[BACK FROM THE DEAD]

Ok,

I went back yesterday and looked at it closer and by God it's a real Shelby GT-500!!!
I found the stick-on placard on the strut tower with all the Shelby info on it from Shelby American Corp, listing the model as "GT-500". As well as the "R-Code" VIN#!!!
As soon as I opened the door my son spotted the Shelby American Corp (or Inc) logo on the sill plate and goes "Dad!-Dad!-Dad!-Dad!-Dad! Loooooook!!! OMG look!!!"

My heart skipped a beat.
I immediately noticed the 140 MPH speedo, factory tach, spot-light pull-knob in the center of the dash. I was about to pee myself already, then I went to the back of the car to get another look at the tail lights (because I just couldn't quite remember what they looked like from before).
They are the T-Bird style Shelby lights, no doubt about it.

Raised the hood and started cleaning the **** and yuck off the strut towers looking for the ID tags, and there it was... Shelby American Model: GT-500.

The owner of the property where it's sitting is getting me the car owner's contact info. So we shall see soon if it can be had.

He says he thinks the trans and rear end are the originals, and also says that he thinks there's a good chance that the original 428 SCJ is around somewhere too.
Says the owner has 4-5 of them and one of them may have been toe one from the car.
However he said he specifically remembers that it did have a 429 cammer in it at one time that the owner pulled (and still also has).
This is further supported by the strut towers having been cut to make clearance for it. Which it a bummer, but at least they didn't do too bad of a hack job on it. They made pretty clean cuts, and didn't take any more than they had to it looks like.
Shouldn't be too bad of a fix to clean them back up and patch the holes.

But if the 428 is long gone and a deal could be made for one of those there cammer 429's. Well they may just stay cut...


I'm still rather confused by the Mach-1 emblem on the passenger's side dash and the style of the roll bar, but I think I'm 95% convinced that it's legit.

I think I'll pull a Marti Report on it before I was to exchange any large sums of $$$ for it. But at this point I'm pretty well convinced.

It's awful cool, but I'd still take an L-78 or LS6 Chevelle in a grassy field over this car any day!


So what do you guys think of it?

IMO they seem to be going on the $80-90K range restored. I know this car would take a $50-60K resto to get it "there", so it would probably have to be bought at or under $25K to even be (fairly) safe from losing money doing it.
But if it could be bought right AND has the #'s engine then a guy might be able to do alright on it?
I will admit that I don't really have much interest in keeping it, if I can get it bought. I'll probably just buy it and flip it to someone I know can get it restored if it could be had for a good price, as I need to worry about finishing my Chevelle and a couple other projects I've got going on.

 

[BACK FROM THE DEAD]

 

[novaderrik]

did you offer $500 because it doesn't run?

 

[Chris R]

I wouldnt worry about what its worth being done. Who really cares, are you looking to get it just to restore it and try to sell to make money on?

The key here IMO is that its a real Shelby GT500 which gives you a very real opportunity to get your hands on a piece of automotive history and not many have that kind of opportunity.

 

[BACK FROM THE DEAD]

I wouldnt worry about what its worth being done. Who really cares, are you looking to get it just to restore it and try to sell to make money on?

Well I specifically stated in the OP that I don't really have any intention of getting it to keep for myself.

#1 I'm not really a Ford guy

#2 If it were a 67-68 Shelby GT-350/500 that'd be a different story, but I personally don't really find the 69-70's all that great looking.

#3 I have enough of my time, money, and effort going into my Chevelle right now and have finally learned that you'll never finish any projects if you have too many. (nor do I feel like putting $50-60K into it and hoping I get my $$$ back out of it).


I want to get it because I would like to get it into the hands of someone who'll do it justice and not let it keep sitting in a grassy hay field rotting. Plus WTH who doesn't want to be able to say "ya I owned a real Shelby", right? Even if only for a while.

 

[cheveslakr]

I'm just amazed that the car has gone unnoticed in that state for all this time. I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up for a reasonable price, a '69 Shelby is, IMO, a better looking car than the goofy frontend of the '68......granted the '67 is just in a class of it's own.

 

[DROPTOP L-89 LS-6]

If I had to make some guesses I would say it started out White, 428 CJ with a 4speed. The reason it has a Mach 1 dash pad is that someone butchered A/C into it at some point ( look at the engine bay picture). I do think it had a 429 judging from the hack work on the shock towers , as we put one in a Mach 1 back in the late seventies not quite like that though. The Tilt column is neat however you had better look for the console it has Very Unique Shelby parts and expensive as well as the seat belt retractors for the rollbar, the original rollbar, side panels and so on. (500.00 each up). I saw the trunk key get a look as to whats in it the more parts the better. If the guy was a Ford collector find out about a left fender as they are scarce and very expensive. Get as many parts as possible and maybe a parts car for the shock towers , they aren't falling off tree's anymore. Keep Us posted.


Jim

 

[BACK FROM THE DEAD]

I'm just amazed that the car has gone unnoticed in that state for all this time. I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up for a reasonable price, a '69 Shelby is, IMO, a better looking car than the goofy frontend of the '68......granted the '67 is just in a class of it's own.

Ya as amazing as it is, there are unique cars hiding in lots of places up here still.
That's actually the 2'nd Shelby I've stumbled across up here in the last few years. I know where there's a REALLY cherry 68 GT-500-KR sitting at (with the windows busted out of it getting rained on.

Also know where there's a 67 complete #'s 427/435-HP Vette Roadster sitting in a quonset hut, right next to a Supercharged 37 Cord Sedan!

As well as a 34 Ford 3-window couple with the original flathead V-8, with a 69 (I think) Pantera in the same garage!

They're still out there.

 

[BACK FROM THE DEAD]

If I had to make some guesses I would say it started out White, 428 CJ with a 4speed. The reason it has a Mach 1 dash pad is that someone butchered A/C into it at some point ( look at the engine bay picture). I do think it had a 429 judging from the hack work on the shock towers , as we put one in a Mach 1 back in the late seventies not quite like that though. The Tilt column is neat however you had better look for the console it has Very Unique Shelby parts and expensive as well as the seat belt retractors for the rollbar, the original rollbar, side panels and so on. (500.00 each up). I saw the trunk key get a look as to whats in it the more parts the better. If the guy was a Ford collector find out about a left fender as they are scarce and very expensive. Get as many parts as possible and maybe a parts car for the shock towers , they aren't falling off tree's anymore. Keep Us posted.


Jim

Thanks, good advise there. I wish I'd looked in the trunk but I was so excited I was trying not to make a scene about it. Hopefully the console could be there. Heck it may even be inside, in the back under that pile of junk that's in there too?

When I'm able to speak with the guy I'll try to see what else he's got for it. Crossing my fingers about the original motor and the 4'th Shelby wheel. Hopefully that's in the trunk.:thumbsup:

 

[1966_L78]

I also order the Marti report...

I thought the 69/70 "Shelbys" were built by Ford, and NOT by Shelby American?

IMO, if you are not interested in restoring/keeping it, then put as little money into it as you can... Fix the shock towers IF you can do that yourself or with a friend, but any paying for any Professional work probably will be hard to get your money back...

 

[von]

Probably not real important at this point but there never was a "429 cammer". There was a 427 SOHC (single overhead cam) engine, not available in any production cars, and a Boss 429 crescent hemi engine which was only production available in the Boss 429 Mustang. Both of which would've likely required shock tower butchery in that car. There was also the regular 429 engine (both Cobra Jet and garden variety) which may not necessarily have required shock tower mods.

 

[BACK FROM THE DEAD]

Probably not real important at this point but there never was a "429 cammer". There was a 427 SOHC (single overhead cam) engine, not available in any production cars, and a Boss 429 crescent hemi engine which was only production available in the Boss 429 Mustang. Both of which would've likely required shock tower butchery in that car. There was also the regular 429 engine (both Cobra Jet and garden variety) which may not necessarily have required shock tower mods.

You are right, I was putting words in the guy's mouth. He actually referred to it as a "429 Semi-Hemi", so I was the ignorant one there. Like I said I'm not much of a Ford guy.
I know Ford had 427's, 428's, and 429's I forgot which flavors were which I guess.

But he says there are a couple of those 429's "around there" and that one of them was in that car at one time. That certainly supports the reasoning behind the cut shock towers I guess.

 

[robtco99]

I would see what engines he has laying around. I would think a 427 cammer or boss 429 would be worth a small fortune

 

[BACK FROM THE DEAD]

Yes I wouldn't be disappointed to get my hands on any of those engines with it. It's a situation I'm trying not be to hasty or blunt with as not to ruin my chances.

Got my fingers crossed.

 

[Xplantdad]

Neat stuff Andy...good luck!

 

[Andy's Auto Repair]

Dude, PM me your addy. I want to drive up with you to get the car. 640 pound combined weight should have some pull. If I left now I could be at your door no later than Weds 7PM. If I drove straight through. Red Bull would be my freind.

On a serioud note, I hope to GOD you get this Joe Dirt pile and get it back to a running and driving pile. We all know this guy is not ignorant but there is no reason that if he is willing to let it go, $15k is more than fair if the original bullit won't set you back more than $5k. If you can't find it, I'll hook you up with Brian at Palm Beach Mustang. I know for a fact he has 69 428 CJs in his shop, along with a 100 other rare Ford engines. Yes, he has a cammer on the stand.

 

[depley]

15K is fair for a 69 GT-500? you guys are smoking stuff I am not familiar with, even in the condition it is without the original engine its worth 25K minimum. If the original engine can be found even more, then after a $100,000 restoration you have a $150K car.

 

[Andy's Auto Repair]

15K is fair for a 69 GT-500? you guys are smoking stuff I am not familiar with, even in the condition it is without the original engine its worth 25K minimum. If the original engine can be found even more, then after a $100,000 restoration you have a $150K car.

Uh, no. You would have a $50k car. Depending on how far you went, you could get upside down really quick. 69-70s aren't worth near the 66-67 stuff.

 

[crazydavey]

well you're just going to have to go and see what he says...the car has a lot of potential. At least in the pictures it looks pretty damn complete, I've seen cars worse than that come back as a pretty penny....like this one...

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdetails.aspx?ln=1323&aid=466

it would be ideal for a guy who can do most of the work himself....

 

[1966_L78]

15K is fair for a 69 GT-500? you guys are smoking stuff I am not familiar with, even in the condition it is without the original engine its worth 25K minimum. If the original engine can be found even more, then after a $100,000 restoration you have a $150K car.

Hemming's Muscle machines had a few in the "auction results" recently, selling for under $100k, I think under $80k... The 69/70 Shelbys just don't have the value of the 65-68 models...