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More #2704 underneath pics

Topic heading has wrong VIN - the car is #2704 not 3704 and is an automatic.

I looked at it in March of 2019. Car was redone years ago, paint and finishes are production body shop quality with minimal detail. Original door warranty label is missing.

Underneath has been reworked, has incorrect '65-'68 style repro floor pans. Bottom is heavily undercoated. Taillight panel is reproduction.

Had been stored for years and presented a generally shabby appearance when I saw it. Did not hear it run.

Here are the photos Mecum won't show you.

I have a KR for sale that is close to your budget - see this link for the ad here on the Forum
https://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=24004.0

Bill Collins

1959  FORD LEVACAR MACH 1


October 1959 saw the completion of the FORD LEVACAR MACH 1, a concept car built to be the first full-scale wheeless vehicle, utilizing air propulsion to move around.

It was a full-sized prototype being a one-man "flying car" that was "levitated" several inches off the ground by three powerful air jets located on the bottom of its chassis.

Planned to be powered by a small-scale turbojet engine, the Levacar was purportedly designed to reach a top speed of nearly 500 mph.

Ford's single-seat space coupe was tethered to an arm, enabling it to glide smoothly above a circular glass track. The tiny car was suspended just slightly above the surface by ducted air from pads on its underside. An attached arm guided it around a display in Ford's famous Rotunda.

Ford promotional materials projected that the single-seat, fiberglass-bodied Levacar might be capable of reaching speeds of five hundred miles per hour, but its utter lack of brakes might have made that a one-time experiment.

Ford gave away thousands of plastic promotional models of their exciting new air car. AMT produced a popular model kit that came complete with a rubber hose that kids could blow in to levitate their toys like the real thing. Unfortunately, those tiny plastic models are all that's left of Ford's bold air car experiment.

I recall that the Levacar model kit was not all that popular. AMT (Aluminum Model Toys), which produced it, later paired it up with a factory assembled promotional model of the then new 1960 Falcon and marketed them as a double model.

Each model had its own box with graphics and the two boxes were bonded together and sold as a set. I recall seeing these lingering in hobby shops and other retail stores for a long time.  I recall that when the price got down to a buck or less, I bought one and being disappointed that when I blew into the rubber tube, the car did not levitate, this despite the attached ad stating that it was a "working replica". Apparently, the tube and vents on the underside were intended only to demonstrate the concept, not to actually float the model. But hey, I was eleven years old and had a lot to learn!

At least I had the Falcon, which is still in my collection. The Leva Car is long gone. Interestingly, its full name was "Ford Levacar Mach I" preceding the use of the Mach I name on the Mustang by ten years.

Is Roger Rode still providing this service? Last I know he did not have a web site, but he has been doing very capable power steering rebuilding for decades. Many others advertising this service actually subletted the work to Roger.

Rodes Restoration (Pronounced "Road-ee")
1406 Lohr Rd
Galion, OH 44833-9508
(419) 468-5182

Or

Midwest Remanufacturing LLC, Bedford Park, Illinois
http://www.mwreman.com/

One thing to bear in mind is that some of the aftermarket speakers currently being sold as direct replacements are foreign manufactured and sized metrically, meaning they vary slightly from the original SAE dimensions and so will not properly fit without a rework.

If the original is still with the car, you may want to consider having it rebuilt / reconed. There are various services that do automotive speakers - Search "auto speaker reconing". Kits are also available if you want to try it yourself.

I have experienced Holley "phantom leaks" in the past that were the result of the primary throttle shaft bore in the base plate being worn to the point that the fuel leaks from the throttle bores along the shaft to the outside of the carb. Tried a bushing kit repair without satisfactory results. This fix is best left to a professional.

I have been selling these cars for 45 years and the fact that is lost on most people is that there are two distinct markets for these cars and they do not typically interrelate. The two '67 500's in this sale are demonstrative of this:

Car #706 sells for $275,000:
- Arguably the most desirable color combo of Nightmist Blue / Parchment interior
- Fairly recent restoration to a high standard by a noted organization
- Provenance and documentation

Car #775 sells for $104,500:
- Arguably the least desirable color combo of Lime Gold with black interior
- Unrestored but not a survivor in the strict sense - offered in its shabby "as put away in 1975" condition.
- Questionable mechanical / operational status
- Modifications such as wheels, stripes, outside mirrors, shifter - missing under dash gauges
- Minimal documentation

Buyers at the top of the market want only no issue examples such as #706 and completely shun those like #775. So the second car defaults to the hobbyist / reseller / speculator market, and it is a LONG fall from the top to that next level. Most high end buyers do not want to be bothered with improving a vehicle, although some may if it is sufficiently desirable and valuable. The hobbyist / dealer / speculator market either cannot or will not afford to pay up, as they typically want a margin of value either to protect themselves or assure a gain on resale.

It will not surprise me to see #775 soon make another appearance, fluffed and buffed, on BAT or some dealer web site.

I evaluated this car in December of 2015 for a potential buyer - here is a summary of my notes. Other than the wheels and tires, it does not appear to have changed much since then.

'67 GT350 Production number 102
VIN 67200F7A00102

Black plate California car, just shipped east last month
Same owner 33 years
Original VIN tag and numbers intact
Ford VIN verified beneath Shelby tag
Engine and trans inspected by Kevin Marti and are reported to be original matching numbers
Kevin Marti personally signed report
Listed in SAAC Registry with clean history

Originally Lime Gold color, repainted in 2004 to a non original GM blue, color is between Acapulco and Nightmist
Original black interior, speakers in rear side panels but uncut panels are available
Early production car with upper scoop lights, functional brake scoops, metal reinforced hood, smooth seat upholstery
Factory 4 speed
Presently 3:25 rear - original 3:89 center section comes with it
Paxton supercharger added  2004
Presently has Foose custom wheels, the original Mag Stars (4) are with it but need to be restored
No spare tire, wheel or jack

Body is said to be all original metal and fiberglass
No rust - car spent its life in California and Arizona
Underneath is original not detailed - driver quality
Fully sorted, tight feeling driver with excellent road manners - and fast!

Carburetor, cylinder heads and cam were changed when the Paxton was installed
The original cam and heads are intact and come with the car
Another carb comes with the car - may be the original but this is not verified
Distributor was changed to MSD ignition - original not with car
Shifter changed to Hurst - original not with car

I have a '71 Mach I 429 4 speed for sale. Red / black interior J code. Very intact driver class car, recently refreshed after long term storage. It will be on display in my car corral spaces CB 142-143-144 at the Fall Carlisle swap meet today through Saturday.

I have photos available of all visible date codes, engineering numbers, tags etc. No exterior photos yet, will have some later today.
Bill Collins
Bill Collins Collector Fords
Harrisburg, PA
717-648-6600
bill@bcfords.com

Previously sold for $126,000 by VanDer Brink Auctions as part of the Ken Brownlee sale in Smithville, Missouri in September of 2016. Seven years ago almost to the day.

The reported Mecum price includes the buyer premium - hammer price was $165,000.

This was recently discussed on the Forum. I saved a couple of photos and descriptions relative to the outboard style. I do not recall who the original poster was, but I will give them credit anonymously.

First photo - 67 Shelby grille original - one piece stamping, mesh is narrow outboard style

Second photo - 67 Shelby grille reproduction - multi piece welded mesh and light tabs, mesh is wider inboard style

Are you looking for used, date matching used or NOS ?

I recently sold one of these - the attached photos of it may be helpful

Vinman, thanks for updating the Registry info on #3588, glad my info was helpful. I received some additional info on the car since my original post, so have updated it to include that.