Hello again friends. For regular readers of this post, I’m happy (and sad) to report that the TRIBUTE we did for Bob Lazier a few months ago continues to get “views.” They should easily top 1,000 by Christmas. Bob had a lot of friends, and it’s hard to imagine Christmas at the Tivoli without Bob bustling around. Miss ya guy!
You can view the TRIBUTE by going to www.mustangirs.com if you’re so inclined.
With all the buzz created by the FORD v FERRARI flick, I thought you might be interested in a video we shot some years ago as part of an effort to resurrect the Last Shelby King Cobra. The plan was to have the work done, or at least supervised, by the guys who originally built the car. Sound familiar?
Sadly, several of the people in this video are no longer with us. Phil Remington, Chief Engineer and all around wizard (played by Ray McKinnon in the F v F movie) has passed. And of course Shel, who signed the chassis later, is gone too.
Phil Collins master fabricator, also known as “Granny” in Venice, passed shortly after this film was made. He had great stories of sleeping in the London subways as a kid during the WW II “Blitz.” Too bad we didn’t capture them on video.
The late Jerry Titus (Rick’s dad) drove the yellow Can Am chassis #1 in its only two competitive races. It was destroyed in a crash at the end of the 1967 racing season. Jerry told young Rick to “Strip everything you can off that tub and throw in the dumpster.” What would that mangled lump of metal be worth today? Fortunately young Rick did a great job. The doors, duct work and other pieces stripped off #1 have recently been found and will be used to finish chassis #3.
To help you keep the numbers straight, chassis #2 (only 3 were built) has been lovingly restored and is now living in the Northwest.
As often happens with these projects, life has gotten in the way. The mechanicals for #3 have been found, gathered up and sorted, and the wooden buck needed to shape the aluminum body has been constructed (not cheap ! )
Once the new aluminum body is complete, it’s back to John Collin’s shop, where John’s son Graham will put it all together. Jerry’s son Rick will have the FIRST DRIVE !
Time and money will tell.
Dreams do still happen. This one has just taken a little longer than planned. Hope you enjoy the video.
Duane
