 Paul Pettey with his Mustang at Mont-Tremblant /Canada 1971 Picture courtesy Yves St-Jean  Picture courtesy Steve Francis  Picture courtesy Steve Francis  Picture courtesy Steve Francis  Picture courtesy Steve Francis  Picture courtesy Steve Francis  Picture courtesy Steve Francis Above pictures show the car before restoration Below the interior as of 2002 (owner then Jere Clark)  
An eye witness reports how this historic Mustang was born:
"I thought
i would pass a little information along upon discovering these pics and the
brief story.
Paul
Petty bought the Mustang at the former Warwick Ford in Warwick, RI and
brought it to my buddy, Paul Rainville, son of Charlie Rainville, who is an
icon from the period in SCCA, IMSA and TRANSAM racing circles.
Paul Petty
brought the car to Paul R and basically said something like "make me a race
car for Sebring". I think this was late '69/early '70. It was delivered to
Paul R mother's house in Coventry, RI. There was a modest 2 car garage
attached to the house.
I was a
by-stander becoming an apprentice. The upper control arms were raised I
think 1-5/8", exhaust tunneled through the floor all ending up with about
3.5" of ground clearance. I recall waiting for a new set of valves to arrive
but never got there on time. We spent about 36 hours working straight
through the night to modify and polish a stock set of Boss valves to make
them like Paul wanted them. The equipment was a drill press, a valve
grinder, a bench grinder with a buffing wheel and a bar of polishing
compound. This is just a couple highlights of the effort. dedication,
integrety and the skills of a man who still has great respect from me.
Today
(2021), Paul R struggles with some health issues but still has the critical
thinking skills and that twinkle in his eye that I see as a reflection of
his father. The pics brought back great memories, and answering the question
of where the car is today.
Editor note: For a number of years another Mustang appears for sale, claimed as a back-up car to this #45 door lettered T/A racer. Actually that used to be Paul Petteys hot street car. It has no T/A race history. Painted originally in grabber blue it was stored in the early 90ies at Bob Tullius race shop acc. to Steve, later sold and at some time in 2005 painted in Bud Moore livery with a door number 6. Again on sale as of 2020 by BJ for about 83.000 Dollar. |
The History of Paul Pettey's and Roy Hallquist's 69 Mustang T/A  Driver Paul Petty racing the car at Lime Rock 1972 (Picture Steve Francis) A report from Steve Francis "When I inspected the car it had a running Boss 302 engine, period correct 4-wheel disc brakes, over rider type bars, magnesium ARE Torque Thrust D wheels (looked like 15"x 9" or 9.5"), fuel filler in both quarter panels (for Daytona and Sebring endurance race events), the Bud Moore Cougar roll cage and fabricated Monte Carlo bar, green line SW gauges, twin R-model type racing seats and the brass tag (#72AS15) riveted on the passenger side main hoop.. A scruffy dusty race car but all there. It was clear that the cage had been in another car prior and had been re-installed in this Mustang. This was owned and raced by a Connecticut resident Paul Pettey (different spelling and no relation to Richard). His fellow CT friend Roy Hallquist helped with the driving duties at circuits such as the Sebring 12 hours in 1970 where they finished 27th in the number 18 Mustang. At the end of the 1967 Trans Am season Paul Pettey purchased one of the Bud Moore Cougars with plans to race it in the 1968 NASCAR Grand National series. Unfortunately the car was wrecked at Sebring early in the year 1968. Misc. parts such as the roll cage, drivers seat and gauges were removed from the Cougar and installed in a new 1969 Mustang fastback (not a boss 302) and as I recall it was an H-code car originally. The car was maroon and later painted white. Currently the car has been restored with a new roll cage fabricated and installed. The old Cougar roll cage from the Paul Pettey 1969 Mustang was purchased by Dave Tom. Steve Francis A former neighbour - Jim F. - contacted us in 2017 and
shared some memories about the #45.
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