What's the lowest price paid for a Shelby car?

Wise, nope. Determined, yes. My Mom and Dad had a fishing lure manufacturing business on the side between roughly 1952 and 1968 (Competition from Japan ended that party.) and my mother was the accountant. As soon as I learned how to read she started a small savings account for me that she taught me to manage with a spreadsheet. The first time I was exposed to Lotus® 123™ in the 1970s I was hooked on digital spreadsheets. I thus kept all kinds of details like how much I paid, how much I had “invested”, what I sold cars for, and what I made or lost. I usually documented to whom I sold cars also. I do the same with thousands of parts I have purchased to keep my cars in running order or for some future restoration.

$9,600 in the first quarter of 1980 was a lot for SFM5S142. MCA/SAAC restored 1965 GT350s were barely averaging $10,000 then. Rounding up that kind of funding in 1980 was tougher for me then than it would be for $300,000 now.

I went through lots of vehicles between 1969 when I started actively chasing a Cobra purchase and 1983 when I got CSX2310. The scenario was generally study up on a model, find one to buy that was original unrestored, repair (not restore) things that needed to be fixed or replace missing parts, and then sell for a modest profit or trade up.

I spent a lot of time trying to find history on the more significant cars I have been the custodian of but only one person has ever contacted me about any of the cars I once owned. Last year the current owner of my first 1967 GT500 contacted me about that car when I had it. He was surprised I still had a file on that car (I sold it nearly 30 years ago.) complete with pictures from 1975 and 1976, which I subsequently mailed to him.

 

Dan

Was this number 428? It was similar deal, same time period.

Which car you wish you had back the most?

 

It was SFM5S446. It was maybe 98% complete just in lots of pieces. A man had purhased it to rebuild for street and dismantled it. He had all the original chrome trim inside and out and a complete set of new everything he had purchased through his local Ford dealer. He had the original engine with all its its used parts (dismantled) and a complete set of everything from Ford to rebuild it. I was working on it when SFM5S142 suddenly became available and I switched tracks so to speak.

The only car I miss is my first Boss 302 which I drove hard for many miles for six years.

 

My brother in law's best friend, Jeff Smith purchased 5R533 in 1972 for 2000.00 Canadian from the Ford Dealer still in full race form. What a deal!!!!

 

I bought my 67 in 1992 as a roller for $6k and in 1997 I bought my 66 for $15k.

 

wctouring7,

I see you own #0005
I own #0031

Randy

 

Bought my '67 for $2400 in 1977. A year later my dad bought his '66 for $3000.

 

Purchased 6S1431 for $1,000 in 1971 (found out later he would have taken $850 for it), purchased 6S1855 in 1978 for $2500, sold it to Bill Collins for $5,000 the next year after quickly fixing it up to buy a house. Passed on the following cars
CSX2017 14,000 mile car for $3500 because it didn't have a roof, paused also on a wrecked 427 car ( bent right fender and spun rod bearing) for $1500, turned down a pristine white 68 GT500 KR convertible for $600 in 1873 ( guy needed the money to get married, girl friend was pregnant. Passed on several others while working at a dealership in the 70's and early 80's
1970 Ranchero with a 4 speed and a 429 Cobra Jet with the Drag Pack option $2200, 1969 Cougar eliminator with a 428 Cobra Jet and automatic, no air with tinted glass $600, and a 1970 Mercury Cyclone with a 428 Drag Pack 4 speed car for $1100, all of these were offered during that first gas shortage, last big buy passed on, 1970 maroon GT500 fastback loaded car, with some sort of carburetor issue, blowing clouds of black smoke. $5,000, car had 30,000 miles on it

 

In 72 bought 68 Shelby GT500 for $3,000 . it ran had a custom paint job. Restored car , then in 1987 traded my
68 GT500 and $5,000 for my 65 Shelby GT350 and i still have my 65 Shelby GT350. In 76 bought a 70 Cougar Eliminator it was graber blue with Boss 302 , 4:30 rear end no power steering and manual drum brakes. $1,500
and it ran great.

 

Another early 67, they are my favorite for sure.