It was 1965 and the legendary Norm Beechey steered his Ford Mustang to the Australian Touring Car Championship marking the first time a V8 had won the title, while beginning a revolution.
Up until then, smaller capacity Jaguars and Cortinas had dominated the ATCC during the Appendix J era, but a change regulations to Group C Improved Production regulations changed all this.
Group C was more restrictive compared to the previous Appendix J regulations highlighted by the outlawed practice of overboring engines, which had aided in making the Jaguars a dominant force.
At the same time the Group C regulations were utilised, Ford in America launched a model nameplate set to lead a revolution.
‘Mustang Mania’ hit the US as Ford’s new two-door coupe dominated the showrooms and the race tracks in its native area before crossing to Europe, then later Australia courtesy of Beechey.
It’s often claimed Beechey won the first global race for the Ford Mustang, but this is not the case.
However, one thing that can’t be disputed is his immediate success when Beechey won on debut at Calder Park in January, 1965.
Considering how hard it must have been to acquire a Mustang so soon after its launch and the limited opportunity to race prepare his new stead, Beechey’s first-up win was impressive.
It was Beechey’s early identification of the Mustang’s potential entering the Group C Improved Production regulations and a chance meeting with Ford Australia marketing boss Bill Bourke, which got the wheels in motion to acquire a high-performance version of the new coupe.
Beechey purchased a High Performance 289 V8 manual Mustang formerly used by Ford factory squad Holman-Moody for promotional work as a trip to Shelby American followed to order a Cobra-spec 289 Windsor small-block V8.
Producing 375bhp, the Cobra V8 achieved its claimed figures and arrived in December 1964 leading to a rush to get Beechey’s Mustang prepared for its debut at Calder Park.
Cooling of the brakes and engine was targeted during this short lead-in time leading to American Racer five-spoke 15×7-inch wheels being installed to enhance the durability of the four-wheel drums stopping the Mustang.
Holes were drilled in the backing plates, aluminium air scoops installed and added ducting further aided the cooling as limited by the rules.
Painted in the familiar blue and white of the Neptune Racing Team, Beechey enjoyed great success in 1965 including victories in the South Australian, New South Wales and finally the Australian Touring Car Championships marking the Mustang as the model to have.
Beechey’s victories sparked Ian ‘Pete’ Geoghegan and Bob Jane to react by purchasing Mustangs of their own leading to a domination by Ford’s new hero model in Australian touring car racing.
In fact, Jane’s arrived to compete alongside Beechey’s at the Sandown’s ATCC event in April. Transmission problems forced Beechey to start from the rear of grid, but he was up to fifth by the end of the opening lap and caught Jane in the lead lap 7.
Overheating problems dropped Jane out on lap 23, but Beechey had already passed him on the way to his maiden ATCC title by a lap.
Of course, this kicked off a run of five ATCC titles for drivers of Mustangs and V8s were to dominate the next decade.