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Exclusive on this website
1 of 5 ARI 428CJ Pace car Mustang Fastbacks
Owner Steven Magee (1971-1977) 'unknown
Racer' (1977-1980) Gary Pietraniec (1980-1987) unknown(1987-2002?)
Steven Magee contacted us in January 2002, trying to locate his object of passion and was kind enough to share information about his
ownership:
"I was the second owner of the 1970 ARI Pace Car from Michigan International Speedway. The car was a pumpkin orange 428CJ, shaker hood, 4 speed. I sold it in 1977 and lost track of the car until 1985 when someone called me from the Michigan Mustang Club and said they were restoring it. I would like to find out if its still around."
Steven added later:
"After its use at Michigan International Speedway it was sent to the Ford Dealer in Ann Arbor, Michigan to be sold. My neighbor bought it new in 1971 in Ann Arbor and sold it to me in 1975. I kept it two years to 1977, but the gas crunch prompted me to sell it. The guy I sold it two ran it at Milan dragway a couple of times and then sold it to Gary Pietraniec.
The car looked like a twister, same colors and striping, but it had a shaker hood and the 428 CID decals applied to the hood like all the other ARI vehicles. It had the long handled Hurst shifter (4 speed), drag pack rear end (4.11), oil cooler, trans cooler, etc. It was the MIS car as I confirmed it with the Ford dealer at the time (now Varsity Ford on Jackson Road, Ann Arbor). Believe it or not, despite knowing what I had, I let the car go in 77 for $2,000!"
In the early 80ies Gary might have owned the Grabber orange ARI 428CJ MIS Fastback, but sold it in 1987. Gary got knowledge of an original ARI Pace Car convertible, but he had no place to store it, so the garage, that also worked on Garys Fastback at that time, bought it and stored it behind their shop. In 1990 it was for sale and Gary jumped in the ARI convertible.
If you have actual information on the whereabouts of the Grabber Orange Fastback, please let me know by e-mail
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