1969 Mustang 428CJ Mach1 Boss302 test car bought from Hubert Platt NHRA SS/GA National Record Holder

My Dad was truck manager at Grant Ford in St. Petersburg Fl. I did pit-crew duty on Grant Ford’s Flying Horse 1965 Mustang. It wasn't until we raced at the 1966 U.S. Nationals that I became addicted to drag racing.
In 1968, We tried to buy one of the 50 '68 Cobra Jet Mustang fastbacks Ford built for Super Stock competition, but they were all gone. I ordered a '69 428 Fairlane Cobra, that I raced in F/S. I went to the 1969 NHRA Spring Nationals in Dallas. On the way to Dallas, I met Randy Payne member of the Platt & Payne Ford Drag Team. Randy said if I needed anything to come and see him. I broke the Detroit Locker at Dallas, and Randy gave me a new one. I ran 12.87 and lost to a Corvette with a 12.66 timeslip. That Detroit Locker was the only free part I ever got from Ford. Later that year, I suffered an engine failure at Gainesville, Florida. I got in touch with Randy, but he could not help me. We ended turning it back into a street car and selling it.
I went to the 1969 U.S. Nationals at Indy with a buddy who was racing a 289 Comet. I met veteran Ford Super Stock racer Hubert Platt. I stayed and work with the Ford Drag team for a couple of months. I traveled with Hubert and Randy helping at the track and the Performance Clinics at Ford Dealers. Hubert asked me to drive a new 1970 V-8 Maverick from Paul Harvey Ford in Indianapolis and drive it to his house in Atlanta. I also piloted Hubert's F-350 car hauler with his 1969 SOHC 427 Mustang from Dallas to his house and later had me drive it to Epping New Hampshire.
During a trip to Detroit, Hubert told me about his '68 Super Stock Mustang that he raced a Pomona in 1968 for sale for $3,500. I went home and borrowed the money from my uncle. The record was 11.70 in SS/FA competition.
In 1970, I drove to Pomona California for the NHRA Winternationals. I was the slowest in class with my '68 fastback that I only raced 6 times before. I beat a Camaro, who redlighted. Next outran a factory backed Mopar. The head of Ford's drag-racing program asked me to shut down at the 1,000-foot mark to keep from going under the record. I staged against Stacey Shields, who was driving a '68 fastback built by Holman/Moody/Stroppe in Long Beach and sponsored by Paul Harvey Ford out of Indy. I clocked a 12.00 at 104 mph shutting off, getting a win over Stacey who ran 11.82 at 120 mph. I set the SS/FA record 11.59 at Suffolk, Va that year. The following year, I returned to Pomona, winning class, then on to Phenix City, Al. and set the NHRA mph record at 120.64 mph. At West Palm Beach, Fl. I set the AHRA record at 11.46 mph at 119.84 mph.
Toward the end of the '70 season, Hubert Platt told me about a '69 Mustang body he had. It was a 428 Cobra Jet body that had been one of Ford's Boss 302 test cars. It was a factory test mule that Hubert saved from the crusher. With help from my Dad, we bought the Mustang and transferred everything from the '68 fastback over to the '69 Mach 1 in a week. The '69 was heavier so it ran in the SS/GA class. A friend of mine painted it Pearl White, with a splash of Candyapple red and blue.
I ran 121.39 mph to set NHRA record at the World Finals in Amarillo. I won the '71 Miami National Open with an 11.24, beating an 11.45 record. I was asked if I would do a tire test for Firestone at Gainesville. Ronnie Sox and Arlen Vanke were testing for Mopar. I went 11.22 on 9” slicks instead of 11.5” at Gainesville. I again won class at Pomona in 1972, best time was 11.28. Best ET was 11.18 at Orange County Calif in 1972. I set the SS/GA record 11.26 at Suffolk Va in 1974. The next day went 11.13 at 122.95, the quickest and fasted it ever went in Super Stock
The NHRA Super Stock rules changed for the 1975 season along with the gas shortage, so I decided to park this Mustang. In 1990 I decided to rebuild it to race in Stock Eliminator.
In 2004 opened Gillis Performance Restorations where we mostly restore Classic Mustangs. First order of business was to repaint this Mustang close to the way it was in the 70’s. In 2021 I raced in Bradenton and won the first round of eliminations with .005 reaction time after not racing since 2009. Best ET 11.08.
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[@413x398]

Incredible history of both you and the car!

[@gillisrestorations]

Thank you

[@awittypilot8961]

How cool is that? My dad was the Service Manager at Grant Ford during the time you speak of. Red Redmond. Dad put the Flying Horse together and raced it for a couple of years. I remember a bunch of the guys that worked there way back when. I just bought a 69 Mach 1 I'm restoring (not to perfect...street car with some power 351W roller motor and a tremec 5 speed and rack and pinion). It was a basket case but in very good shape. Almost zero rust. Pete Hannon was my dad's best friend and the two of them built the Flying Horse. I'm a corporate pilot but still have a love of Mustangs. Should warn ya...I have a 99 corvette too...hehe Dad hooked up with a 67 Custom with a 427 daytona motor. Very fast car for the day. They also raced a 65 Mercury Cyclone. I have a 65 404 with a hot motor and 5 speed too. Very quick car. I happened across your vid by accident.

[@gillisrestorations]

I traveled with Pete and the Flying Horse C/S Mustang. I don't think Red ever drove it. Bill (worked in service) started driving it and then Rasco (salesmen). That was my 1967 427 Custom, I ordered it and it was delivered December 1966. I blew up the engine with 872 miles on it. Red fixed it and Dad sold it to him. It would go 100 mph in second gear.

[@awittypilot8961]

@@gillisrestorations Dad married Pete's daughter Nancy. She was under 18 when he hired her in his office and she just stopped running fast enough. Pete did not talk to my dad for like 40 years. Nancy died a few years ago with dementia. They were married 38 years together. I forgot about Rasco but remember him. Dad did drive the car a few times...nothing permenent. Pete ran a crane and used to unload the hydroplane at lake magori which I took part in. He knew me and it took a long time for him to talk to me. He died with dementia too. I owned Frontrunner Marine for several years....barely kept my head above water. No pun intended. hehe That 427 was a frikin beast man! The starliner was the ultimate sleeper. 3 speed with overdrive. I LOVED it when dad got on it! I was about 13 or 14. I made it on my own without my dad just fine but he never gave me time of day. I got a black belt and got in the karate' biz...big mistake. Got my pilot license and that wasn't a big mistake! hehe My sister went into the Coast Guard for 23 years and then went to work for NASA for 19 years. We've both done pretty well. Eileen lives in Citrus Park near Ocala near my mom. Still love hot cars and motorcycles though! Now I can afford them a lot easier....hehe I've never ran my Comet...I suspect low 13's. If I run it I can't lie about it any more...hehe