1969 Shelby Ford Mustang GT500 Fastback Coupe

Formerly the property of Shelby Racing Co. USA

Chassis no. 9F02R483162 Engine no. R482CJ500

Legendary Texan racing driver Carroll Shelby's team had been campaigning Ford's Mustang with considerable success in North America, winning the SCCA's B-Production title three years running in the mid-1960s. Capitalising on his success, Shelby began manufacturing modified Mustangs, which were officially sanctioned and sold through selected Ford dealerships.

Ford Motor Co. supplied Carroll Shelby with part-completed Sportsroof (Fastback) Mustangs, which were then completed at Shelby's Racing Dept. in Los Angeles.

The first Shelby Mustang to be produced was the GT350. For 1967 Ford introduced a 390ci 'big-block' V8 option on the Mustang; Carroll Shelby went one better; installing a 428ci (7.0-litre) Cobra Jet V8 to create the GT500, one of the great, iconic muscle cars of all time! The GT500 engine was produced at the A O Smith Company's plant in Ionia, Michigan from 1968, the Shelby Mustang continued to be based on the stock version, receiving the latter's styling changes and mechanical improvements while retaining its own distinctive special features, until production ended in 1970.

Our car is of course documented in the Shelby American World Registry. #3162 is one of only 1,536 Shelby GT500 fastback coupés produced for the 1969 model year and was delivered finished in "Competition Orange" which was not officially available for that year. #3162 was shipped new to Shelby Ford of South Lake Tahoe, California on 30th July 1969 for use as a Shelby Automotive company car by Carroll Shelby himself, and was invoiced to Shelby Racing Co of Torrance, CA. Three subsequent owners are listed in the SAWR, one in the USA and two in the UK.

This GT500 has been the subject of a two-year "last nut and bolt" full restoration to return it to original "as delivered new to the complete new factory specification". The rebuild involved complete disassembly to a bare body shell; structural repairs using original factory assembly methods; correct repaint in Competition Orange with full shell detailing, engine black out and under-body colour.

Every mechanical component has been rebuilt to the correct factory-specification to total concours standards with full detailing of every nut, bolt and washer used. The engine is the 428ci Cobra Jet V8, which has been rebuilt, balanced, blueprinted and up-rated to produce 400bhp, while the C6 automatic transmission has likewise been rebuilt and up-rated to handle the increased power and torque. The 9" rear axle incorporates a 3.00:1 ratio Traction-Loc limited-slip differential and forged 31-spline driveshaft's. A complete new factory-correct wiring harness has been fitted and the lighting converted to UK specification.

This car's fully restored interior is based on the Mustang deluxe trim but features all the important Shelby components such as roll-over bar with special harness-type seat belts, floor console with auxiliary gauges, and Cobra details. In addition it has the factory options of full air conditioning, tinted glass and a rim-blow steering wheel. The car also is fitted with the competition-specification suspension and Shelby-designed alloy/steel road wheels shod with Goodyear F60x15 tyres.

Finally the glove box door has been signed by Carroll Shelby; who met the GT500's previous owner in England some years ago and remembered how he had enjoyed driving this particular car when it was new. This unique and highly collectable car is now offered for sale and presents a rare opportunity to own a fully restored GT500: One of the world's greatest "Muscle Cars".