SUMMARY
5-year nut-and-bolt rotisserie restoration that was completed in 2010Awarded Concours Gold at the SAAC-34 Car Show / AACA Outstanding Vehicle nominee
Listed in the Shelby American Automobile World Registry
Date-correct Police Interceptor V8
Correct C6 3-speed automatic transmission / Correct 3.00 rear gears
Mostly original body / Correct Highland Green paint / Correct White top
Correct interior / Correct factory air conditioning
Sale includes: Copies of original Shelby paperwork / A Deluxe Marti Auto Works Report
Sale includes: Restoration documents / SAAC-34 paperwork / AACA nomination certificate
Correct power steering / Correct power front disc and rear drum brakes
During its 52-year history, he legendary Mustang has enjoyed immense innovation and success. From Boss 302s and Boss 429s to SVO cars and the latest GT350R, erformance is something the Ford camp knows all too well. So that begs the question: what exactly does it take to make a Mustang truly collectible? Well, t's hard to answer such a broad inquiry, ut we can tell you what makes this sweet GT500 stand out from the herd. For starters, t's a professionally restored piece that wraps a mostly original profile in correct Highland Green paint. It's also a rare GT500 convertible that's fully documented, rom its Deluxe Marti Auto Works Report all the way to its listing in the Shelby American Automobile Club World Registry. And last but certainly not least, he car achieved 870.5 out of 900 points to be certified Concours Gold at the 2009 SAAC-34 Car Show. So, hat brings us to the ultimate question: are you ready for an investment grade Shelby?
HISTORY/BODYWORK
Built for only nine months, ll 1968 Shelby Mustangs were produced at Ford's Metuchen assembly plant and shipped as running knockdown units to A.O. Smith in Ionia, ichigan. And this award-winning pony, tored for roughly 25 years, eatures an all-original body that's seen only minor repairs. Our story begins in 1980, hen one of the car's previous owners stored his newfound classic in hopes of conducting a complete restoration. Fast-forward to 2005 when that classic, n multiple pieces, as spotted by the current owner and rescued with a healthy sum of cash and roughly five years of careful resuscitation. Aesthetically, hat nut-and-bolt rotisserie rebuild began with a full strip to bare metal, rogressed to correct Highland Green 2-stage, nd finished with traditional stripes and a correct top. And today, ith the exception of roughly 500 easy miles, his sweet Ford spends all of its time in a climate-controlled garage.
ENGINE
Lift the lightweight hood and you'll find a correct, 28 cubic inch Police Interceptor V8 that's branded with a C6ME-A casting number and January (A) 4th (4), 968 (8) casting date. Unfortunately, he car's original engine was too far gone to repair and restore, o its present owner called SEMO Mustang, ourced a date-correct replacement and had it professionally built by Hampton Engines of Westhampton Beach, ew York. At the top of the Ford Blue beast, finned and "COBRA" branded air cleaner jams oxygen in to a big Holley carburetor that's bolted to a correct aluminum intake. At the sides of that intake, igh performance heads hang finned and "COBRA LE MANS" branded valve covers between a small chrome breather and cast iron exhaust manifolds. At the front of those heads, n authentic points distributor utilizes fresh Autolite Radio Resistance wires to light the cylinders' fires. And in front of that distributor, thick radiator cycles water around correct factory air conditioning thanks to FoMoCo hoses and reproduction tower clamps. Aesthetically, his Mustang's well-detailed engine bay appears very close to original, eaturing Satin Black paint under correct Ford decals. And everything, rom the car's correct washer tank to its tagged Autolite battery, s fully sorted and ready to roll.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Take a look under this awesome drop-top and you'll find a clean, orrectly restored chassis. Just aft of the legendary V8, correct C6 3-speed, ebuilt by the pros at T-Jay's Transmissions of Riverhead New York, pins a tough Ford 9-inch around correct, .00 gears. At the front of the car, actory control arms hang correct power steering between correct power disc brakes. At the back of the car, tiff springs hang traditional, ower-assisted drums at the edges of a leak-free fuel tank. In the middle of the car, beefy, rue-dual exhaust system funnels spent gases through an H-shaped crossover, mall resonators, transverse muffler and polished stainless tips. And at the edges of the car, ower meets pavement through familiar Shelby 10-spokes and E70-15 Goodyear Speedways.
INTERIOR
Behind this Ford's glossy doors you'll find a clean Black interior that's stylish and correct. Everything, rom the door panels and roll bar to the black carpet and pony-branded floor mats, ppears factory-fresh. The ornate dash is loaded with rebuilt telemetry, nd features vivid trim that's straight and tight. A correct Philco radio rides above small Stewart Warner accessory gauges, chrome, obra-branded shifter and a full-length, actory console. In front of the driver, ou'll find a traditional, wo-spoke steering wheel that's affixed to a correct Tilt-Away column. And behind the passengers, completely restored trunk balances a full-size spare tire between a correct mat and new decklid decals.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
According to Kevin Marti of Marti Auto Works, his clean drop-top was bolted together in Metuchen, ew Jersey on February 23rd, 968 and delivered to J. D. Ball Ford of Miami, lorida. Here's a thorough breakdown of the car's original door data and optional equipment:
DOOR DATA:
SERIAL NUMBER: 8T03SXXXXXX - XXXXX
8 1968 model yearT Built in Metuchen, ew Jersey
03 Shelby GT-500 Convertible
S 428 cubic inch 4V Police Interceptor engine
XX,XXXth Mustang scheduled for production at Metuchen
X,XXXrd Shelby scheduled for production
76B Shelby Convertible
R Ford #3067-A Highland Green paint
6A Black Dcor bucket seats
21B Scheduled for build on February 21st, 968
8D2626 Home Office Reserve ordering district under order number 2626
6 3.00 gears
U C6 automatic transmission
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:
White convertible top that features power operation and a glass backliteVisibility Group
Wheel well moldings
Power steering
Power front disc brakes
Tilt steering wheel
Air conditioning
AM radio
Interior Dcor Group
Tinted glass
Tachometer that includes a trip odometer
OUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES
Vintage Shelby marketing materialsA copy of the car's original Shelby Individual Order
A copy of the car's original Shelby invoice
An Owner's Manual
A 1968 inspection sticker
1968 DuPont Ford Automotive Refinish Colors paperwork
Restoration photos
Restoration receipts
Cam specs
The aforementioned Deluxe Marti Auto Works Report
Paperwork from the car's Concours showing at the SAAC-34 Car Show
The car's AACA nomination certificate
A pair of Lucas driving lights
A set of splash guards
Shelby Mustangs are about as collectible as '60s muscle cars get. They're fun to drive, un to show and continue to be top-notch performers that hold their value exceptionally well. So, hat pedigreed classic can you show with pride and make a nice return on? This GT500!