Mooresville, North Carolina is known as Race City USA because it is the home of many NASCAR racing teams and drivers, along with several suppliers. The place is rich in motorsport history, and you can bet barn finds are aplenty there as well, which is why Dennis Collins and his coffee walk team are there, recovering four awesome Mustangs.
It’s got all the major “codes” in one video, not the same barn, obviously, but still a highly entertaining and educational thing. First on the list is a Mustang K-Code. The K-Code engine was introduced by Ford in 1963 and offered in things like the Fairlane and Comet as well. The Mustang is the most valuable and is easily recognizable from its front fender badge that reads “High Performance 289.”
Compared to a normal 289 V8, this had upgraded pistons, cylinder heads, carburetor, lifter heads, and connecting rods. A race-oriented V8 engine, the 4.7-liter was making about 271 horsepower in a 1965 model. You couldn’t buy them with air conditioning and power steering, and they came with a shorter warranty than normal Mustangs, just 4000 miles or three months.
Many other parts were changed from a regular model. These are super-rare Mustangs with about 13,000 of them made. The K-Code is basically a Shelby GT350 motor, so this classic is the obvious star of this video.
The “Winner” tires on the Mustang are certainly an interesting talking point. These are from Winston Tire, a chain that had about 150 tire stores in America. Sam Winston’s company was in business from 1962 to 2002 when it wasย acquired by Goodyear. The “Winner” was their performance tire.
Next under the spotlight is an A-Code 1965 Mustang Fastback, a decent car to start a full numbers-matching restoration on. It’s been parked since 1991, which is why it’s in great condition.
Again, the “code” is Ford’s way of telling you what engine this has. It’s better than a C-Code but not as good as the K-Code. Originally, this would have come with a 4-barrel carburated 289 that made about 225 horsepower.
If you like slightly older first-gen Mustangs with more attitude, the video has got you covered as well. The R-Code from 1968 and 1969 indicates the 428 Cobra Jet. This drag racing machine had 335 horsepower.
And finally, the M-Code, a performance-oriented 351 cubic-inch V8 motor rated at 300 horsepower. It was offered not only in the Mach 1 but also in the GT350. That’s the red 1969 model, which is repainted but has options like powered steering, powered brakes, and A/C making it desirable.
