Just found this Ebay Auction for SFM6S849, taking a quick look at the car I found on glaring cock-up (no not the new Koni's). The VIN tag is a really bad re-pop. It says Shelby America, instead of Shelby American. I've seen those on a few bad clones, but how could someone really mistake it for a correct one? Available for 10 bucks from Branda! Got to love the web.
those tags were sold back in the 1980's. The tag alone doesn't prove anything other than the original tag is missing. Z. Ray
Hey boys, its probly better if you go easy on the poor dealer and dont even waste your time. Here is some of his past work.....haha! http://saacforum.com/index.php?topic=1545.0 Best Regards, Vern
Oh well, it happens. I am not defending the car or ad, but it does happen. Yet another example of why the history and documentation are so important.
Actually, what they state in the ad is: VIN: SFM6S849 VIN NUMBER AND ORIGINAL SHELBY STAMPING ON RIGHT-HAND APRON ARE AUTHENTIC AND CORRECT They don't actually mention the tag that occurs on top of the left apron. I believe the reference is to the fact that the Ford VIN that occurs under the passenger fender and the Shelby SFM # that is stamped directly into the passenger apron match per SAAC. I don't interpret that to be a statement of authenticity regarding the tag. Don't get me wrong, the cars that have been listed by this particular dealer appear to have overstated originality on a pretty consistent basis. Josh
Isn't the tag the FIRST thing that gets scrutinized? Surely we all know the differences between Mustangs & Shelbys, Clones & Authentic cars by now. Again I too don't know enough about the car. But to be so careless with the first thing you see is pretty bad. Surely this tag has not been on the car for 20 years, it would have at least some wear. To be honest the tag looks like a new, uneducated EBAY version instead of an 80's version. So here's a question for you guys I have always wanted to know. When did SAI start using the silk screen 5S or 6S on the VIN tag rather than a stamped 5S or 6S?
that's how I read their ad also. My take is to evaluate the car as a whole, and not get too wrapped up in a few areas, or details, that have been restored "wrongly". Z. Ray
I've seen quite a few of the "Shelby America" tags, and even a few on authentic cars with older restorations, confirming that they were around in the '80's and definitely pre-ebay. Here's an authentic, albeit customized (white engine bay), '66 with a "Shelby America" tag:
don't know when the start date was, but 6s1117 has the silk screened (or printed) "6s" with the "1117" stamped. AFAIK, the tag is original. Z. Ray
This may be an urban legend, but long ago I thought I heard of a early Shelby having its VIN tag stolen while on display somewhere in California. If some idiot wanted a bent up, torn, unusable souvenir, it certainly wouldn't take much effort to pop one off. And 20+ years ago, when the cars were less valuable, it wasn't uncommon to leave the hood open and wander away. I'm not saying that's what happened to this particular car, but has anyone heard of such a thing? And, what would a person do if it happened to their car? Maybe I'm getting paranoid in my old age... Ken (6s524 tag has 6S printed, not stamped)