I know CS built mustang shelby's from 65 to 67, then took off for Africa or somewere & AOSmith took over the 68-69-70 models.-- Soooo does that make the 68 to 70 models [ where CS had nothing to do with them,] continuation cars ? make believe shelbys ? or what? After all, shelby did not produce the E cars for the movie " Gone in whatever" but is calling them Shelbys, or does signing his name on the car makes it so.------------------- I know, I know, it's picky picky picky.---S.
These are very good questions, I am looking to buy one of the 07 GT500s, and I hear the guys in this universe berating them as not "real Shelbys", well, I right away started wondering about the last couple model years they were produced. Are they real Shelbys? Inquireing minds want to know. TL
It's really up to you, not what anyone else thinks. You know the origin of each of those so decide for yourself. Is a 2005 Ferrari a real Ferrari even though Enzo is dead??? I know...not quite the same, but that's for you to decide. RS
Ah, over at the Vintage-Mustang forum, somebody picks this same scab about every 3 months. We all have our own opinion. I believe the 65 through 70 Shelbys are all the real ones, (ah, those built THEN) every thing else is like a paint by numbers picture of the Mona Lisa...
65-70 is a Lock on Authenticity. I always tell people that from my Research, Carroll Shelby is a Self Admitted Race Car Driver and Designer with some mechanical ability. He surrounded himself with Excellent Talent in Mechanical and Design engineers. wheteher or not a Car was assembled at A.O. Smith or in Los Angeles does not Matter. Shelby himself never put a wrench to the Car. But he did sign off on design Plans and that is what matters. Oh and he did pose for publicity photos with each of those year Cars as they were made so he must have agreed with their design!! Now the '07 Shelby Mustang will be the fastest and best Handling Shelby ever produced. who cares what other people say?? all that matters is what it says on the Car and the fact that Shelby himself approved these as well and actually Drove them and all!!
Ahhh, I have to agree. If the 07's (with Shelbys blessing) arnt "real" Shelbys since they are factory cars, then the last few years they were built in the 60's arnt real ones as well(since they also were factory cars). TL
Yep, the '07 will be a real Shelby. Nothing "continuation" about it. Nothing "clone" about it. Nothing "re-creation" about it.
Just my two cents but, I think the 65-70 and the 2007 are real. They where styled and signed off by Shelby and produced brand new. I think the continuation cars are cool but, they started life as Mustangs and to me are nothing but fancy resto-clones.
Not a real one? Give your head a shake if you think a 07 isn't real. Second thought don't bother. Nothing in it to rattle.
My opinion is the 65-67 are the authentic Shelbys and in the long run worth more to collectors. The 68-70 Shelby's are 75% authentic ones since CS's plant did not assemble the Shelby parts onto the car. EVERYTHING after 1970 to me is NOT a authentic Shelby. this is my opinion from a collectors point of view.
Could it also be that 6167 Shelbys were made between 65-67 and that 8201 between 68-70? As for the 07, Even Shelby himself calls it a Shelby. Guess you wouldn't want a 68KR or GT500 because then you would have to tell everyone it is only 75% Shelby. Guess all the Boss 429 owners only have 75% Mustangs since KarKraft built them.
you missed my point. would I like a KR? sure but in my opinion the 65-67 Shelby's are the only TRUE 100% Shelbys. You are intitled to YOUR opinion and so am I. You will not see me owning a 07.
This is always a pretty funny subject. How many have a car that Shelby actually touched? OR maybe I have a signed glove box that I bought on eBay or sent to the office to have him sign it. It is all good. Whatever makes your "Shelby" float... If it good for you then enjoy it. So is it REAL or NOT??? The price values of "REAL" cars will always rise to the top. So let the market be your guide or not. It's your choice! IMHO
Ya know, Shelby or not the 68 GT500KR is one of the best looking car ever built. I would own one even if it said CHEVY on the hood and had a 454 in it. Joker
Guys, Why dont we ask THE MAN himself whether he considers to later models REAL? Is anyone game to walk up and ask CS, "Hey do think your 68-69-70 GTs are real?" Or better yet imply they are not real. I'd like to see that!! I have my 68 GT350 after 30 years of waiting and lots of Australian Falcon GTs under my belt. I cant see why all the fuss about what is real and what is not. BTW, my car has S H E L B Y badged at both ends, should I now throw those little chrome letters away??? 68 GT350 #00341 Also : XYGT, XAGTx4, XBGTx2, XTGT
No, sell them on e-bay, now that badges and lettering will soon only be sold to actual Shelby owners they will be worth alot to the clone crowd.
Think about this......... The NEW Camaro was designed a few years ago (I seen the photos) and the prototype was built this year and it will hit the showrooms in 2008. the 2005 Mustang was pretty much the same way. The 1968 Shelby Mustang was designed way before it was put into production as was the 1969 Shelby Mustang. I read where Carroll Shelby approved the designs before heading off to Africa. I also read where Carroll Shelby found out that Chevy was going to use the name "King of the Road" for a special Camaro but Shelby trade marked the name first and used it for the 1968 1/2 Shelby Mustang when Ford introduced the 428 Cobra Jet Engine. I believe that ALL 1965 to 1970 Shelby Mustangs ARE real Shelbys. Here is another example to think about as well.......... Do you ever watch the TV Show "AMERICAN HOTROD"? The Show is about Boyd Coddington and the Custom Cars that he builds. All of the magazine articles on his creations say the same thing....... "Another Custom Car built by Boyd Coddington". Boyd does NOT build the vehicles that he gets credit for, his "EMPLOYEES" builds them. Boyd just designs them. Every time I saw Boyd on the Show try to work on one of the vehicles, he screwed it up and someone else had to redo it. I do believe that Carroll Shelby used to put the wrench to his creations in the beginning. Its like any business, the top dog can only do so much. If it is personally authorized by Carroll Shelby then it is a Shelby, some are just worth more then others.
