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Optional Wheels?

Discussion in '1965-1970 Shelby Mustang GT350 & GT500' started by 1968gt500, Jul 23, 2006.

  1. Jul 23, 2006 #1
    1968gt500

    1968gt500 Active Member

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    Does anyone know anything about aluminum slotted mags made by Shelby that may have been optional equipment or dealer add - ons for 1968 GT 500 models? I took a set of 15" ones off my 68 thinking they were just aftermarket wheels. However, when I got them off, they had Shelby cast into the back of them, and the last name of my wife's uncle written in paint pen on the back of them. Her uncle bought the car new in 1968. I am curious as to where they may have come from, and what they may be worth. I've never seen or read anything else about these wheels. Thanks.
    1968gt500
     
    1968gt500, Jul 23, 2006
    1968gt500, Jul 23, 2006
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  2. Jul 23, 2006 #2
    roddster

    roddster Well-Known Member

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    CS owned a wheel company in the early 1970's. Those wheels probably came from that.
     
    roddster, Jul 23, 2006
    roddster, Jul 23, 2006
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  3. Jul 23, 2006 #3
    Calvin

    Calvin Well-Known Member

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    I know the wheels you are talking about. I am very sure they were never availble from the factory. Though some things have been discovered about Shelbys, I doubt this will be one of them.

    Sometime in the 70's Shelby started a wheel company. His company made a set of wheels like the ones you are describing. Those wheels are not valuable, but are kind of nice to have. Personally I think they would make good wheels for track tires, autocross tires, or driver tires while you spend big bucks for original rims, hub caps, and polyglass GT's for shows.

    I don't think Shelby made any wheels at the same time the cars were being built.

    I should also point out what is discussed on thecoralsnake.com on this page:

    http://www.thecoralsnake.com/wheel.HTML

    My car has '67 Shelby Mag Stars. The original owner said the car had those wheels on it when he got it. He did not special order the car, it was bought off a dealers lot, but we suspect that the dealer installed the '67 Shelby wheels from the parts department.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 23, 2006
    Calvin, Jul 23, 2006
    Calvin, Jul 23, 2006
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  4. Jul 23, 2006 #4
    rshelby

    rshelby ShelbyForums Admin Staff Member

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    FYI - Here's a little history on the wheel company. The wheel company you refer to, Carroll Shelby Wheels, was primarily owned and run by Carroll's son Patrick. It was sold in about 1987-88 and the new owners went bankrupt shortly thereafter through mismanagement. The wheels made by Carroll Shelby Wheels were sold through aftermarket as well as dealer installed equipment on cars from Toyota to GM.
    Randall
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2006
    rshelby, Jul 23, 2006
    rshelby, Jul 23, 2006
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  5. Jul 23, 2006 #5
    Calvin

    Calvin Well-Known Member

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    I had the pleasure of meeting Partick Shelby at several Formula Atlantic races in the early to mid 80's. He was driving a car sponsored by Caroll Shelby Wheels and I remember them having a pit hauler that was one of the Dodge Shelby Charger's in the pick up version. It was very cool I thought and I very much wanted one, but never found one for sale.
     
    Calvin, Jul 23, 2006
    Calvin, Jul 23, 2006
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  6. Jul 24, 2006 #6
    rshelby

    rshelby ShelbyForums Admin Staff Member

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    Yes, he raced in the Formula Atlantic series for a few years. It was lots of fun when I had a chance to go out to the races.
    Randall
     
    rshelby, Jul 24, 2006
    rshelby, Jul 24, 2006
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  7. Jul 24, 2006 #7
    Calvin

    Calvin Well-Known Member

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    I remember first meeting him at the Detroit Grand Prix where the Atlantics were one of the support races for the Formula One cars. I was with the IMSA Kelly American Challenge cars which were also a support series for the weekend. I ran into him a couple of other times where we were both racing on the same weekend.
     
    Calvin, Jul 24, 2006
    Calvin, Jul 24, 2006
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  8. Jul 25, 2006 #8
    shlby66

    shlby66 Well-Known Member

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    The slotted or "Indy" style mag wheels were aftermarket wheels sold by
    Carroll Shelby Wheels, not factory installed or optional wheels from Shelby
    American. The person who has a '67 Shelby with Mag Stars installed can
    easily determine if it indeed came from the factory that way. Just contact
    Dave Matthews, the '67 Shelby registar and obtain from him a copy of your
    cars factory invoice. My guess is they were originally put on at the factory.
    shlby66
     
    shlby66, Jul 25, 2006
    shlby66, Jul 25, 2006
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  9. Jul 25, 2006 #9
    Calvin

    Calvin Well-Known Member

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    Well, my car is a '68, not a '67. I know that no '68's came with the Magstars, even though there were several listed as having those wheels in the first registry.
     
    Calvin, Jul 25, 2006
    Calvin, Jul 25, 2006
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  10. Jul 25, 2006 #10
    shlby66

    shlby66 Well-Known Member

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    Calvin, Sorry, I thought you had a '67, not a '68. Quite a number of '68's
    came with stock steel wheels and hub caps. The aluminium 10 spoke
    wheel was the only option for '68. Any other variety of wheel on a '68 is
    probably owner installed. Contact Vinny Liska, '68 Shelby registrar at
    SAAC and get a copy of the factory invoice for your car. then you will
    know for sure how your came from the factory.
    shlby66
     
    shlby66, Jul 25, 2006
    shlby66, Jul 25, 2006
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  11. Jul 25, 2006 #11
    Calvin

    Calvin Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I have talked to Vince. I have the build sheet and some other info. According to thecoralsnake.com (which I have found the most informative source for '68 Shelby info) they claim that only 3 '68's are documented to have come from the factory with 10 spokes. I am very sure that my car was a hubcap car. I need to get the invoice just to make sure. That is one of those things I have been "going" to do for years now. Interestingly enough the "wheels" box on my build sheet is blank. Other '68's I have seen have something there, I forget what.
     
    Calvin, Jul 25, 2006
    Calvin, Jul 25, 2006
    #11
  12. Jul 27, 2006 #12
    shlby66

    shlby66 Well-Known Member

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    Calvin, I would be suspect of the figure that "only 3" '68 Shelbys came from
    the factory with aluminum 10 spokes. With production figures of over 4,000
    units, it is most likely at least 1/4 to 1/3 of them recieved the 10 spoke
    wheel as it was the only optional wheel for '68.
    shlby66
     
    shlby66, Jul 27, 2006
    shlby66, Jul 27, 2006
    #12

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