I have a 68 gt 500 that I purchased 3/78, it was in pretty bad shape. The car has been through a divorce and another marriage where we drove off happily together and completed in June of 2005 where we made a few car shows and then we ran into Hurricane Katrina. My car with five other cars went under. The photos are under short lived excitment. Now we have rebuilt the engine after soaking for two months, the 4 speed trans. is sitting and waiting, as are the seats and freshly painted interior parts. The car was completely gutted and sent for dip and e-coating and has come out looking fantastic. We are putting the body back together and trying to get it to Canada for rebuilding, I will try to submit the photos of the refreshed body, however time is short, we lost three houses in the floods and had very little insurance. My hopes are to get her back and have Mr. Shelby there when we get her done.
Ya know, I wondered how many classic cars went down during Katrina - yours is the first story I'd heard. Good luck with the repairs. The funny thing about having owned these cars prior to the prices going into stupid territory is that you vitually can't get upside down in them. I mean, you probably had less money into the car then, than just the vin number with a clear title are worth now! I know that's the situation with mine... Again, good luck on the restoration - don't give up on it! By the way - I used to fly into Lakefront and eat at a place called "D'annes" (forgive the spelling) - did it survive? Bryan
The name is Deanies Seafood, and it was in New Orleans East, I am afraid to tell you but there is not much left there. However in Jefferson Parish the original is still serving and packing them in. Good luck on yours and hopefully we can cruise together one time.
I'm in Biloxi & own a 70 Boss 9 driver and 69 GT350 currently under restoration. I can empathize with your loss as I lost almost everything I owned during Katrina as my house "floated" up in the Katrina storm surge. Of course it didn't float too well, and I ended up with about 5 feet of muddy water in the house. A couple of months later (October 21, 2005 to be specific) I lost what I had left (mainly business documents and artwork) in an office fire. Anyway - good luck with the GT500! I'd love to see it when you're done.
Hey von; My car was in Chalmette at the time of the storm, we were getting ready for crusin the coast. this would of been my first, well we all know what happened from there. My car was in a buddies garage about eight feet above sea level and we still took water over the roof of the car. I only lost mine, he lost two retired show cars and three that he was working on, everything in his shop was signed by Shelby and the place was a show room, what a loss also he and his parents lost their houses. I am looking foward to crusing the coast and also hitting the cruise night in Diamomdhead where my folks have their only exsisting home left. The water stopped short of the unit. Good luck. Jim
Jim, Thanks for the reply. It's probably not your friend, but I had a contract to purchase a 70 B2 from a guy named John before the storm. The car was in a garage in Chalmette, and he was scheduled to deliver it the sunday before Katrina. Well needless to say he didn't bring the car over as he evacuated on Saturday. His garage was about 8 feet above street level and he still got about 6 feet of water over the car. Thanks again for the reply. Would like to communicate offline and possibly get together for Cruisin the Coast in October. My email is myentzen@yahoo.com. Michael
Mike that would be great to keep in touch. I do not think I will be ready by Oct. for Crusin the Coast. I do not think I will be ready to next year sometime but that is my goal to hit the coast and up in Smokey's. You can E-mail to coconutteleraf@yahoo.com or bergeroncjv@hotmail.com. If you come to town give me a look up, I manage a Chrysler, Jeep, Volvo service dept. in Metairie so I the group I ususally cruise with is a Mopar group, good guys but the Shelby always get everyone attention. It gets under their skin. I will send you a hello from my e-mail, got to go. Jim
