Factory marks were carefully documented from Isham JR during the disassembly

Videos:
Restoration slide show
Test Drive

Early 2009 Isham JR brought the car home to start a thorough restoration

Isham had contacted the MM editors early this year 2009 trying to find out wether he had one of the first Fastbacks built with a built date of 20th. August (20H). 
It turned not be the first one built, but actually the VIN 5R09K125001 turned out to be the first K-code Fastback built at San Jose plus the first San Jose order of the 1965 model. Not too bad.

"I knew the car for a longer period and actually tried to buy it for severn years long. It was a former drag car and stored away since 1972 with just 57.000 miles on the odometer.
The car had a lot of early 64,5 items like the hood, headlight extensions and doorglass felts plus the carpet.

Although order no. 1 for the 1965 San Jose model, it was finished 20 days later than the production started, probably due to missing production items.


Factory marks show the employees # and built marks. I think the 1A marks the built no.1, first shift. Inside the quarter panels the door jam area is finished with no welds present. It could have been one of Fords showcars or built as a special purpose race car. There are holes in the floor and note the roll bar. I'd like to know more about the owners of this and other early cars from San Jose."

The cars restoration was done in a record time by Isham himself.



Source:
Isham JR Shelby (owner/driver)
James Shelby
www.early-mustang.com
Mustang Monthly blog