1968 Shelby #101 up for auction

[Coralsnake]

Heres a great document

Shelby Engineering inventory

I redacted the serial numbers

Note Engineers called the color Sunlit Gold "Bronze"

[Rodster-500]

Was the 101 restoration thread lost with the crash of Forum 1.0?  That would be a shame.  Lots of good stuff!

Back up anything you read now before the next crash!

[Coralsnake]

Is this a better description?

Shelby # 101, 1968 Shelby GT500 pre-production test vehicle. -When you buy this car, you will not only be getting an extremely rare vehicle, but you will also be getting a history lesson in Shelby pre-production vehicles and engineering test vehicles.  Equipped with a 428 Cobra Jet engine with super-rare Conelec fuel injection system. Only one other vehicle has this factory EFI system. Ford C-6 transmission and special torque-sensitive, locking rear axle. This car has factory air conditioning. Original Sunlit Gold over a black Shelby deluxe, interior. This car has original identification tags and owner history. Comes with rare Ford and Conelec paperwork documenting its rare engineering history.  Car received a Concours Gold Award at Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. Other rare features include, factory, handmade fiberglass parts, pre-production console, one of a kind rear axle mounting, special sound deadner, pre-production taillights and 1969 style tires and shocks.  Fully documented concours restoration by a noted Shelby historian. Owner history and personal accounts of the car are included.  Only two of the three original fuel injection, engineering test vehicles exist and this may be your only opportunity to own a piece of Shelby Automotive history.

[Blackcar]

Is this a better description?

Shelby # 101, 1968 Shelby GT500 pre-production test vehicle. -When you buy this car, you will not only be getting an extremely rare vehicle, but you will also be getting a history lesson in Shelby pre-production vehicles and engineering test vehicles.  Equipped with a 428 Cobra Jet engine with super-rare Conelec fuel injection system. Only one other vehicle has this factory EFI system. Ford C-6 transmission and special torque-sensitive, locking rear axle. This car has factory air conditioning. Original Sunlit Gold over a black Shelby deluxe, interior. This car has original identification tags and owner history. Comes with rare Ford and Conelec paperwork documenting its rare engineering history.  Car received a Concours Gold Award at Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. Other rare features include, factory, handmade fiberglass parts, pre-production console, one of a kind rear axle mounting, special sound deadner, pre-production taillights and 1969 style tires and shocks.  Fully documented concours restoration by a noted Shelby historian. Owner history and personal accounts of the car are included.  Only two of the three original fuel injection, engineering test vehicles exist and this may be your only opportunity to own a piece of Shelby Automotive history.
What was the " one of a kind rear axle mounting "

What was the " one of a kind rear axle mounting "

[68blk500c]

Is this a better description?

Shelby # 101, 1968 Shelby GT500 pre-production test vehicle. -When you buy this car, you will not only be getting an extremely rare vehicle, but you will also be getting a history lesson in Shelby pre-production vehicles and engineering test vehicles.  Equipped with a 428 Cobra Jet engine with super-rare Conelec fuel injection system. Only one other vehicle has this factory EFI system. Ford C-6 transmission and special torque-sensitive, locking rear axle. This car has factory air conditioning. Original Sunlit Gold over a black Shelby deluxe, interior. This car has original identification tags and owner history. Comes with rare Ford and Conelec paperwork documenting its rare engineering history.  Car received a Concours Gold Award at Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals. Other rare features include, factory, handmade fiberglass parts, pre-production console, one of a kind rear axle mounting, special sound deadner, pre-production taillights and 1969 style tires and shocks.  Fully documented concours restoration by a noted Shelby historian. Owner history and personal accounts of the car are included.  Only two of the three original fuel injection, engineering test vehicles exist and this may be your only opportunity to own a piece of Shelby Automotive history.

Yes, Pete.  I sent you a PM.

[Coralsnake]

Thank you Don!

[Coralsnake]

Here is the rear axle mount. I suspect a Cougar guy may recognize this part. It is a bracket welded to the axle perch and a rubber "sandwich" for the leaf spring

[Coralsnake]

...the car also had these rebound bumpers similar to a 1967. I have seen these on one of the other pre-production 1968s

[Coralsnake]

Here is another document I think provides some important insight into car # 101. The original is written in cursive, but this is a little easier to read.

[Coralsnake]

First are the dates. The memo indicates that there are "five" pre-production cars. Kevin Marti originally identified four cars by their early (pre-strike) build dates. These were 41, 56, 301 and 339. Each had a specific engineering purpose.  All five cars were finished before regular production started.

Car 101 is the fifth car based on the pre-production taillights and other items found on the car.  Interestingly all were Sunlit Gold and all were repainted at the factory.  When I restored 101, I painted all the fender bolts to signify this. Of course, there is no way the car ever looked like it does now with regards to neatness and quality.

So when they say those bolts were never painted, you can say there is a reason for it and it was done intentionally. 

[Coralsnake]

This blueprint links Conelec and Shelby. Its not the only document, but certainly one of the coolest. Copies of all these unique, rare documents will be provided to the new owner. The original is 36" x 55"

[Coralsnake]

I will have to make a list of oddities on this car today. The more I look, the more I recall.

😀

[Shelby_r_b]

This is great, Pete. Thanks!

[Coralsnake]

Here is the list I came up with: Unique or odd features of Shelby # 101

Preproduction and early style "hand laid" fiberglass
Ram Air (not usually found on GT500s)
Tail Light treatment found on only on preproduction cars
Emblem location on front fender not standardized
Electronic Fuel Injection
428 Cobra Jet engine (Engineering installed) with starter delay added
Unique console, console gauges and arm rest pad
rear axle mounting and snubbers
No hood seal on radiator support
Sound deadner package
Most likely repainted at AO Smith to make fiberglass match

[Coralsnake]

This is the pre-production tail light treatment. This would before the steel ball shaped cups.