Cobrastang

Rusty Gillis · 01-11-2019, 12:42 PM

I bought Ken McLellan's Cobrastang 1969 SS/G factory backed Mustang in 1973 on the way home from the Winternationals in Pomona. Ken got out of Drag Racing when he lost his Ford sponsorship. Ken set the SS/G record many times, the record was 11.09 when I got it. In 1971 Ken won Super Stock at the World Finals in Texas. In 1973 I took the car to the Gatornationals because I broke a converter in my car. I had not driven a 4 speed car in 4 years. With no practice the first time run was 11.11. Broke an axle during qualifying. I raced it only a few times because it was breaking a lot of parts; axles, wheel studs, clutch, etc. I used the engine as a spare for my SS/GA and set the record in 1974 with parts from it. In the early 80's we backed halfed the car, put a roll cage in and stripped it to race brackets (what a mistake). It has been in storage for over 20 years. Only has 21 miles on it.

This is how it looked in 2005

It is finally time to get the Cobrastang out of storage and start the restoration. It has been in storage a long time. I plan on restoring as close as I can as raced by Ken McLellan back in the day. It will be a long term project.

prostockpete1 · 01-11-2019, 01:45 PM

Rusty .. As we previously talked I.m on board to help with all the period correct contingency decals you my need from my over 45 years of collecting .. anybody else doing a restoration & needing decals email me .. prostockpete1@gmail.com

Rusty Gillis · 01-11-2019, 07:55 PM

Today the windshield and back glass was removed.

Rusty Gillis · 01-12-2019, 06:59 PM

Today I removed the rear bumper, end caps and deck lid. The deck lid was sanded to bare metal and the back side still has the original black paint.

BRETV · 01-13-2019, 11:48 AM

Is it a true "R" or "Q" code car? Very cool Rusty. My uncle use to tell about this car when he had the Nitro 9 car. But I never got to see it run. I saw my uncle's old Nitro 9 car at Mecum Kissimmee back in '17 and other than the lettering and a 2X4 setup it was just like it was when he raced it back in the late 70's early 80's. Good luck with the resto and I can't wait to see done.

Bret Velde
2003 ??

Rusty Gillis · 01-13-2019, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRETV

Is it a true "R" or "Q" code car? Very cool Rusty. My uncle use to tell about this car when he had the Nitro 9 car. But I never got to see it run. I saw my uncle's old Nitro 9 car at Mecum Kissimmee back in '17 and other than the lettering and a 2X4 setup it was just like it was when he raced it back in the late 70's early 80's. Good luck with the resto and I can't wait to see done.

Bret Velde
2003 ??

It's a R code Mach 1.

01-11-2019, 12:42 PM	#1
Rusty Gillis Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 260 Likes: 21 Liked 87 Times in 19 Posts	Cobrastang I bought Ken McLellan's Cobrastang 1969 SS/G factory backed Mustang in 1973 on the way home from the Winternationals in Pomona. Ken got out of Drag Racing when he lost his Ford sponsorship. Ken set the SS/G record many times, the record was 11.09 when I got it. In 1971 Ken won Super Stock at the World Finals in Texas. In 1973 I took the car to the Gatornationals because I broke a converter in my car. I had not driven a 4 speed car in 4 years. With no practice the first time run was 11.11. Broke an axle during qualifying. I raced it only a few times because it was breaking a lot of parts; axles, wheel studs, clutch, etc. I used the engine as a spare for my SS/GA and set the record in 1974 with parts from it. In the early 80's we backed halfed the car, put a roll cage in and stripped it to race brackets (what a mistake). It has been in storage for over 20 years. Only has 21 miles on it. This is how it looked in 2005 It is finally time to get the Cobrastang out of storage and start the restoration. It has been in storage a long time. I plan on restoring as close as I can as raced by Ken McLellan back in the day. It will be a long term project. __________________ Rusty Gillis Former NHRA SS/FA and SS/GA record holder

01-11-2019, 01:45 PM	#2
prostockpete1 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 246 Likes: 3 Liked 82 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Cobrastang Rusty .. As we previously talked I.m on board to help with all the period correct contingency decals you my need from my over 45 years of collecting .. anybody else doing a restoration & needing decals email me .. prostockpete1@gmail.com

01-11-2019, 07:55 PM	#3
Rusty Gillis Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 260 Likes: 21 Liked 87 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Cobrastang Today the windshield and back glass was removed. __________________ Rusty Gillis Former NHRA SS/FA and SS/GA record holder

01-12-2019, 06:59 PM	#4
Rusty Gillis Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 260 Likes: 21 Liked 87 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Cobrastang Today I removed the rear bumper, end caps and deck lid. The deck lid was sanded to bare metal and the back side still has the original black paint. __________________ Rusty Gillis Former NHRA SS/FA and SS/GA record holder

01-13-2019, 11:48 AM	#5
BRETV Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 538 Likes: 3,905 Liked 715 Times in 179 Posts	Re: Cobrastang Is it a true "R" or "Q" code car? Very cool Rusty. My uncle use to tell about this car when he had the Nitro 9 car. But I never got to see it run. I saw my uncle's old Nitro 9 car at Mecum Kissimmee back in '17 and other than the lettering and a 2X4 setup it was just like it was when he raced it back in the late 70's early 80's. Good luck with the resto and I can't wait to see done. Bret Velde 2003 ??