History 1968-1971

Significant effort and over 5 years of research has provided a significant amount of information regarding this independent 1968 Trans Am Mustang. Additional data is being reviewed and additional photo’s and magazine articles are also under constant research and review. This data will be updated regularly as it becomes available.

One of the earliest photographs of Ed’s 1968 Mustang he recalls was taken outside a Lion’s club meeting where he had received some sponsorship support. Ed joined the SCCA and began his career running in A Sedan. The radius of the fender flares, American Racing Wheels and side pipes are obvious along with the 1968 Mustang quarter panels, parking lamps and drilled out competition rear drums.

Early 1968 photographs of Ed Hinchliff’s Mustang still with its streetcar 1968 license plate, NASCAR bumper sticker and now in full competition mode. Photo’s show the severe body work on the fenders for tire clearance, deck lid fuel filler cap, windshield and unique rear window retaining straps (used later to help identify the car) that go under the trim and the addition of “Sebring” lights on the doors to illuminate the car number during NASCAR night races.

The starting line for the August 11,1968 Watkins Glen Trans Am where Ed Hinchliff started 25 out of 31 starters and finished in 8th, in the over 2 liter big bore class. This race was covered by Autoweek Aug. 31, 1968

After the finish at Watkins Glen, Ed, his brother, his team mates in there uniform orange shirts and Nascar white slacks, celebrate his 8th place finish in the over two liter class at the 1968 New York Trans Am. This was Ed’s first Trans Am race.

The finish of the Paul Revere 250 mile race was covered in Stock Car Racing the October 1968 issue. Ed Hinchliff used the NASCAR GT as his primary venue, competing in many races in ’68 and ’69.

The cover of the Michigan Trans Am program for 1969, featured shots on the cover from Daytona in 1969, note the stands and crowd in the back. On pages42&43 there was a recap of the 1968 season along with photo’s of Ed in the same infield corner as the lead photo. The interesting fender flares are visible indicating Ed was able to compete with the larger flares in his ’68 coupe in 1969.

A famous shot from the same Daytona race has Ed leading Rusty Jowett and Petet Gregg through the infield. Note the same stands and fans as the program from Michigan.

As the crowd gathers Ed Hinchliff heads down the grid prior to the start of the 1969 Citrus 250 NASCAR race. Note the large 1969 flares that Ed used to coever what appear to be 7.00 and 8.00 series tires. Ed was one of the earliest competitors to run the larger flares and remembers his friend Bill Maier’s fender flare conversations.

A shot from the Citrus 250 has Ed on the high banks of Daytona for this Nascar Gran American season opening race in the Silver Mink paint scheme with black hood.

During a work-up A-Sedan National race the weekend prior to the Wolvereene Trans- Am, Ed’s Tunnel Port was running extremely well. According to Ed better than the car had ever run. Unfortunatly it resulted in a mishap that caused Ed to miss the start of the Michigan race whose program and hometown he was featured and entered in. Here the body damage from the infield guard rail is evident note the number change to #6.

The grid sheet for the 1969 Wolvereene T/A race shows Ed entered as number 46 but due to the crash the week prior during work-ups Ed was unable to qualifya and start the race in his hometown.

The Hinchliff/ Mustang was repaired and utilized for the fiming of the 1969 trans am dooucmentory on Trans am racing called by Ford “Ford Flat Out”. Here in Ed’s garage that he shared with Warren Tope you can see the repairs are complete on the 1968.

The second Hinchliff car a soon to be Grabber Blue Boss 302 sits next to the ’68 during preparation. This car is currently owned by Ross Meyers and driven by Terry Brookheimer of Pennsylvania.

Autoweek July 11th 1970, page 8 features Steve Ross in the ex-Hinchliff ’68 Mustang at the Bridgehampton thundering down the hill in his independent 2 year old Trans Am Mustang. See Steve Ross Page.