The question is, "Why?" Why would someone order, in late 1970 or early 1971 from Monaco & Sons Motor Sales in Glastonbury, Connecticut, a white Mustang coupe with a Drag Pack 429 Cobra Jet, a Hurst-shifted four-speed, and a 4.11 Detroit Locker rearend? And why would they avoid all other options except power disc brakes, a console, and tinted glass? In 1971, most Mustang performance buyers wanted the glory to go with the guts, opting for the muscular Mach 1 or at least a SportsRoof with flashy Magnum wheels. But the original owner of this unusual coupe--with dog-dish hubcaps, no less--obviously wanted an ultimate 370hp sleeper. We may never know why.
Ford performance collector Jacky Jones, from Young Harris, Georgia, doesn’t really care why the original owner wanted such a plain-Jane machine. When he found the rough, unrestored car at the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals a couple of years ago, he knew it would be a grand conversation piece for his collection of rare, unusual, and ultra-high-performance Fords. If you break down the production numbers in Kevin Marti’s book, Mustang... By the Numbers, you’ll find that Ford produced 86 Mustang hardtops with 429 CJ engines in 1971. Of those, just 23 were C-code (non-Ram-Air) versions, with only 11 having the four-speed. Marti is currently researching the Drag Pack option-- it’s possible only three 1971 Mustang coupes were equipped like Jacky’s.
You may have noticed the Ram-Air hood on the otherwise-plain exterior. Although this coupe didn't get the Ram-Air CJ-R, it's equipped with the non-functional NASA-scooped hood as part of the Drag Pack option, which converted the 429 CJ into a Super Cobra Jet with definitely functional items like a solid-lifter cam, cap-screw connecting rods, forged pistons, and oil cooler, plus either the 3.91 Traction-Lok or 4.11 Detroit-Locker differential.
After purchasing the Mustang at Carlisle, Jacky had it delivered to his personal shop, where Mike Plott began the tedious restoration, a chore that included locating hard-to-find NOS parts for ´71 Mustangs. With help from fellow collectors/restorers Ed Meyers, Bob Perkins, and Steve Vanderwall, Mike rounded up NOS door panels, a headliner, a dashpad, F60x15 Goodyear Polyglas tires, and even an ultra-rare radio delete block-off plate. Like all of Mike’s restorations for Jacky, the 1971 coupe was restored to factory condition, right down to the paint dabs, "Paint OK" markings, and engine compartment decals. Garland Smallwood "freshened" the 429 SCJ engine before it was lowered into the immaculately detailed engine compartment.
A white coupe with a black standard interior and dog-dish hubcaps, and not even a radio. It doesn’t get much plainer. But for some reason, someone ordered this vanilla ´71 with all the performance toppings. Makes you wonder...Why?