This week I thought I'd compare the same make/model of a race winning car with a gap of 55 years between them.
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Pete Geoghegan's 1965 Ford Mustang was the most successful car ever to race in this country with an incredible 68 wins from 74 starts, in Pete's hands.
A win ratio of almost 92 per cent. The Don Bradman of race cars.
This incredible car started out as road car with an automatic gearbox.
But under the skilled hands of chief mechanic John Shepphard it was rebuilt into the most race winning car of all time.
Some specs for Pete's Mustang: 4.7litre Windsor Ford V8 putting out 302Kw (405bhp).
The car drove via a 4 speed top loader manual gearbox. Tyres were 15" on 7" rims front and rear.
Fast forward 55 years to Scott McLaughlin's championship winning Mustang of 2020.
This is a purpose built supercar, running many common components with competitors (Holden & Ford).
The driver is seated more towards the centre of the car, and the fuel tank has also been shifted for safety purposes.
The car runs a 5 litre Ford V8, developing 480Kw (645bhp).
Transmission is a Control Albins rear-mounted ST6 6-speed sequential Transaxle with integrated spool differential.
Wheels are 18" with 11" wide tyres. Supercars can accelerate from 0-100kph in around 3.4 seconds.
In 2019/20 out of sixty starts McLaughlin's Mustang has won an impressive 31 times, a start/win ratio of 52 per cent.
Two wonderful race cars over half a century apart. Long live the mighty Ford Mustang.
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By Chris Goodsell
*The 2021 Supercars season began at the Mount Panorama 500 in Bathurst last weekend. Reigning champion McLaughlin now drives in the IndyCar Series in the United States.