Vehicle Description
Many enthusiasts don't know it, but the Shelby and Hertz Rent-A-Car
relationship continued after the first batch of rent-a-racers hit
the streets. In 1968, Ford/Shelby built 224 automatic-equipped
GT350s like this one for the fine folks at Hertz. The result is one
of the rarest of all Shelbys, and this one in particular is
beautifully restored in iconic Highland Green.
The Hertz cars only came one way: loaded, so not only is this
Shelby gorgeous, it's also a joy to drive. Fans of the Mustang
fastback shape seem to realize that it always looks best in
Highland Green, which is this Shelby's original color. Of course,
the full complement of Shelby body mods was part of the package,
including the front fascia, hood, deck lid, and taillights, which
do indeed flash sequentially. The fiberglass pieces were made by
Ford, so they were far better than the primitive pieces laid up by
Shelby American in that old airport hangar, but even the big guys
had a hard time with it, as the trunk doesn't quite fit flush.
That's a common issue and it's a pretty small nit to pick, but on a
car this nice, nits are all you're going to find. The paint has a
beautiful shine that comes from modern urethane paints and all the
correct Shelby emblems and decals were installed after the paint
was dry. Marchal fog lamps, hood pins, and a Shelby gas cap all
contribute to the look.
The interior is as comfortable as it is sporting, and thanks to
Hertz loading their cars up with options, this is probably the most
heavily-optioned Shelby you'll ever see. Black bucket seats are
comfortable and beautifully restored, there's a handsome
woodgrained "tilt top" steering wheel that matches the dash and
center console, and yes, that's an automatic transmission shifter;
this was a rental after all. In fact, the long list of options
includes the aforementioned automatic transmission, factory A/C,
tinted glass, shoulder harnesses, a fold-down rear seat, and an AM
radio, and it's all still in place. The gauges are beautifully
restored with bright faces, including the factory tach with 6000
RPM redline and two auxiliary Stewart Warner dials down on the
console. There's a little wear on the steering wheel, but otherwise
this interior is in first-rate shape with a lot of new and NOS
components used in the restoration. The trunk is also properly
finished with a plaid mat and full-sized spare.
The J-code 302 cubic inch V8 was new to the roster in 1968 and
makes the Hertz GT350 a great cruiser. With a 4-barrel carburetor
and a sporty Cobra dress-up kit, it certainly looks the part of a
Shelby powerplant, and thanks to the 302's bulletproof reliability,
it was probably an excellent choice for the rent-a-Shelby, too. The
engine bay is very neatly detailed with correct hardware used
throughout; only the modern battery stands out, but that's easy to
remedy. The automatic transmission may seem like an anomaly in a
Shelby, but when you drive it, you'll realize that they went the
extra mile to make this car feel polished and sophisticated. Power
steering and disc brakes make it easy to handle and the chassis is
in excellent condition, showing proper restoration techniques like
red oxide primer on the floor and rear end. A great-sounding dual
exhaust system never gets annoying and those gorgeous Shelby
10-spoke alloy wheels are fitted with recently 235/60/15 BFGoodrich
T/A radials.
Nicely documented with an owner's manual and Marti Report, this is
a very rare opportunity to own a Shelby that will always get people
talking. The fact that it's also great to drive is just a bonus.
Call today!