Topic: 1969 Deluxe GT R Code Hardtop ...

[stangs-R-me]

This car is currently on display at the Automobile Gallery in Green Bay, WI.

Early Dearborn Car
Wimbledon White
Deluxe Red Interior
428 CJ with Shaker Ram Air
4 Speed & Staggered Rear Shocks
GT Equipment Group
Remote Drivers Mirror
Power Vent
Tach Dash
PS
PDB

No window sticker, so I may have missed something.

Per the display board, it is a "1 of 1" car and was a special Test Model ordered by Ford engineer Chet Jones.    Current owner found it in a barn in Door County and it took 27 years to accumulate parts and Jim Cowles / Shelby Parts and Restoration in Green Bay took on the project in 2016.   Jim passed away before this car was completed so another restoration expert in Stratford, WI took over at that point, completing the car in May 2022.

My car being a "tribute" 1969 Deluxe GT Hardtop that I've owned since 1981, this CJ Deluxe GT Hardtop really caught my attention.   

My car started out life as a lowly 250 Six / AT, AC, Tinted Glass & AM Radio Metuchen built car and became a pretty loaded 351W 4BB 4-Spd 3.50:1 9" T-Lok by collecting and installing correct original 1969 and reproduction parts over the years.  It was a very solid Georgia car with very little rust, but a neglected 109k mile beater from where it came when I bought it in 1981 in the Chicago suburbs (blown engine and VA plates on it).

Living 45 minutes south of Jim's shop, I had stopped by there a number of years ago, but he was out so I got a small tour of the shop by the guy that was there that day.   My car not being a Shelby or anything special / rare ... I.E. the kind of thing that would interest Jim ... I never felt the need to actually go back to his shop and try to meet and talk to him face to face; wish I would have.

Anyway, two details about this concours ground-up restoration had me puzzled:

No Big-Block Shock Towers
Inner headlight buckets were not painted black (real obvious on a "white" car)

I'm thinking someone on the forum may know a bit more about this rare car.

Thanks,

Doug
 

[rockhouse66]

Has to be the same car that was at the MCACN show in November.  The windshield placard said the owner was Henry Isakson.

[stangs-R-me]

Has to be the same car that was at the MCACN show in November.  The windshield placard said the owner was Henry Isakson.

Yep ... that would be correct.

Doug

[Armond]

The owner, Henry is a really good guy. He went thru a lot to get the car finished as it was half done in Jim Cowles shop when Jim died.  I am glad he got it done. Very cool car.

[J_Speegle]

I'm thinking someone on the forum may know a bit more about this rare car.

Without a VIN for me its allot of looking 

[rockhouse66]

I took pictures of the car but failed to capture the VIN.  My bad 

[stangs-R-me]

I took pictures of the car but failed to capture the VIN.  My bad 

The VIN is on his display board, along with lots of other details.   Was not sure if I should post this pic before because the VIN is on it.

Doug

[K-HESS]

Appears to have door speakers but has an am-radio.

[J_Speegle]

The VIN is on his display board, along with lots of other details.   Was not sure if I should post this pic before because the VIN is on it.

Doug I do not see the VIN Could you post or PM the VIN?

[K-HESS]

Jeff I?m seeing 9F01R109568 the car was on the auction block last year at Mecum-Glendale

[J_Speegle]

Jeff I?m seeing 9F01R109568 the car was on the auction block last year at Mecum-Glendale

Thanks - just for the life of me I couldn't find the VIN on that sign I looked a

Don't have have anything on that VIN but have a few others with similar VINs that were test vehicles. Likely thy ordered a number of them

[stangs-R-me]

Appears to have door speakers but has an am-radio.

Based on the interior pic I posted that shows the front corner of the passenger door panel ??   If so, I think you are seeing the lower front door panel screw and a piece of lint that looks like the upper front speaker screw.   Neither of the interior shots I took show this area very well, but I don't see definitive speaker grills in either pic.

Doug   

[K-HESS]

Here is a few pictures from last years auction. Definitely has door speakers and an am-radio. Also a picture of the brass tag

[stangs-R-me]

K-HESS ... much better pics of the interior than mine, door speakers are quite obvious now and makes me wonder if it originally had an AM/8-Track or AM/FM radio instead of the AM that is there now.

And now that you mention it, what is that brass tag ??

Also, did not get a response on the two details about this concours ground-up restoration that had me puzzled:

No Big-Block Shock Towers
Inner headlight buckets were not painted black (real obvious on a "white" car)

Thanks,

Doug

[RoyceP]

It's not widely known but you could order door speakers with an AM radio. To do so you would get a fader knob and unique wiring harness. It could be the sort of thing a buyer would do if he / she planned on installing an aftermarket stereo which would be not only less expensive but probably better sound quality too.