Ford Mustang II Dyno Don, 1978
Ford Mustang, III
Ford Mustang, III•
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Auction: Harrisburg 2019
Auction date: August 3, 2019
Lot No.: S125
$170,500 | Sold
- Exterior: Yellow/Red/blue
- Interior: Black
- Body: Dyno Don
- Factory-backed Race Car
- Driven by ‘Dyno’ Don Nicholson
- Body restored to 1978 configuration
- 351 CI Cleveland V-8 engine by Jon Kaase
- Lenco 4-speed manual transmission
- Yellow/Red/Blue exterior
- Black bucket seat
- Engine bored .030 over
- Ross racing pistons
- 4-bolt main caps
- Two 1050 CFM Dominator carburetors
- Tunnel ram intake
- Ford 9-inch rear end
- Dash-mount tachometer
- Oil/Water pressure gauges
- Hoosier racing tires
- Sold on a bill of sale
The late 1970s was a period of serious transition for Pro Stock racing. This car is the 1978-configured Mustang II driven by legendary Ford racer “Dyno” Don Nicholson. An elder statesman of the sport, Nicholson had been racing since the late 1940s and had established his “Dyno Don” credentials in the early 1960s. Moving to Fords in 1964 via then Mercury Division following GMs withdrawal, Nicholson was a pioneering “funny car” driver before moving to the Pro Stock category. Though he made a substantial amount of money match racing, he would win the 1977 NHRA World Championship using his Mustang II and follow that with a third-place showing in the 1979 standings.
This car has been restored to its 1978-79 appearance with No. 205, as seen at the NHRA World Finals in ‘79. During this same era, engine builder Jon Kaase was his crew chief, and, using a mountain motor, this team became the first Pro Stocker ever to run in the 7-second range with a match-race at 7.99 seconds. Today, Dyno’s Mustang has a 351 CI V-8 engine bored .030 over with Ross racing pistons, 4-bolt main caps and a pair of 1050 CFM Dominator carburetors atop a tunnel-ram intake. This is backed by a Lenco 4-speed manual transmission and a Ford 9-inch differential.
The yellow, red and blue exterior features “Dyno Don” lettering and contingency decals, while inside is a black bucket seat, dash-mount tachometer, oil and water gauges, and a full roll cage. The car rides on lightweight Weld wheels and Hoosier racing tires. It has not been ascertained that this car was part of the 1977 championship pursuit; this Dyno Mustang dramatically reappeared on the scene in late 1979 following Dyno Don’s crash with Ronnie Sox. Raced at the World Finals, it is the final Championship-quest car of Nicholson, who never again pursued the entire points circuit. With Kaase’s name on the door and a complete drivetrain, the legacy of Dyno Don lives on with this car.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/379994/1978-ford-mustang-ii-dyno-don/
