It all started a fair few years ago when ‘Mustang Murray’ Hartley wanted to go racing. He located a complete 1971 Mustang in the United States.
Son Nathan comments, “The Mustang looked like Joe Dirt’s car; it had different-coloured panels all over it” — but Murray was happy with his purchase and was counting the days until it would land so he could finally go racing.
Before it landed, a chance meeting at Masterton Motorplex with a chap named Cedric Price would change Murray’s plans dramatically. Cedric mentioned to Murray that he had a suitable donor car sitting in a paddock in Matamata. The ’71 Mach 1 Mustang was rusty but, according to old Cedric, “would make a good drag car”. Murray’s eyes lit up and he bought it unseen for $2000. A road trip north was undertaken the very next weekend, and Murray dragged his latest purchase home. He now had two ’71 Mustangs to play with.
MURRAY’S OFFER WAS ACCEPTED. AN
