A Ranking; The Shelby "Food Chain"

If you are talking financial, I won't object to us being at the bottom of the list. I mean, I bougt my Shelby for $2,000. If you think this is a preformance listing, I'm a little offended, people have compared the Dodges to the Mustangs, and we've won. So please clairfy, is this a financial list or a preformance heirarchy?

jim

 

The AO Smith vs Shelby American is an interesting thing. I've heard a lot about AO Smith cars not being pure Shelbys but in terms of dollars and popularity the 68 KR's are up there with the 67 GT 500's. CS has been quoted as saying 68's were his favorite (I'm sure he said that about other years too)

 

68 shelbys either KR's or like mine have always been my favorites. I don't know about the others

 

Most folks would put the 67 GT350 ahead of the 68-69 & 70 Gt 350's.
The GISS movie did it, plus it's the last year for the 289 Hi-Po.

 

A lot of people bash the J code 68 because it wasn't as powerful as the 289 hipo but @250 hp it was no slouch.I actually would like to add a 68 GT350 convert to my stable.(Has to be Acapulco Blue) Similar between 68 500 and KR ,only about 35 hp. I've driven both and not a real noticeable difference. The KR's heads do expand the possibilities for greater modifications though. I've owned both 67 and 68 GT 500's and though both are great but from a driveability standpoint the single 4bbl runs smoother than the 2/4bbl 67 (Although the doubles look a lot more intimidating) I like the interior of the 68 better and one of my favorite things is the 68's sequential tail lights. Believe it or not the reason I chose a 500 over a KR is I like the classic look of the oval air cleaner.

 

I'm a BOSS guy - not a Shelby guy, but I would say the Ford GT is at the top of the list. Many have sold in the millions.

 

Your list is probably close in regards to value. As far as desirabliity, it does not work for me. I would place a 2000 series Cobra over the 3000 series. The small block is better handling and thus more enjoyable to drive IMO. Likewise the GT350's are more desirable to me than any GT500. Exception given to the 67 GT500. That body style works well for the big block.

I would not have the Eleanor on the list as it is too ugly to deserve to be with the Shelbys. The 2006 GT500 really has more of an SVT identity than Shelby and also should not be included.

I would put the Continuation Cobra series after the numbered Shelby Dodge vehicles. Since they are sans drivetrain, there is a lot of variation.

The most desirable Shelby Dodges are those built by the Shelby Automobiles facility that existed in Whittier, California. And of these the ones that usually bring the most money are the 1986 GLH-S and the 1989 CSX. Both were limited to 500 units. The 86 GLH-S was the lightest and quickest of the Shelby Dodge products. The 89 CSX had many unique engineering achievements, especially the fiber reinforced composite wheels.

Next desirable to me would be the 1987 Charger GLH-S. The 1986 GLH-S was based on a 4-door Omni. The 1987 was based on the more attractive 2-door Charger. The better aerodynamics also gave this Shelby Dodge the highest top speed.

The other numbered cars were the 1987 CSX, the 1987 Lancer, the 1988 CSX-T, and the 1989 Dakota. I would value these all about the same.

Less desirable in perceived value but still enjoyable would be the Shelbys built by Dodge. These would be the 1983 to 1987 Charger Shelby, 1987 to 1991 Daytona Shelby, and the 1988 to 1989 Lancer Shelby. One should also include the Omni GLH which became the basis of the GLH-S. I prefer the look of the Charger and would value it higher. Most enthusiats would probably disagree with me and choose the Daytona or Lancer since they had an intercooled turbo engine available.

These non-numbered Dodge built Shelbys, I would place below the continuation Cobras.

robin

 

Engineer, I figured that was what your purpose was. I just wanted to clairify.

 

It might just be me but the 67 GT500 Super Snake has to be up there toward the top of the list. #67402F4A00544

 

Well Charley, if he was asking about individual cars, probabley so. Using that criteria I'd rank any of the 66 Drag cars, and any Dragon Snake way up there too. Oh, and those early model 67's with the upper scoop light.

 

As far as the Shelby Dodge years go on rankings, I agree with DeLa1Rob on his run down of that era.

I kinda compair the 2006 GT500 along the same lines as the Dodge built Shelbys. Now I realize that the 2006 GT500 is a higher priced vehicle than the Dodge produced Shelby's and should be higher on the list if this list is to include ALL Shelby labled cars.
The way I see the list was to create a heirarchy of true Shelby produced vehicles, correct? If so, then none of the labled cars should be included.

Just my 2cents....

 

Looks to me you left out the 68-69-70 GT350 Convertible.

Or am I missing something????

 

I've had the privilege of driving both an original 289 Cobra and an original 427 Cobra. I have owned a big-block ERA Cobra replica and I now own a CSX4000 427SC. I am somewhat mystified by the frequent comments I've seen on certain message boards about the perceived superior handling of the small-block Cobra over the big-block. I can't offer an opinion on all-out race-prepared cars since I've not had the chance to drive either version in competition trim, but to say that small-block Cobras have a substantial handling advantage over the big-blocks, is in my opinion, another urban legend.

Here is just one excerpt from one of many of the original magazine reviews I have saved from the 1960's that test the 427 Cobra. Some of you may have seen the 1966 Car & Driver review from the November 1965 issue, but the majority of all the magazine reviewers concur on the following observation:

"The 427 Cobra does accelerate and decelerate at unbelievable rates......what's more, it is a more civilized machine than the original 289 Cobra that brought the fabulous Shelby organization into being four years ago. It handles properly, thanks to a completely new all-independent suspension system that is tracable to the deft hand of Klaus Arning, the Ford Motor Company genius responsible for the impeccable handling of the Ford GT.

"Everyone at Shelby is more than candid about admitting that the handling of the original Cobra was considerably less than optimum. In fact, C/D was once informed by a Shelby lieutenant that the old tubular AC chassis had considerably less torsional rigidity than the rail frame of a Model T. Coupled with this flexible frame was an antiquated suspension system, designed in the post-war years, that utilized leaf springs and wishbones. One staff member recalls a particularly painful day in southern California when he was outrun down a bumpy orange grove lane by an MG1100. 'There I was, with all that Cobra horsepower, and the rear wheels were bouncing and leaping around so badly that I could barely keep the beast on the road, much less catch up to the MG. It was terrible.'

The article goes on to say, "He should try the same trip in the 427. The new frame, still fabricated at AC Cars in England--but to Shelby specifications--is as stiff as a Redwood trunk and permits the equally-new coil spring suspension to operate at maximum efficiency. Arning has designed the same anti-dive and anti-squat characteristics into the 427 Cobra that he used so successfully on the Ford GT and they contribute immensely to the 0-100-0 times the car is able to record."

In my limited experience in driving both versions, I've found the big-block cars to be incredibly responsive, easy to toss around and throttle-steer, and not the least bit ponderous. I would say 289's are less forgiving near the limit. In fact, I think I'd sum it up by saying they each handle totally differently and the 427's seem to me to be the better of the two.

Just my opinion.

 

Hence the Many Small Block Powered 427 S/C Body Replicas out there.

 

I have many friends with small-block powered replicas, in fact, I live maybe 15 minutes away from Factory Five's headquarters. The great majority of those owners opted for a small-block instead of a big-block because of cost, not handling. Compare the price (or availability) of a decent 427 or 428 vs a 5.0 out of a used Mustang--or even a solid 351--and for many, the decision is an easy one.

Another point: Most, if not all replicas are engineered to accept a variety of engines. The original (and Continuation) Cobras are designed specifically for the big-block so there's excellent compatibility. Putting a big-block engine in an all-purpose chassis that's trying to work with everything from a small-block Chevy to a 460 Ford is less than ideal and in such a scenario, a small-block would be the wiser choice.

If this topic belongs on another thread, I apologize.

 

I noticed this site and this list in particular seem to ignore the sunbeam tiger. Why is that?

 

Shelby's involvement with the Sunbeam Tiger was brief. if you want to bring some knowledge to the Forum, we will create a section for it. we are here for all Shelby Car Talk, not just any particular or popular vehicle.

 

more an observation than anything. I love the little tiger roadsters and I am weighing purchasing one to restore versus my plan for a '67 - 68 convertible to restomod gt-350 mustang. It probably wouldn't hurt to have a section for tigers as there is quite a following for them. I have done some research on the tigers and will be doing much more at the upcoming mid america shelby meet but I am not an expert on them by any means. I do think they should be included on the list though. If I do end up purchasing a tiger I'd more than willing to head up the tiger's section