Vehicle Description
What makes a muscle car valuable? Use this 1969 Shelby GT350 as
your guide. Great colors, matching numbers, a manual gearbox, lots
of options including factory A/C, and a meticulous older
restoration. You want a cool Shelby that delivers on the promises
made by its reputation? This beautiful GT350 totally nails it.
Bright Candy Apple Red was obviously a popular color for the
high-performance Shelbys, and I think I like it even more on the
sleek, elongated Shelby than I do on the regular Mustangs, but then
again I'm a sucker for cars that talk the talk and walk the walk.
The revised nose erases almost all traces of Mustang, which is only
really apparent in profile where you get arguably the best-looking
fastback ever created. The tail got its own makeover as well, and
thanks to the wonders of fiberglass, they could create the new look
without a major investment. The restoration is a few years old, but
it was done to a very high standard and quite honestly, the
fiberglass hood and trunk lid fit a lot better than they did
originally. We don't know a lot about its history, but looking at
the finished product, it's obvious that you won't find a straighter
Shelby for less money anywhere else. It's extremely nice in every
sense of the word.
Inside it offers Ford's handsome black bucket seats with red
inserts, just to make it look a little racy. Shelby added their
usual roll bar and shoulder harnesses, and experts will note that
this car carries factory A/C (it needs to be serviced). The
markings on the gauges are still crisp and sharp, including the two
on the center console, just ahead of the shifter for the
close-ratio 4-speed. Plenty of faux wood emphasized the Shelby's
luxury/touring intentions, and the clock mounted on the passenger's
side is a thoughtful touch (sadly, it's not operational). The
original AM radio still lives in the center of the dash, perhaps
reminding you where your priorities should be when you're driving a
Shelby. The back seat is in excellent condition, probably because
it's a hassle to climb back there with the shoulder harnesses, so
it hasn't been used much. The trunk is also finished correctly with
a nice-fitting mat and a spare tire with factory jack assembly.
As it should, this Ford carries a matching-numbers M-code Ram Air
351 Windsor V8. It snarls and cackles like a true performance car
should, yet remains very docile and easy to handle. The small block
is standard for the GT350, making a great-handling car that's
certainly no slouch when you drop the hammer. The engine bay was
detailed when the car was restored, but you can hardly blame the
owner for wanting to drive it, so it isn't quite up to show
standards today. However, that means that it's still up for doing
what Shelbys do best, and you shouldn't be afraid to bury the pedal
and open all four barrels every chance you get. The car's history
shows most clearly underneath, where it's rust free and highly
correct, including red oxide floors, restored suspension
components, and a correct exhaust system with glasspack-style
mufflers. 3.25 gears in a Trac-Lok 9-inch are a great compromise
between acceleration and cruising comfort, and those pretty alloy
wheels were created especially for the '69 Shelbys, with these
wearing correct E60-15 Goodyears.
Your heart knows why this Shelby is cool. But it's also the kind of
car that can convince your mind that it's a smart investment. Call
today!