Vanderbilt Cup Races

Largely a guess with a touch of internet help.

I will gather this is the pre1964 prototype Mustang fastback.  I do not believe it is the 1965 prototype as it is shown here as the Mach 1 fastback, but too many irregularities to be the same year car.  It certainly has an odd looking double drip rail over the driver’s window….and a lot of litter around the car.

http://fordofwestmemphis.blogspot.com/2013/02/1965-ford-mustang-mach-1-prototype.html

It also has a similar front end to the 1963.5 prototype as seen here, save for actually having square headlamps instead of appearing to have square headlamps.

http://www.mustangandfords.com/featured-vehicles/mump-1212-up-close-1963-mustang-2-prototype/photo-gallery/

I notice a set of Cragar S/S wheels on the car to the left while the prototype has wire wheel hubcaps which fooled us all, not really, soon replaced with “turbine” looks.

As for where?  No clue.  I will guess the Detroit car show as….....where else?

In looking at the sign in front of the car it appears to have a similar look to the Thunderbird insignia of earlier days, which seems odd.

That’s a Ford Mustang “Pegasus” customized by Jack Florence of Fostoria Styling and Warren Veurink of Holland Auto Trim. It was built for Gerald Taggart in 1965 and as shown in the photo was part of the Ford Custom Car Caravan. Since the car was built in 1965 and the only customizer to participate in the Caravan in 1966 (its last year) was George Barris, the photo must be from 1965, probably around September at the start of the model year. Could that be the rear end of your Mustang III in the left background?

Hi Howard:
Here are my answers and some additional information:

1).  The photo was taken in January 1965 at a display of the Ford Custom Car Caravan—then in its third and final year—at the 13th Annual Autorama in Detroit’s Cobo Hall.  There are plenty of historic photos found in vintage custom car magazines in the early Sixties that show the car.  Cars in all of the three years of the Ford Caravans were regularly covered in custom car magazines—so it’s no surprise that this radically restyled Mustang shows up in the custom car media of the time.

2).  The custom car is the Mustang Pegasus, built and designed by Jack Florence of Fostoria Customs for owner Gerald Taggart.  The interior to the car was designed and built by Warren Veurink of Holland Auto Trim.  ‘

3).  On the left side, some distance from the Pegasus, is seen the Mustang III concept car basically designed at Ford (and refined by Vince Gardner who then worked for Dearborn Steel Tubing). 

The Pegasus was covered in a feature article in Customs Craft and in the October 1965 issue of Rod and Custom.

The car was NOT originally intended for the Ford Caravan, but was “adopted” by Ford when company executives saw the car at the Cobo Hall show. 

I’ll send you, Howard, the images referenced here.

The car survives and is now being restored in California.

Great question about the history of custom cars.

Mark S. Gustavson
Utah

Identfy the event for this display and its approximate date. Provide a rationale.

1965 Ford Custom Car Caravan - Mustang ‘Pegasus’ was built in ‘65

Identify the custom car being looked and its designer

“Mustang Pegasus was designed by Jack Florence from Fostoria Styling and Warren Veurink from Holland Auto Trim (upholsterer supreme) created this unique custom Mustang back in 1965 for Gerald Taggart based on a brand new Mustang. Shown at the Cobo Hall, it caught the interest of Ford representatives and subsequently whisked from its appointed display position and made a part of Ford’s impressive Custom Car Caravan display.” It looks like the car is currently being restored.  http://www.ponysite.de/pegasus.htm

Can you identify anything else in the photo?

The rear quarter of your shorty Mustang III on the left!

Don’t know the event but this could be one of the Mustang prototype sisters (a lost one, haven’t been able to find anything on this sibling). It has some similarities to the Mustang II prototype but not quite. The oval headlights and the missing horse on the grille possibly dates it pre Aug 1962, when it was not yet decided which way the horse should face. Its cuter younger sister Mustang III Shorty is sitting behind on the left, and way in the back center could be a Richard Petty racer #43, but not the Superbird as it’s missing the rear spoiler.

Well…..if you’re gonna miss the mark, miss it by a bunch…...ah well, congrats to all and maybe next time.

I’ve got a few minutes before I have to eat. The Pegasus,It’s an ok car,the front and sides,I like,but the back of it I don’t like,it looks like it doesn’t belong to the car,it doesn’t fit in right,the roof is too high,the fastback look would have looked better I think

Guys, the current owner of Pegasus Mustang is my brother. He recently had a stroke.
Anyone interested with his car please contact me.

I don’t know if it’s still available. I have a serious interest.

Thank you

Richard

Richard contact me thru my email and leave your phone number where can I call you.