Discovered 1995-1998

After the 1970 SCCA Run-Offs held at Daytona for the National Championship Steve Ross sold the Hinchliff Mustang to a wealthy family possibly named Rodriquez from Mexico City along with all the spares and trailer. The car was transported to Mexico where it competed along with many other former American road racing cars in the FIA sanctioned Mexican Road Racing Series. At some point the yellow Ross paint was replaced with a Rangoon Red and Whimbelton White stripes.
Upon locating of the car, it was purchased and transported back to the U.S. and delivered to M. Gillette.
The previous paint colors including the yellow, silver and original Sea Mist Green were all visible in various portions of the body. The original right front body damage to the frame and floor pan were visible as was all of the original engineering and componets.

Here in a village in 1995 a Mexican National who specialized in locating many vintage cars throughout Mexico, Alvaro Diaz, located the original Hinchliff/Ross 1968 Mustang still equipped with much of its distinctive parts and engineering.

The distinctive roof mount camera holes and surviving original oversized rear fender flares are visable in this shot from Mark Gillete of Dallas Texas.

The unique ignition box with aircraft switching and wiring was originally installed by one of Steve Ross’s crew possibly Russ Bellow of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Note the existing R-model seat, steering wheel and head restraint.

There are three different locations in Mexico as seen in these shots as the Hinchliff / Ross Mustang was being located, identified and transported to Dallas for Mark Gillette in 1996. Once again the identifying engineering and unique parts from its Hinchliff and Ross era are visible.

The originality and amazing condition of the Hinchliff Mustang was used to verify the authenticity of the chassis and body of the Mustang. Several experts including Ed Hinchliff and Ed Ludke verified the value and authenticity for the Mustang Road Racing Registery. David Tom registrar for the Historic Trans Am Registery certified the chassis, serial number and awarded a “Certificate of Authenticity” HTA #066 as the 1968 Ed Hinchliff Mustang in May of 1998.

Pictured in Georgia where the majority of the red paint was removed the ownership line of the car stretched out. Mark Gillette sold the Hinchliff Mustang to Tony Whitworth who sold it to Tim Holland of Lawrencville Georgia. Tim began a restoration (as seen in these pictures) but given the overall condition of the body decided to invest in a different vintage Mustang and sold the Hinchliff Mustang to Chris Liebenberg of Racing Restorations of Danbury Ct, who sold it to J. Bittle of San Diego in 1998.