I almost want to share this in it's own thread to make it easier to track. Here's a Monroe Handler on ebay - the ad states it was car number 1. It's located in Missouri....
1978 Ford Mustang Monroe Handler
RAREST SPECIALTY MUSTANG PRODUCED! 1978 FORD MUSTANG II MONROE HANDLER, 1 OF 6!!
US $99,980.00or Best Offer
1978 Ford
Mustang Monroe Handler
Desneux Motorsports is proud to offer this EXTREMELY RARE, ONE OF ONLY 6 PRODUCED, 1978 FORD MONROE HANDLER MUSTANG!! This is the RAREST SPECIALTY MUSTANG EVER PRODUCED.
In 1977, the Monroe Shock Absorber company teamed up with Ford, Hot Rod Magazine and several other companies to build a magazine car to promote their new line of Handler shock absorbers. Over three issues of the magazine, the Monroe Handler Mustang was built and shown to the world. The Monroe Handler features a custom IMSA inspired wide body, lowered suspension, Centerline wheels and a custom 363 ci jack Roush small block Ford.
After the magazine car was done, Monroe continued the promotion by contracting six replicas of the car, to be given away to the regional winners of the 77-78 ISCA show car season. These 6 additional Handlers received fiberglass versions of the steel bodywork, custom made by Creative Car Craft and are often known as the "giveaway cars." The six prize cars were contracted to be built by Marketing Corporation of America and were purchased from Harold Turner Ford Inc in Troy, MI. All six cars were ordered as white, base model, 302 engine 4 speed transmission cars, with the only options being power steering, power brakes and radial tires. The cars were then built by Dave Kent and then painted by Tom Holden.
Once the prize cars were done, the magazine car was repainted to match the paint scheme of the prize cars and all 7 cars toured the country in a special designed trailer and displayed at racing events and ISCA shows. At the end of the year, 5 of the prize cars were awarded to the 5 regional ISCA winners. The 6th car was given to Tom Holden as partial payment for painting the cars which then found its way to Europe the following year and is believed to have been totaled and no longer exists, leaving only 5 remaining survivor giveaway cars.
The Monroe Handler we are offering here is car number ONE of the original six giveaway cars. The cars were ordered with six consecutive VINs and ownership is often referred to by the order of the VIN. This car was originally won by Willie Wagner, winning the Southeastern ISCA division with his 1962 Super Rat Corvette. Willian also won the Great Lakes division but ISCA rules said only one prize car per season could be won, so the Great Lakes Handler went to second place Dennis Pearson.
This car lived in the Missouri area for many years and was eventually purchased by a member of the famous JEGS performance parts family. This Monroe Handler Survivor has 25,306 original miles. It is believed to be the only Monroe Handler that still has its original 1978 ORIGINAL PAINT JOB. As a true survivor and the only Monroe Handler in original condition that hasn't had a full repaint, the paint does show some age with minor areas of bodywork flaws and some spider cracking and chips but shows extremely well for paint that was never intended to last almost 50 years. The white engine bay is also correct and the engine bay was not painted. Car has original paint, engine and interior.
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