Thursday, January 25, 2018

owned by an original race team crew member, but in storage for 30 years because, you know "I'm going to restore it one day" and finally he sold it to an enthusiast who DID restore it and got it on the track again



a K code - hi po 289, the biggest and best FoMoCo had to install in the Mustang, and these K code Mustang's had the fender badge that said High Performance 289

On the Mustang order form, the K-code was a $276 option package. It got you a 289 cubic-inch high-performance engine and 9 months knocked off the factory warranty.  K-Code buyers were looking at a three-month or 4,000-mile warranty instead of the standard 12-month or 12,000-mile warranty plan.

The “K” stood for the engine code on the VIN number of these Mustangs.

The hi-po 289 engine featured upgraded pistons, cylinder heads, carburetor, lifter heads, and connecting rods. the entire driveline of these cars was designed for performance. We’re talking about a high-performance clutch, drive shaft, rear differential, and suspension.

About 13,214 were made, but when you break that down into how many were 4 speed trans? 77.

Steve Francis needed 25 years to acquire the 1967 Mustang K-code Hi-Po GT race car from its second-owner crew member. Getting it back on track required 18 month sof restoration.

This Mustang was special-ordered by Ford employee Larry Beaupre through Stark Hickey Ford in Royal Oak, Michigan, for racing in rally and SCCA A/S class events.  Shortly after the car arrived at the dealership it was sent to nearby Kar Kraft Engineering for race prep.

For the first couple years Beaupre flat towed the Mustang behind his white Mustang fastback lease car to SCCA events. Sponsored by Stark Hickey Ford-Royal Oak, Beaupre ran the Mustang in two rally events, the 1967 "Press On Regardless" 24 hour rally (2nd in class finish) and a 1968 Canadian winter stage with the BP Rally Drivers Club in Canada.

Beaupre had the Mustang further modified with
- a Ford Engineering designed T/A roll cage
- larger Kelsey Hayes front disc brakes
- KH rear discs
- unique Ford Engineering designed rear staggered shock setup,
- double adjustable Konis
- set of lightweight factory Ford T/A flared fenders & quarter panels
- magnesium 5-spoke 15"x 8" wheels
- Boss 302 engine with T/A headers
- misc DOZX and Kar Kraft parts
- and a fresh paint job including black hood and fenders tops like the Team Shelby T/A cars.

Purchased by Mike Sedlak in 1979 who had crewed on the car for 6 years starting in 1968. Sedlak started a bare metal restoration which stalled when he purchased a 1970 BOSS 302 race car.

Steve Francis purchased the Beaupre Mustang in 2015 after first hearing about the car from Sedlak in 1990.




http://www.ponysite.de/67_TA%20LarryBeaupre.htm
http://performance.ford.com/enthusiasts/fan-spotlight/2018/01/rare-_67-k-code-resto.html

1 comment:

  1. I find this interesting that only 77 were 4-speeds,I have been told that you could not get an automatic in a k-code in 65 or 66 so ,that’s a lot of tree speed cars!

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