old shelby? new shelby? Will History repeat itself?

If history repeats itself then you'll be able to pick up a low mileage one in about 3 years for around $5K

More likely in the long run, they will follow the pattern of the Anniversary Corvettes in some ways

 

This is truly an interesting question.
Although i am a true shelby follower and seem to go weak at the knees for everything that Mr. Shelby touches, the new shelbys will never reach the kind of values that the market is currently expierencing with the Shelbys of the 1962-1970.
This is due to two main reasons.
1. The new cars are not rare to the slightest degree. For example, the new GT500 is a very strong car in itself but is not at all rare compared to the shelbys of the past. In fact, the only thing that will make a GT500 exponentially more valuable in the future will be the choice of color and options/option packages. There has been a recent release of the Black/Red stripe and White/Red stripe cars. These are supposedly being produced in limited numbers and in result will be worth more than the others in future years. In my mind, there is only one new shelby that will proportionally equal past shelbys. This is the new Super Snake (for obvious reasons!). To top this point off, another example is the new shelby gt. In my opinion, the car itself is very appealing in its own right. However, besides the color choice of black or white (yawn), there is hardly anything that seperates two GTs. Both of these examples go against the basic idea that a truly valuable car is one that stands out among the rest or is the only one of its kind. These models can do neither. Once again, i think they are great cars, however, they arent going to be extremely collectible.
2. My second point is that these new shelbys dont really follow the premise of the old shelbys. In 65-70 the shelby mustangs stood out from other mustangs on the market. When an everyday average person views a shelby from that era, it is referred to as a shelby and not a mustang. It was almost as if it was its own car in general. Nowadays, when i see a new shelby, it seems to be starting to look like more of a mustang and less of a shelby. It seems like the only thing that seperates a shelby from a mustang is a high performance engine and a couple of non-functional hood scoops. There doesnt seem to be any serious performance modifications as there were in the sixties and seventies. The idea in owning a collectible shelby is that you are getting a serious performance machine that breaks away from the norm. Although i believe that you are still getting a serious performance machine, i am not sold on the fact that you are truly breaking away from the norm.
For the last time, i support everything that carroll and shelby automobiles do. In fact, i am crazy about the new versions of the shelby mustang. However, it is a simple fact that these cars can never and will never reach amazing/ridiculous/intangible/fantastic/justified prices of the past creations of Carroll Shelby.

The Absolute Best Regards,
Vern Estes

 

Amen, case in point the series one.--S.

 

By the way my car # 1648 was bought from Paul's Ford Sales Inc. K.C. Mo. are they still in bussiness ?? --S.

 

Vern:
You bring up some valid points. However, the GT500 is very different from the stock Mustang GT (check out Ford's web page on the car). It is more than just HP and scoops. Althought not limited production (less than 10,000 I believe), the dealers are still getting over sticker for them and the car is a rocket.

The Shelby GT's are not much different in HP from the stock GT, but they are produced in limited numbers and modified at Shelby Vegas. The Hertz GT is already getting big bucks at auction.

Will they be collectable? As the saying goes, time will tell.

 

My .02 cents:

I don't think the new cars will be as collectable as the old ones for many of the reasons already mentioned, total production #s higher being the main reason. But here's some food for thought: Shelby himself mentions that one of the reasons his cars became so popular later was that the emissions and safety regulations followed by the oil embargo killed the muscle cars, leaving cars like the Cobra and Shelby mustangs as the high water mark for over 25 years.

So the food for thought is this: Will the new CAFE fuel economy standards coupled with the increase in fuel prices kill the current muscle car revival leaving the new GT500 as a high water mark?

Bryan

 

ChiCobra,

I did not say that the GT500 was indifferent from the Stock GT or that it wasnt a great performance machine. What i said is that no two GT500s are much different from one another. In result, this lack of true variation makes them less collectible in the future.

Furthermore, the shelby gt is not being produced in very limited numbers at all. i think the official number is either 8 or 14 thousand. Compare that to 562 65s (including R-models) and a little over 2000 66s (including the hertz cars).

However, i am rather surprised by the ebay sales of the Hertz GTs. But, i wouldnt be looking for their values to go up or even stay were they are. As more come to market (they will start to pour in) the prices paid will drop severely.

Best Regards,
Vern

 

Seaweed,

Sorry but Paul's Ford is no longer in business.
However, i have heard that they were a very good performance dealer in my home town.
If you have any, more info would be much appreciated.

Best Regards,
Vern

 

I don't think the new Shelby's will be valued as much in the future for one reason. Who will be bidding on these cars in 40 years? Kids today don't like Mustangs as much as they did 40 years ago. Sure there are some who do but, not universally as it seemed back then. So when this generation is buying the new classics in 40 years will they even care about Shelby's. Some will but with so many being produced and a shrinking fan base I don't think it will cause the frenzy original Shelby's have caused recently.

 

A very valid point.

All i can say is that i look forward to being able to get um cheap in the future.

Furthermore, your right on the mark with your idea of today's youth...........im sixteen. ive noticed that todays youth view the mustangs as "some ford" that daddy bought for them. I am ashamed to say that my generation has no respect for the history of, not only the mustang, but automobiles in general.

Case in point....i used to go to a high school were the majority of the students had rather well off parents. Some kids really sum up how they view the mustang.

True Stories
1. Kids dad buys him a brand new, dark blue GT500. The kid is caught doing 135 mph on I-70. Dad took the car and sold it at his ford dealership.

2. Kid in my school totals his brand new Saleen mustang (330 hp version) doing over 100 mph. His dad is mad for about two weeks before taking the insurance money and buying his son a brand new black saleen mustang! Believe it or not, but, the kid totals the new car four weeks later!
He then had to settle on sharing the two family cars.......a 2006 GTO and a 2007 Z06 corvette.

It really gets me fired up to think that these kids are blessed with such killer rides yet have absolutely no respect for them.

See.....you got me all frazzled for the night.
I need to go lay down.

Best Regards,
Vern

 

Vern:
My understanding is their were <5,000 2007 Shelby GT's produced and even fewer 2008's are forecasted (2,000). Althought the HP is only 25 higher than the stock GT, being modified at Shelby Vegas will/may give these models more collectibility.

Yes, I believe their will be around 10,000 2007 GT500 produced and haven't heard about 2008 production #'s. With less than 5,000 Ford dealers, that gives each one 2 to sell which is driving the over MSRP pricing.

There will be plenty of these cars around in the next couple of years. The interesting part will be if the price jumps when Shelby takes his final pit stop in the sky.

Agree with the analysis of what high school kids like today is a driver in the collector car prices of tomorrow. This is why it is best to buy cars you like VS trying to buy an 'investment' car.

 

1965 GT 350..562
1966 GT 350..1383
1966 GT 350S..1
1966 GT 350H..1002
1967 GT 350..1201
1967 GT 500..2050
1968 GT 350..1664
1968 GT 500..1542
1968 GT 500KR..1452
1969 GT 350..1881
1969 GT 500..1872
1970 GT 350..NA
1970 GT 500..NA Total..789

Full Total...15399

I can see either the Shelby GT or the GT 500 being very desirable because of the production number in front of you. Keep in mind that these cars came in many different colors, options, and configuration. The new shelbys dont come through with that.
Furthermore, the prices that these cars are getting over msrp has nothing to do with there future values. These cars are being bought at those prices by people who cant wait to get there hands on 500 horsepower, cant say id disagree with them. What i can say is that they are spending there money foolishly as these cars will soon come back to earth and that "investment" car that they thought they bought will turn into a very bad dream.
Furthermore, unfortunatly, there will be a surge in the market when the big fella takes that pit stop. When it happens, ill be waiting by my computer for the ridiculous ebay prices to start coming. Keep in mind, there are probly alot of people buying these cars just for that moment, to make a quick buck. Those people are low lifes and should be ashamed for trying to capitolize on such a great persons death. Its not right.

Best Regards,
Vern

 

Good thoughts. I think the new Shelbys may dip in value because Ford didn't invest enough in making them different from regular Mustangs.

Someone has to get the ear of Freeman Thomas, yes the same design guru who thought up the New Beetle and Audi TT, and Chrysler 300 but who is now North American Design Director at Ford and convince him to budget some money for body changes for the Shelby line of Mustangs because otherwise aftermarket firms will be selling cloned Shelby trim parts and a lot of regular Mustangs will become cloned Shelby Mustangs.

The Shelby should be as different from a regular Mustang in styling as the '67 and '68 Shelbys were from regular Mustangs. The '078 KR takes a step in this direction but not a big enough step.

Ford sold Aston Martin for $900 million, so there ought to be a few pennies for development of more Shelby-specific body panels, especially since dealers are poised to make an extra $10-20K profit off selling a Shelby vs. a regular Mustang.

It would help credibility too, if Der Snakemeister was shown in the clay model shop, giving his advice on the shape of this and that. After all a guy who has raced 50 diffeent marques of cars and won at LeMans has some experience on what works and what doesn't

Freeman?Do you have your ear to the ground, lad?

 

Vern:
Don't confuse the GT500 production numbers with the Shelby GT.

Their will be around 5,000 2007 Shelby GT's produced and 2008 production forecast is less than 2,100 with most being rag tops. The 2008 will be worth more because of the low production number and the rag top option.

Don't have a production number on the GT500 yet, but the factory should be done with 2007 'build out' by now. My guess is their will be around 10,000.

The Hertz GT is selling high becasue they only made 500 2007's. The low production number alone should keep the price high.

Time will tell on the others.

 

While I agree with all the aforementioned comments, I would add that rareity and production numbers do not dictate future value. Otherwise a six cylinder, three speed, bench seat 1965 Mustang would be gold!
A large part of the classic Shelby value also comes from an active factory and independent racing heritage of the Cobras, Trans-Am, GT40 program, and R Models. The performance cars were not purchased and put in garages for investment. They were used as intended.
Look at the limited production 1994 SVT Mustang Pace Cars. With so many mothballed and carrying low mileage, values are still at or below the original sales price. And there are hundreds of 2006 Ford GT sitting in dealerships awaiting their first buyer.
Also, the early classic Shelby Mustangs did not have to compete against dozens of other performance Mustang producers like Roush, Saleen, Steeda and Fords special edition Bullits, Mach I, etc. One of Carroll's reasons for getting out of the business in 1970 was because of Ford's Mach I and Boss production. The smog stuff and safety stuff was not the issue as it was incorporated in the GT350 and GT500s when required.
The bottom line, buy the Shelby for personal enjoyment, not for your retirement portfolio. Like the originals, they really are fun!

 

One major point to consider here is that the original cars had there own unique serial numbers and were built and marketed by a company "Shelby American, Inc." that went out of business in just seven years. That too ads tremendously to their value as there will NEVER be another "Shelby American, Inc."

But while we're on the topic...what are your thoughts on the values of the next generation "Continuation" aluminum (CSX7000) COBRAs being built in vegas? Although they'll arguably never be worth what the old CSX2000/CSX3000 cars are worth, I see them getting pretty good numbers a few years old - pretty close to what they sell for new. Could these be a good way to go if someone was looking to "speculate" regarding the future...

 

Unlike the current Shelby Mustangs, i feel that the value of these "new" Cobras will either increase or stay the consistent in the near and distant future. These cars are built to nearly the exact same specifications as the original cobras. Also, as opposed to the the current Shelby Mustangs, there are vast opportunities for the personalization of a certain car. This has to do with not only color (thank god!) but also engine type.
Furthermore, the explanation for why these cars are very valuable second hand is that the buyer doesnt have to go through the hassles of waiting to get one. I believe there is quite a long waiting list.
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59558

Question:
Shelby Automobiles says that these cars are truly made to order. However, all i ever see out of the 427 cars are cars built to S/C specifications. These have the roll bar and the side exhaust. While i love the look and function of this setup, i love the look of the uninterrupted 427 better. I know the 7000 series can be had in true street guise, however, can the 427 be had in the true street configuration that was made in 1965-1967?
Can anybody shed some life on this matter?

Best Regards,
Vern Estes