1965 Ford Mustang Fastback Russ Davis Ford A/FX “Gas Ronda” Drag Car Coming to Mecum Auction
The Mecum Auction at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois on October 3-5 will be the place where the 1965 AHRA World Finals Champion 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback Russ Davis Ford A/FX “Gas Ronda” Drag Car will be sold. Late in 1964, eleven deleted hi-performance-spec 289 Mustang fastbacks were diverted engineless from the Ford assembly line to the Holman-Moody shops to be prepared for the new A/FX class that was taking drag racing by storm. Gas Ronda was one of those who received a Mustang.
Five of the cars were fitted with Ford’s rare new 427 SOHC engine, while the remaining were given the 427 Hi-Riser Galaxie engine until other SOHC or “cammer” engines could be found. Ronda received a 427 SOHC-equipped car, serial number 5F09_3802440, which he debuted at the ’65 Winternationals. The A/FX Mustangs made such a splash their first time out that Super Stock & Drag Illustrated magazine’s headline shouted, “Mustangs Run Wild at Pomona.”
Ronda’s first big win in the car came right after the Winternats at the AHRA World Finals, where he set a new A/FX class record at 10.43/134.73 mph. He went on to campaign the 427-powered racer in the A/FX class to national acclaim. The easily recognizable Poppy Red Mustang, sponsored by Russ Davis Ford in Covina, California, was a huge fan favorite and ubiquitous in the drag racing press. To this day, the dapper Ronda’s iconic factory basher remains one of the most fondly recalled sixties Ford drag racers.
This unique drag racing treasure, in as-original condition, shares company with the legendary factory Cobra and GT40 racers in an elite group of cars from the pinnacle of Ford's great motorsports championship years. For more details on this car, visit the Mecum website.
The 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback Russ Davis Ford A/FX “Gas Ronda” Drag Car is another Mecum Main Attraction of an estimated 800 collectible classics that will attract a crowd of thousands to the 13th Annual Mecum St. Charles, Illinois Auction, October 3 - 5, 2008 at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL. The car is will be sold Saturday, October 4 as lot number S89. The general public is welcome, with tickets available at the door for $10. For complete information about this auction, visit www.Mecum.com.
About Mecum
The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars, muscle cars and Corvettes for over twenty years. In spring 2008, the Company sold its fifty-thousandth car. Consignment, Bidder, event and accommodation information is available online at www.Mecum.com or by calling (815) 568-8888. Nobody Sells More Muscle than Mecum. Nobody.
