966 Shelby Group II Mustang constructed for Shelby American driver Ken Miles. It’s #12 of 16 Shelby Group II Mustangs produced in 1966 and was developed below 1965 R-model specs to compete within the SCCA and Trans-Am A/Sedan class. Tragically, Miles handed away from accidents sustained throughout an accident on August 17, 1966, whereas testing a J-car at Riverside and by no means drove the Group II Shelby.
Miles’ racing profession started in 1949, and he gained notoriety for his racing prowess after becoming a member of Shelby for improvement of the Cobra within the 1960s. Apart of the Cobra, his work was crucial in growing the Ford GT-40, its Mk. II successor and the Mustang GT350. Regardless of viewing himself as a mechanic, Miles’ skill on the observe garnered him quite a few journeys to victory lane, together with the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. Miles was portrayed by Christian Bale within the 2019 film, “Ford v Ferrari.”
After Miles’ loss of life, the Group II Shelby was invoiced on August 24, 1966, to Turner Ford of Hutchinson, Kansas, and bought by John McComb. It was raced extensively in SCCA, Trans-Am and ARRC racing collection earlier than being bought to Keith Thomas in 1967 and raced till 1969. The automobile then traded palms a number of extra occasions till it was bought in 1984 by Gary Spraggins, who owned the automobile for the following 28 years and had it restored. Spraggins bought the engine and transmission from Shelby American lead mechanic Terry Doty. It then was bought in 2012 by Rick Davis and bought to Chris Turner of Dockery Ford in 2013, who commissioned a show-quality concours restoration by Legendary Motorcar.
This Shelby Cobra is powered by an era-correct Shelby American Racing 289 Hello-Po V8 with an engine casting date of #C5AE-6015-E and construct date of October 14, 1964. The engine options the right Hello-Po heads, aluminum high-rise consumption manifold #S2MS-9424-A and Holley 715 CFM carburetor #S2MS-3510-A. The engine is paired to an era-correct BorgWarner T10 close-ratio four-speed guide transmission with a July 27, 1965 construct date.
The automobile’s pedigree has been verified by 1965-66 Shelby Registrar Howard Pardee and Shelby Trans Am Registrar Gary Underwood. Included with the sale are restoration photographs, Shelby documentation, an interview transcript with John McComb, miscellaneous articles and copies of varied photographs.
This traditionally important 1966 Shelby Group II Mustang is obtainable with no reserve on the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Public sale. The public sale runs from January 21-29 at Westworld of Scottsdale.