As far back as the early 1900s, man has tested the speed of his machines on the salt flats. From radical, space ship-style machines to factory hot rods, a wide variety of vehicles have run flat out ton Bonneville Salt Flats in Tooele County, Utah. This week, one of those machines, of a familiar variety, showed up for sale on eBay.
According to the ad, the engine must have dropped a valve down onto the piston at some point, probably why the car went into the barn. However, before that this appears to have been a very healthy Ford small block. Its a 421 cubic inch engine with Dart iron heads, a huge cam (.750-.800 lift), 14:1 compression, and a dry-sump oiling system. It is unclear how many of the internals are salvageable, but the parts list includes four-bolt-steel, splayed main caps, Crower rods, and Ross pistons. If all that is not enough to push this lightweight Fox across the salt, there is nitrous oxide fogger system onboard for a little extra boost.
This 1982 Ford Mustang is still in as-raced condition. The barn find features a lot of good parts, a cool history, and a 195-mile-per-hour plaque to back up its story. Sadly, the car has been sitting for year, apparently from a blown engine. Hopefully someone scoops up this once wicked Fox and restores it to its racing glory.
For more info, check it out the listing for yourself right here.
The biggest drawback to this and any other car to visit the salt flats is just that — the salt. All of our readers up north know just how much havoc salt can play on a car, and sadly some of it is visible in the form of surface rust on parts of this Fox. The eBay listing even mentions that the headers are rusted through in spots. Still though, even with the chance of rust, our finger itches to hit the bid button at least once.
This might be the ultimate track decal to have on your car. This Fox participated in both the 47th and 49th annual Bonneville Speed Week Nationals in 1995 and 1997. According to the sale listing, it ran in both B/G ALT and B/F ALT during the speed trails.