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Not quite a list of FORD antendees, but...

I found a list of the FORD Board of directors in July 1965 with a photo

Good catch. It helps present a potential list of SA attendee suspects.

Plus an interesting source, the Walter P. Ruther Library. It illustrates looking around other tangential automotive collections because you never know what photo/scan/pr release/ newsletter that someone has archived. 

I still remain bemused that it seems, thus far, to appear that someone from Ford PR didn't cover the event showing Ford executives more closely since this was the Total Performance era that Ford was promoting full time.

Pertersens' Archives has nothing for LAX such as the open house.
The Henry Ford Collection has some photos, but nothing was noted about who was there.
Revs Digital Library does not seem to cover the event either.
There is NO LIST of the Ford excutives who attended the open house on June 7th, 1965.
A few different books and magazines have some captions that note a few Ford Execs who were there.

Thanks for the FYI and it illustrates that historical research can be messy. I'm surprised at the lack of photos. SA was just down the 405 from Petersen and an editor could have received a free lunch to boot.

I suspect there are still some unturned stones to be discovered.   

I recently had lunch with the man who was the Petersen Museum archivist. Super nice guy, and loves automotive history. He previously worked for me at MT.

He told me that he and one assistant scanned something like 1.6 million images into the Museum's system.  But, about a year or two ago, the Museum decided that such a project is too expensive (his pay, and that of the assistant) and let them both go.

For now, the museum is calling that project done. There are still millions more images sitting in metal file drawers hoping to be scanned someday, maybe.

Never give up the search!

I am inclined to agree with Mr. Side-Oilers. Not surprised at the cost cutting plus in historical research discoveries are often found in the last place you look. In this case metal file drawers that no one yet has a clue what's there.

Mr. Szabo:

Your investigation continues to be brilliant.

Two questions: Do we have a list of Ford executives that attended the press function?

Also have you searched the Petersen photo achives for images? I have to believe that an editor(s) from Hot Rod/Motor Trend/Sports Car Graphic was in attendance. Or not.

In addition, I enjoy looking for the everyday details, since like a historical excavation, these are details of daily SA jobs.

i look for help for the last Pic to get a good timecode, or a higher resolution to read the Numbers
on the Windshield Papers, maybe someone here who reads and want to help can share someting

In that photo of unfinished GT350s, there's three rows there's 54 cars I can see in the photo, although it might be 76 (26x3).
And in a observation that's unlikely to mean anything, in the second row, the second car has Le Mans stripes unlike the other 75. Why was it parked there? Another lost detail of SA historical minutiae. 

Looks like CS should've had a smarter CFO than he did. If it WAS $3-5 million in 1962 dollars he got, that should've been enough $$ in an efficient operation at the time (something equaling like $30-50million today... or more.)

This thread brings up trangential questions, such as SA/Ford contract details. Was SA supposed to make payments to Ford during the life of the loan or was there a balloon payment instead?

Mr. Side-Oilers post about CS salary is a good question. And he's right about having a more talented CFO.

Were 65-67 Shelby Mustangs sold at a profit? I.E. Did the sales price cover development costs?

One take away for me is that Shelby had the talent to form SA, but he didn't grasp a financial/business long term picture. Of course there were Ford demands and market place changes so maybe there was no long term SA future. And possibly working with Ford might have been a be careful what you wish for.

A.J. Foyt won the 1966 TA championship??!!!!

Shelby began Cobra production in 1962 using the 221 and 260. 221??!!

Neither of those comments sound accurate. But what do i know.

Wow that's fast.

What wasn't mentioned is range. I wonder what it would be cruising from LA to Las Vegas at the defacto I-15 speed limit (75 mph)? Oh, that would also include running the air conditioning too.

Is not the standard extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof?

Something is missing from the story. This one says he was downshifting into second when control was lost. I read one report that he wasn't speeding.

Then when the car started to skid? lurch? something, he didnt have the presence of mind to depress the clutch pedal then brake? Were there skid marks?

I don't see how FGT  handling can be so easily upset if speed wasn't involved.

Please enlighten since I'm sure I'm missing something simple.

Chevy has always been the most HP for your dollar. Take a look at crate engine prices between Ford and Chevy. I've got a new (not rebuilt) Chevy 300 hp 4 bolt main SB in the garage. I think it was about $1,900 delivered. What's a used 4 bolt 302 block - $1,500? All the replicas in Ford v Ferrari were powered by LS engines. Ever ask yourself why Pete Brock never opens the hood of his beautiful red Coupe at a Ford event? I'll let you guess.

I have always been annoyed that the aftermarket, along with enthusiast publications, were SBC, SBC, SBC centric. But your comment is reality. Upside is that SBFs are covered by the aftermarket, albeit, more money.

I commend GM for deloping the LS engine series. The upgraded OHV design makes a heck of impressive performance package that's a good value. I attended the LSFest-West and was impressed that the OHV V8 is alive and well and it's installed in every non-GM from Fords (which I refused to acknowledge. Put a Ford in your Ford is my standard.) to 911s. As a result, performance interest remains healthy. 

While the Modular V8 is a very good engine, Ford got high tech excessive with 3V and 4V versions. At least with the 2V you can avoid variable cam timing and extra valve and cam costs. Plus bigger bore centers would have been nice. 

Sad to read the comment about Pete Brock and his Cobra coupe.

As a post script I offer the following for  your consideration.

I read a recent Forbes article about how one coming aspect of cars is that manufacturers will be offering various apps as subscriptions like Microsoft does with its Windows, which translates into yearly charges. Also noted is that car makers no longer update older apps because the software is obsolete, like Apple no longer supports I Phone 6s.

It occured to me another reason why there's EV support besides enviromental and government aspects. An EV is esentially a computer on wheels with various programs, from drivetrain to Alexa connectivity, to be upgraded as needed. The concept of a car, transportation, image, enjoyment, is muted.

To quote Zora Arkus-Duntov, "The thoughts are offered for what they are worth - one man's thinking aloud on the subject."

++++++ 1

comments continue being on target. I would also opine that Ford management doesn't really like cars (I wonder if any ever get their hands dirty working on them) but they do like computers on wheels. i.e. EVs with wi-fi connected 11-inch screens. And they really can't wait until self driving cars are widely available.

been going to SEMA for several years going again this year....can't believe the news.......This could mean the start of a slow death of SEMA as we know it in the years to come when others follow Fords lead

That thought has crossed my mind.

Mr. 98SVT and Mr. Side Oiler:

Ditto on both your comments.

Farley doesn't care about current performance - unless it uses current. He came from Toyota and has a global not US view of the automobile. We Americans will need to become accustomed to buying transportation pods they want us to have not something we want for it's looks or performance.

Very insightful observation IMHO, in addition to your other comments.

Didn't know Farley's background so I'm not surprised at his automotive views. Plus being on the U.S. China Business council is an increasing negative given world events.

As for transportation pods, I look at Tesla. Styling has a pod vibe, which most owners are indiffernt to. Then take the Mustang MachE and I see a borderline pod that could have been styled by Tesla. And you're right that auto manufacturers (with government in the background) are building what they want us to have not what we want. It's always been my opinion that the people advocating for EV transition don't like cars and ultimately would prefer public transportation for you, but not them.   

Glad that Ford is bright enought to maintain an ICE division. 

As an aside, I wonder how the electrical grid will handle the additional car charging demand. It also occurs to me that First World countries are transitioning to EVs but alot of the world isn't. Will EVs be popular in Mexico and Central and South America? 

Nice find. I guess.

I wonder what editorial pitch went into running a four page story, which is a lot of space in the "An American Pop Magazine." I presume the readership age would be 12-18, who weren't likely to be interested in reading about cars, unless it was owned by a Rolling Stone.

Copy is pr boilerplate, so there's no real writing involved. The art director got handed the photos and copy and he just laid it out. Just another example of Shelby brand promotion by non enthusiasts just doing their jobs, most of whom probably rode the subway to work.

I think Ford is overestimating the demand for electric vehicles at this time.

When people start recognizing the true costs of EV they will have second thoughts.

Ditto

As someone, somewhere might have said, EVs are an answer to a misunderstood question.