Every few days it seems somebody falls in love with Classic Shelby Mustangs. they see the 6 digit prices for some of the best cars available. quickly realizing these are too pricey, they believe the next alternative is to hunt for a "Fixer upper" or "Project". this can be very dangerous territory for people that are unaware of what a car should and should not have with them as far as parts are concerned, VIN issues, Title issues etc. by the time you spend the money hunting your dream project down, you now need to get it home. moving a non running car is always more expensive than a running vehicle. now you have to hunt down parts that are very very expensive if they are missing or unusable. factor in the Body work, paint, engine and trans build. many people end up getting divorced during these projects due to the Mate throwing Family money at a car that does not run and seemingly never will! unless you are a Professional Mechanic or Body man or have a Shop in your back yard capable of undertaking a total Restoration, I advise against going this route. the real pleasure in owning a Shelby Mustang for me, is driving it! the next pleasure is meeting other Shelby enthusiasts who share in the passion we have for these cars. so to the seeker of his first Shelby I suggest this: Identify the car you must have! realize settling for anything else seldom works as you did not accomplish your initial goal. next, Shop around. good deals can be had if you spend the time and are not impulsive. many owners are realistic in the fact that not every car belongs at Barrett-Jackson's Circus/Auction tent!! a Good enjoyable "Driver" Shelby can be had sometimes for 60-75% of what a Big Auction car would bring. I think the Market has softened some along with the rise of interest rates. over the next 6 months I think some prices that were ridiculous in hind sight will be coming back closer to reality. But back to the prices of Project cars! fairly complete SHELBY Mustang Project cars have been selling for over $50,000 Dollars for some time now. double that if you are thinking of certain models (Big Block Convertibles, 65 GT350's, 67 GT500's) your only chance of getting a better deal than that is finding someone who knows not what they have. there are still many cars sitting out there. do not be discouraged. but remember you must search, seek and hunt. 99% OF ANY GREAT CAR DEAL will never just fall in your lap while you are sitting on the couch with a Beer and the Remote! Happy Hunting!!
I'm in the 1% then. In 1991 I was sitting on the couch drinking a beer when a friend of mine called to tell me about a car. I had painted a few Shelbys for him. He knew I wanted one and never thought I would be able to aford it. He was a dealer at the time and the car was to much and need to much work for him to mess with. It was a good deal. A 67 GT 350 for $9,000. He even loaned me his truck and trailer to go and get it. After he said I could use his rig to get it home, he asked if I had ever pulled a trailer before. When I said no. His responce was to take wide turns and don't put it in reverse. Texas to South Carolina and back was a long trip not to use reverse. So yes some times sitting on the couch drinking beer will get you a good deal on a car. Larry
Dave: I liked your post about shelby project cars. You know a bit about my Shelby I purchased. So you know what she needs. Your right about the cost to redo a car from ground up. My Shelby has 37,000 miles but it has been sitting for 20+ years. Fortunate for me I was a mechanic for 15 years and I do body work. So this project wont cost me as much to do compared to jobbing it out. Im working hard to get her to her yester years of glory. I sweat i bleed and i do lots of homework trying to reach my goal of making this car road ready. I truly look forward to the days of cruising her and takin the kids to a car show. Yes Shelby are expensive , even project Shelbys are up there, like you said sometimes it might be your lucky day and one will fall in your lap while sipping a beer. In my case I think I was sipping an ice tea. Its Florida and its frekin hot here! So to all who want a Shelby I say go for it! Buy a complete Shely, buy a project Shelby or buy a scale model, lifes short enjoy it while you can!! JIM
Dave i agree 100%...however, sometimes people want to write themselves into the Shelby story. How many times have I met people and the only story they can tell me about their car is that they paid the previous owner/dealer for the car and it looks today, just like it did when they bought it. Then there is the other story, the one i like...about the guy who finds his shelby sitting in a barn/garage. It hadn't run in 10 to 20 years and it needed help. And here it is today looking great and nothing could replace the feeling of seeing that sad car return to its prior glory. Sure hunting the parts and dealing with flakey painters was a pain in the ass...and when the guy said 2 weeks he meant 4 months. And everytime he got a question from a friend about how his Shelby was doing the guy got bored listening to him talk about red oxide primer or how awesome a 427 SO is compared to 428 PI. These stories Dave, are what made me want to sell my big block Camaro and Judge and replace them with a 68 GT 500 "project" and a 67 GT 500 with a 427 SO 4 speed. Shelbys are more than just a car...they are an experience, an identity and have a mystique surounding them that makes men, woman and children ask the same question when i pull in to get gas...."Is it real?"...and they get the coolest answer..."Sure is..." Thanks...
Jim and John76 both got excellent project cars to undertake their journeys into becoming part of their cars DNA!! I am proud to say I had a part in each of them getting their cars. heck I took a running 67 GT350 that had a bad trans and out came the motor along with the trans and they are both rebuilt but await me to finish detailing the engine compartment and I had to poeder coat a bunck of parts, phosphate Bolts etc. I just did not have the heart to not improve things while I am in there!! But as I stated above, I have a killer garage, an amazing network of Mechanics and Body people at my disposal along with having grown up in the Car business. it is second nature to me. I would most likely not have it any other way. but for the guy who has a dream, I want him to see it become a reality. not a Nightmare as has happened to many who head down the restoration without realization path. it is a slippery slimey path in many cases!
it is a slippery slope... If you own a project car that you have no time or money to finish it may be a good time to sell with the market getting soft and world events looking bleak. I'm looking for a 67 350 project to latch onto for the long haul. I could help put you out of your present or future misery. 615 428.0727
I've got a "project car" as in the '68 GT500 has not been restored. It is a garage find that I bought from its owner of 36 years. It's real and it's for sale as of right now; which is the first time in 36 years. Car #76 is definitely worth $90,000 to me if someone wants to reclaim it. It has been off the road since 1977 and was owned by a fastidious machinist. It is located an hour east of Dallas. You may find the car listed in these classifieds for sale as of 7/13/2007 6pm. 903 918 2130 is my cell. It's a fair price for the vehicle...no rust, driver interior etc.
Can you send me some pix? I would really like to see the car. I called and left a message today. Thanks.
I own 70 GT500 #2965. Gulfstream Aqua Auto White Interior Bought it in August 1974 but knew the original owner. He traded it in while I was in Florida on Vacation. I found out, tracked it down and bought it from the 2nd owner. I was 17 Y/O at the time i watched it every morning on my way to school as the Owner lived a few houses over. Fell in love from day one, vowed to one day own that car and 3 years later I did. Now I passed it on to my Only son. He wants to RESTOMOD it. I know ther are DIEHARD Shelby owners that would call it Blasphemy to do it but I am considering it. I plan to take out the fold-down seat package, console Speedo cluster Dealer A?C evaporator b/c I have a factory air dash complete. I will be custom Interior and suspension. Taking out the shock towers and putting rack and pinion. More room under the hood. Also Throttle Body fuel injection and serpentine belt system. Probablt frame extenders and other mods. What do you think? G\Let the Hate Mail Begin! LOL
I thought that you loved this car when you were.... a kid. How about if you weld on some '57 Caddy fins and plant a yellow Oscar Meyer weiner on the top. Now you got something. The question is ... WHAT?
That's a lot of cash but I've seen higher....I'm not sure they have sold for those high prices but I have seen '67 projects listed for higher so I wish you luck with your sale. Give us some details. Show us a photo. What exactly are you bringing to the table??? Randall
67 gt 500 dk moss green white interior 4 spd car. Solid frsh motor needs resto. Wish I new how to put a photo in this tread. If someone wants photos contact me at shlb69@aol.com
