Thought some of you might appreciate this thread ... Through the years, many of us car guys have come close to acquiring a certain car, but passed on it for one reason or another. To some of us, this happens more often then you'd like to believe. Since I'm single-minded focused on Mustangs and Shelbys (exception made for Panteras, which I've also owned), there must have been about a dozen cars I got close to. Then, like two ships that pass in the night, we moved on in opposite directions. But the memories linger. Here's a short got away stories: Got Away #1: My First Shelby Truth be told, the first Shelby I ever laid eyes on was a '65 that Dad took home from Plainview Ford in 1968. Had Dad followed the saleman's advice, my first car would have been a '65 GT350 rather than the pedestrian '68 coupe I was handed down. But since I was only eight years old, I really don't remember it much. My first up close view came in during college. By 1979, I had a license and was driving back and forth to college. Those of us who remember the 2nd gas crisis, also remember that you'd drive a few extra miles to save a few pennys per gallon. I nearly spilled the fuel all over the floor as the 1965 Shelby glided into the station. Just restored, white with blue stripes, it made quite a commotion, showing up my little yellow '68 coupe significantly. I bought a book that I still have by Jerry Heasley "The Ford Mustang 1965-1973". It was in that paperback that I learned about the old Snake Charmer's creations. By age 20, I started to dream of owning a Shelby. I even made lists of the 10 Best Cars to own; all were Shelbys and Mustangs. Over the winter intersession (1980), I worked at the university in the Physical Plant, filing mostly. A kid I worked with named Dan was driving to work each day over the winter in a primered1966 Mustang. When I showed some interest in his car, he said itwas a Shelby. I saw the scoops from our window. He asked if I was interested. I told him maybe. Three weeks later, the rough and tumble fastback had blossomed into a restored beauty. Red with White LeManns stripes. It was awesome. And could be mine for $3,500. I looked closely. I drove it (what a rush!). I waited a week, kicking it back and forth. I had that school loan money and was working two jobs. I was buying it. Unfortunately, a student with a little more money to spend than I had, swooped in. He offered Dan $4,000. Dan asked me if I could match it. I couldn't. I saw the car one more time; Dan took me for a ride. I didn't realize that I was looking at a rebody. But I would have taken it anyway. Today, all I have is the memory of the one that got away. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ John Dettori 2001 SVT Cobra Long Island, NY 1986 Mustang SVO MCA, SAAC, SVTOA, SVOOA 1967 Shelby GT350 jdettori@optonline.net 1967 Mustang GT Vert
I sure wish I hadn't passed on a 1967 GT 350 factory Paxton Brittany Blue project #1071 in 1999 for $15,500 with a ton of NOS parts. Oh well. Live and learn. ----- Original Message ----- From: John Dettori To: Shelby Mustang List Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 10:34 PM Subject: The ones that got away ... Thought some of you might appreciate this thread ... Through the years, many of us car guys have come close to acquiring a certain car, but passed on it for one reason or another. To some of us, this happens more often then you'd like to believe. Since I'm single-minded focused on Mustangs and Shelbys (exception made for Panteras, which I've also owned), there must have been about a dozen cars I got close to. Then, like two ships that pass in the night, we moved on in opposite directions. But the memories linger. Here's a short got away stories: Got Away #1: My First Shelby Truth be told, the first Shelby I ever laid eyes on was a '65 that Dad took home from Plainview Ford in 1968. Had Dad followed the saleman's advice, my first car would have been a '65 GT350 rather than the pedestrian '68 coupe I was handed down. But since I was only eight years old, I really don't remember it much. My first up close view came in during college. By 1979, I had a license and was driving back and forth to college. Those of us who remember the 2nd gas crisis, also remember that you'd drive a few extra miles to save a few pennys per gallon. I nearly spilled the fuel all over the floor as the 1965 Shelby glided into the station. Just restored, white with blue stripes, it made quite a commotion, showing up my little yellow '68 coupe significantly. I bought a book that I still have by Jerry Heasley "The Ford Mustang 1965-1973". It was in that paperback that I learned about the old Snake Charmer's creations. By age 20, I started to dream of owning a Shelby. I even made lists of the 10 Best Cars to own; all were Shelbys and Mustangs. Over the winter intersession (1980), I worked at the university in the Physical Plant, filing mostly. A kid I worked with named Dan was driving to work each day over the winter in a primered1966 Mustang. When I showed some interest in his car, he said itwas a Shelby. I saw the scoops from our window. He asked if I was interested. I told him maybe. Three weeks later, the rough and tumble fastback had blossomed into a restored beauty. Red with White LeManns stripes. It was awesome. And could be mine for $3,500. I looked closely. I drove it (what a rush!). I waited a week, kicking it back and forth. I had that school loan money and was working two jobs. I was buying it. Unfortunately, a student with a little more money to spend than I had, swooped in. He offered Dan $4,000. Dan asked me if I could match it. I couldn't. I saw the car one more time; Dan took me for a ride. I didn't realize that I was looking at a rebody. But I would have taken it anyway. Today, all I have is the memory of the one that got away. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ John Dettori 2001 SVT Cobra Long Island, NY 1986 Mustang SVO MCA, SAAC, SVTOA, SVOOA 1967 Shelby GT350 jdettori@optonline.net 1967 Mustang GT Vert
