The Last Factory Full-Size Drag Car from Ford: 1966 Ford Custom “R-Code” 427 2-Door
- December 22, 2020
From the drag strip to NASCAR oval tracks, sports car racing, rallies, and FIA-sanctioned international competition, Ford Motor Company’s “Total Performance” racing campaign of the 1960s remains quite likely the most committed approach to the old “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” ethos. By the mid-1960s, focus shifted from full-size heavyweights to mid-size drag contenders and several drag variants of the Mustang. This 1966 Ford Custom 2-door Sedan is advertised as the last "purpose built" full-size drag car from Ford, originally procured by brothers Bobby and Cecil Edge of Oneonta, Alabama, who took delivery of it from Fred Peak Ford. Such a special-purpose car was only available to racing teams with factory connections, which the Edge brothers made through contacts at Ford Motor Company after years of racing their products.
This car was produced on March 24, 1966 and briefly raced by the Edge brothers until 1967. These factory race cars were sold with a Bill of Sale only, and it’s powered by an "R" Code medium riser 427ci V8 with dual 715-cfm Holley 4-barrel carburetors, mated to a Toploader 4-speed manual transmission, as well as numerous modifications that were completed at Ford’s Atlanta assembly plant with Holman-Moody Enterprises prior to delivery to the original owners. Among them is the “teardrop” fiberglass hood, Thunderbolt ram air induction, dual-point ignition, cast-iron headers with full exhaust system, battery relocation to trunk, 4:56 Detroit Locker rear end with nodular iron center section and 31-spline axles, and deleted clock, radio, heater, and left-side mirror. After passing through several owners and receiving multiple mechanical and cosmetic alterations through the years, the most recent owner purchased the car in 1988, and over the next 20 years it was returned to the state in which Bobby and Cecil Edge raced it in 1966, with no part of the car left untouched. Since completion in 2008, it has been driven less than 300 miles and has always been stored in a climate-controlled facility.
An awesome stormer from the “Golden Age” of factory-backed drag racing, this car is listed in the 427 Galaxie Registry with full ownership history. It even comes with a clear Ohio title, thereby allowing the car to be registered, insured, and driven to events and shows. Wow! Consider it a full-size version of Ford’s famous Fairlane-based Thunderbolts of 1964, but this car is a “one of one” and the last of its type ever produced and sold by Ford. The only comparable cars are the full-size factory-built 427ci drag racers from ‘63-‘64, and they are few and far between today. In the meantime, we could do a laborious examination of market prices for somewhat similar examples, and maybe even include a smattering of ‘63-‘64 413/426 Max Wedge Mopars, or ‘61-‘65 Chevy 409 cars, but let’s cut to the chase here and save everyone some precious time. While collectors are willing to pay over $125k for 1965 and 1966 Shelby GT350s, or one of the 100 1964 Fairlane Thunderbolts built, this car is a “one-of-one” with confirmed and well documented history, while marking the end of an era for Ford’s promotion of full-size performance. Simply put, this automobile is fair market and quite possibly undervalued for what it represents, let alone the quality of its restoration.
