SAAC Forum

HERE IS A PHOTO OF #01396 TAKEN AT THE '68 HEMISFAIR. THIS SHELBY ALONG WITH #01394 AND #01395 (MY DAD's SHELBY) WERE BUILT EXACTLY THE SAME. IN THE PHOTO SENT FROM MITCH, FORD WANTED TO IMPRESS SOMEONE WITH THEIR DIVERSIFIED LINE UP OF FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES. THE PHOTO SURE LOOKS AS THOUGH IT COULD BE AT SOME MICHIGAN FORD FACILITY ON A WARM HUMID MID SUMMER AFTERNOON. 

I AM INTERESTED IN THE DEALER PLATE. ANY OTHER ITEMS FROM HORN WILLIAMS. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A LICENSE PLATE FRAME. THANK YOU. DAVID

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RED HULK? IN APRIL OF 1989 I WAS GETTING ESTIMATES FROM SEVERAL LOCAL RESTORATION SHOPS TO RESTORE THE BLACK 68, WHILE A DISTANT MUSTANG ONLY RESTORATION SHOP CAME TO GIVE US AN ESTIMATE THEY SAW THE RED CAR AND INQUIRED ABOUT IT. WE AGREED ON A PRICE, LOADED ON A ROLLBACK AND OFF IT WENT. THEN IN SUMMER OF 2011 WAS BROWSING 68 SHELBYS ON EBAY AND A RED 68 FASTBACK RESTOMOD WAS LISTED WITH A MARTI REPORT. REMEMBERING THE CAR SOLD NEW AT MARSHALL FORD IN MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, OHIO I CHECKED THE SHELBY VIN AND MY RECORDS AND IT TURNED OUT IT WAS #00801. THE LAST I WAS TOLD IT SOLD BUT DID NOT HAVE RECORD OF WHERE IT WENT.

GUILTY, THE CAR IS MINE. KNOWN OF THIS 69 ALONG WITH TWO 68 GT500 4 SPEED FASTBACKS THAT SAT ON THIS FARM SINCE THE MID SEVENTIES. ONLY LIVE ABOUT 8 MILES FROM THEM. THE MOTHER OWNED THE BLACK 68 #00730 AND WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK ON A FOGGY MORNING, IN 1974, TURNED IN FRONT OF A CAR AND WAS HIT HARD IN THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER. THIS WAS TOWED BACK TO THE FARM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN RESTORED AND NOW RESIDES IN THE CLEVELAND OHIO AREA. THE SON OWNED THE RED 68 #00801, IN 1972 IT WAS PARKED AT A SERVICE STATION WHERE HE WORKED, SOMEONE LIT THE INTERIOR ON FIRE AND THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. IT TOO WAS TOWED BACK TO THE FARM, THE ENGINE WAS PULLED AND WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE BODY PLACED IN THE FIELD. AS A REPLACMENT CAR, THE SON PURCHASED THIS 69 350 IN CLEVELAND ON SEPT 17, 1973. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THIS CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO THE FARM AND RESTED " BESIDE THE BARN". BACK IN MARCH OF 1989 I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CATCH THE FATHER IN A SELLING MOOD AND WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE THE TWO 68s. THE BLACK 500 WAS WRECKED BUT COMPLETE. THE RED 500 WAS JUST A RUSTED HULK WITHOUT THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. HE WOULD NOT SELL THE 69. MIGHT FIX IT UP ONE DAY. FAST FORWARD 29 YEARS, IN MARCH I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SONS NEPHEW SAYING THAT WITH BOTH GRANDPARENTS GONE THE FARM IS GOING TO BE SOLD. HE SAID THAT HIS UNCLE WAS READY TO PART WITH THE LAST SHELBY AND THE 428 ENGINE FROM #OO801 AND WAS WONDERING IF I WAS INTERESTED. A DEAL WAS MADE AND ON APRIL 11TH WE RECOVERED IT. WORKING AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY MOST OF MY CAREER AND BEING A CAR GUY ALL MY LIFE, MY HOPE IS THAT THIS SHELBY WILL GO TO A GOOD HOME THAT IT SO MUCH DESERVES AND WILL NEVER HAVE TO SPEND ANOTHER DAY OUTSIDE OTHER THAN AT A CAR SHOW.