FIRST SHELBY G.T.500E CONVERTIBLE FETCHES WORLD RECORD $550,800

NOBODY is getting over on "Ol' Shel"!! Trust me. if anything, they are only adding to his legacy. as for what you consider "REAL" or Continuation etc. that is all a matter of opinion. I Sold my 1968 GT500 that I owned for 3.5 years to Buy a REAL Continuation COBRA. Traded one dream for the next so to speak. I had a Blast working on and showing the GT500. Mainly Driving it was where my pleasure was best served. So given the knowledge that I could not afford a 1960's Vintage COBRA, I did the next best thing. I bought a REAL SHELBY COBRA that was produced 50 feet from Shelby's Desk in Las Vegas, Nevada. I could afford it. I can drive it, and I can say it is REAL when someone asks. I stayed Loyal to the Shelby Product. My Car is a Piece of his legacy. Just like The others that Bear his name, No matter how many Cylinders are under the hood. But besides all that, It is one Hell of a Blast to cruise down the Road and swing on to a Highway and see what it was really built for. As for Original Mustangs being turned into "Shelby" Mustangs, well that is how they did it the first time around! They only improved on the product This time so I have no qualms with it. and that said, if you do not like it, do not Buy it. every day a 1960's Vintage Shelby Car goes up for Sale. Step up and buy one. But remember, these here new kids (Eleanors, Cobras etc.) on the Block are making their prices rise right along with them so don't wait!!

 

Weren't the "Real" Shelby Mustangs built between 1965 and 1967? I believe Ford took over production from 1968 through 1970.

 

There is a point that was argued for years and with time it has subsided. Truth be told, in 1968 FORD took over production as SHELBY lost his lease at the old Airplane Hangar in Los Angeles. some people claim the only "REAL" Shelby Mustangs were built there under Shelby's watchful eye. But in Reality, his Part or Role in these cars was not as much in the day to day Production at this point as it was in the beginning 1962-65 era. He had become a "Suit and tie guy." (Did you EVER see a Picture of Shelby wrenching these cars together for the Masses??) FORD realized they could create their own Car and not Pay SHELBY for his Name or Ideas anymore. Hence the 1969 Mach1 and Boss 302/429 Cars. and in 1970, they pulled the plug on Factory involvement concerning Performance and Racing altogether. Shelby went to Africa, Ford went into a Coma! and along came the Gas Crunch of the Mid seventies. That was when you could Buy Used Shelbys and Big Block anythings for $500-2500 Dollars all day long as they were Dreaded Gas Guzzlers! Spin the Clock Forward to Today, and those 68-70 Cars are truly considered SHELBY originals!! Time will Pass and with it so Will Carroll Shelby. and we will be left to debate just how much of a Part he played in Creating my CSX4000 series Cobra versus how little He had to do with the 1970 GT350! I know for a fact He spent way more time on the CSX4000 COBRAS than he ever Did posing for a picture next to the 69-70 Cars (Which is about the amount of time he had involved with those cars) Maybe the Multi MIllionaire that spent that lump of Cash knows something we do not about values of the future. He spent more at that auction than most of us will Make in 7 Years!! I doubt he got Rich by winning the lottery, so speculation leads me to believe he has a clue as to where he spends his money and how it will "Work" for him, instead of, "working for his Money" !!

 

I started not to comment on this thread but I could not hold my peace especially when the collecter car market is driven to unbelieveable high's based on automobiles that never existed much less saw the inside of the Shelby American Plant. What's next ?? To have Clones and like it or not it is a CLONE !!!! command prices that exceed original as well as legendary R models and Cobras is absurd. Using the Children's Heart Fund as the underlying cause really makes me sick. Why didn't the winner just write a check for the $500,000 ?? I am sure Shelby would have given him a car for that amount ...sheez... It's got to be some back room antics, smoke and mirrors or whatever you want to call it taking place. In these days of ENRON, WORLDCOM and other notable auction houses rigging prices etc.. BJ needs to really be careful that this type of practice isn't conducted or percieved within the collector car hobby. Think what would happen if 60 minutes or some other investigative outfit started snooping their noses at some of the antics that take place on and off camera at one of their auctions ?? Believe me they are Prime targets and will be looked at closely especailly with all the publicity, World Record Selling Prices and now National Television exposure. I hope the buyer is real because the car sure ain't. Yea I said it " It is not a Real One" No offense to GT 500E Owners nor disrespect to the quality work Unique performs but ...they ain't real. They will get a spot in the registry but not a spot in any of the original Shelby Owners heart.

Keith

 

I hear you on the point that if it is a Bluff or Trick, not only would not be the first time, but it could all be in the interest of Entertainment!! afterall, You would not and did not Buy the Car so why should it Bother you at all?? But it was entertaining to watch the Fever pitch build as the Price rose to unbelievable numbers. I do not know whether or not you own or Have owned and Original Shelby Cars. I have had a 67 GT350 and a 68 GT500. I own a Continuation series COBRA Made By Shelby. Just got done taking a Beautiful Ride with My 7 year old son. of the 350 Original Cobras ever made, How many do you think hit the Road today?? I estimate possibly 3-5 tops. You see to me, I have a COBRA made by the Originator. It looks, Goes, Sounds and stops every Bit as good and probably Better than the "Original" Cobras. But if some Cell phone talking, eyebrow Plucking, Half asleep Housewife in a Hyundai pulls out and wrecks my CSX4000 series car, History will not shed a Tear!! try that with a $500,000 Dollar "Original"!! as far as why an eleanor or any other "Restomod" for that matter is pulling bigger numbers than Original Cars is beyond me. But I am a Businessman. and one thing I see is that you sell to the people with the money! apparently they are the ones controlling the market, not everybody that does not "accept" these cars as whatever they are trying to be. Let me close with this thought. Pam Anderson and Many other pretty Women Have "Fake" or "Not Original" Breasts. They still make you look at them. I bet you would touch them given the chance. Maybe even take the whole package for a test ride now would'nt ya?? And if you want to dispute that, I cannot help you any further!!

 

The difference is Pam Anderson started out as an Original and just "Super-sized/Modified a few parts over the years. The authenticity of the Vin# is undisputable and get this "still attached to the original body. And finally a test ride only applies if you don't care about the "Asking Price".

Now let's get back to talking about cars. Whenever something is duplicated/copied or reproduced, there will always be comparison to the "Real Thing". What is an Eleanor a comparison to? It is a movie car that Carroll had absolutely nothing to do with in design, fabrication or anything else other than name. Now it is being marketed and "Pimped" as the baddest of all Shelby Mustangs to a a consumer market who knows little or nothing about the real story of these cars. You asked why do I care what some guy paid for this 1 of X. It is because I am a concern owner who sees the muscle car market shilled up too the point where the avarage guy can't even play. It becomes about the money and not about the car. That's why you don't see original Cobras on the street because they become to expensive and rare to drive now that the clones have arrived. The same is beginning to happen to the rest of the Shelby Mustangs family, slowly migrating to garage and trailer only pieces. I guess in the case of the $500,000 Eleanor "Continuation car", I'll be looking for it in a Musuem near me. It will have a distinct history in the Registry as the "Highest Price Paid for a Shelby Clone". Don't get me wrong, I am not aganst the replica or clone market, I own a clone 427 Cobra because I cannot afford a "Real One". It is when imitation is used as the benchmark for the market that creates all the friction. I know you are going to say, "If Carroll authorized it, than it is a Shelby". Carroll also authorized GT-350 Convertibles in the 80's, McClusky Daytona Coupes, Cobras and now the Mustangs. To my knowledge, none of these continuations or whatever you called them ever exceeded the market value of the Originals. Not losing any sleep over this but when the market goes bang and it will go bang, we will be looking back on this event and point to it as a contributing factor.

 

Pam Started out a Beautiful Woman. all Shelby Mustangs started out life as a Beautiful MUSTANG.

I believe an imitation or continuation Car should never be used to "SET THE BAR" but apparently it has had an impact. am I for it? No. is it Happening? Yes. Can you and I stop it from Happening?? NO!

The Original COBRA was out of Reach of the Common Man from the Day it Hit the FORD dealers. That is why I Drive a "Continuation COBRA" and you Drive your Cobra. We Cannot Afford the Original, Nor would I Drive it the Way we can Drive our Cars! They still "Look and Feel Great" now Don't They?? those Continuation Convertibles from the 80's are pulling $125K and up since the last one I saw went up for Sale about 2 years ago. I can only imagine what it will do NOW! Not more than an Original 66 GT350 Convertible, But More than any Non Shelby MUSTANG Convertible!! Life is Full of things the Common Man wants and cannot Have due to Financial reasons. That is one of the reasons behind what makes Limited Production Cars a joy to own. They are Unique and you do not see them on an evryday Basis. and I am going to start saving My money now so when the Market Goes "BANG" as you say it will, I am gonna Buy these Cars up for Pennies on the Dollar and wait for the next "BOOM"!!!

 

Cannot disagree with your rationale. The market has had a few corrections in the past 10-15 years. Hell I just passed on a 71 Challenger RT for a really low price. I don't know nothing about Mopars and sure in the hell didn't want to find out the hard way especially when a lot of other Mopar Guys looked at this car and passed on it. I guess they know something this pure Ford guy doesn't and helps to illustrate across a broader spectrum that people who know the real thing don't get liquoured up over copies.

 

That was a wise decision to Pass on somethng you are unsure of. from what I understand, Mopars are easily turned into something they are/were not from Day 1. have a great Day the sun is shining here!

 

Thanks and you have a great one too We have had 3 perfect days of weather in good old Northern Va. Will be firing up the KR soon to keep from intimidating the Bow-Ties Boys on those Friday and Saturday night cruises. They all leave when 2 or 3 Cobras show up. I know the first question that will be asked is " Is it that an Eleanor Car"

 

Doc:
The really bad part will be when some kid walks by and says "Hmpff. That's not a real Eleanor"....

 

Damn, you are probably Right !! B)

 

After seeing this car on the Discovery channel "Rides" I had to have one. I called www.uniqueperformance.com the following day and found out they were all sold out. Their sales manager put me in touch with a gentleman who was willing to sell his before it was built. I called him and we negotiated a deal. I did not pay $550k, I paid less than half that. Sure, I could have bought almost any car out there but "I" wanted this one.

My "rescued" Mustang will be a 1967-68 convertible which is coming in the next few weeks. I should have my 725hp supercharged Shelby convertible in 6 months.

When asked if they were "Real" Shelby's, Carroll himself said I am the only one who can say if they are a Shelby or not and I if I say it is a Shelby then it is a ....... Shelby!

He signs the dashboard, it goes into the Shelby world registry as a Shelby with a Shelby Vin.

I understand those who say it is not an original etc... but all the Shelby was, was a modified Mustang which is exactly what I am getting, only 30 years later.

This car will be only 1 of 7 in the world and 1 of 75 "Supersnake's", which I think is pretty neat. I have not decided on a color yet so if anyone has any ideas, let me know. Leaning towards one like this:

http://www.uniqueperformance.com/Convertible.aspx

This car sold for $550k, I don't expect that but with almost 300 more hp someone is going to want to own it one day really bad.

Happy Holidays to all.

 

Are you trying to convince yourself that it is a REAL SHELBY, or the rest of us?? let me assure you that the car you have ordered would be very welcome in my Garage any day! I owned a Continuation series SHELBY Cobra and you are buying a Continuation Series Shelby Mustang. it is a Far superior car in comparison to the original. your car will also be rebuilt to Better than new standards with incredible craftsmanship. and Shelby thinks it is one so it gets a Badge and inducted into SAAC. The Old Guard Original Shelby Owner crowd will never accept (Or admit their secret approval) these as True Shelby Cars. But it was not that long ago that anything Built after 1967 was not fashionable either! The Unique Performance Shelbys are very Cool but have yet to withstand the test of time that the Original Cars have. Ten years from now it will be interesting to re-visit this topic. In the mean time I can only hope to find one that some rich guy tires of and wants to sell quick and cheap!! Best of luck with your Car and keep us posted on the Build! Post some pictures. and welcome to the Forum!

 

I was just surprised at all the negative sentiment as to whether or not it was a "Real" Shelby or not.

Thank you for your kind post.

I really don't care what others think about it, I have 1 of 7 of the convertibles and that itself will be awesome. Carrol signed the dash himself.

725hp supercharged? That is completely insane and I can't wait to take it to SAAC Vegas and open it up. As I am lapping the "Real" Shelby's I will be sure to honk.

For those who say it is not real I wonder what the great man himself would say to you?

I will post pictures as it is being built.

 

Now do not be so quick to think you will be Lapping many Originals at SAAC Vegas... Many of them are Highly Modified and the Drivers are well versed in Banked turns....

 

mherman 2 , I am looking forward to seeing your new Shelby at SAAC 10, here in Vegas. Which day will you be on the track. I am doing the Track on Friday. and going on the rally Saturday. Have fun and enjoy your new toy.

 

Thanks for the reply. The car that they are stripping down arrives in a couple weeks. My Shelby will not be done until June. So I will have to wait until next year to race it.

I am very new to the Muscle Car arena. I got very lucky at a company that grew big and now have the resources to live out a dream and own a few muscle cars, this is my first.

Will you be there? Do you have pictures of your car? Would love to see it.

 

mherman2.
At SAAC 9 last year, Trent Performance had the White Convertable at the Shelby Shop. This is the first time that I had a chance to view the Shelby up close. This is truly an awesome car. 1 of 7, what could get better. I will be looking forward to a ride at SAAC 11. My car photos are located in the photo section, go to members galleries, and it is under 02stang. So now you have the Muscle Car Fever. Watch out for all the performance car catalogs, they will keep you up at night.