Author Topic: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?  (Read 2882 times)

Side-Oilers

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What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« on: September 21, 2021, 03:29:29 PM »
In the name of Shelby & Cobra enthusiasm, I can't recall seeing a thread about what Shelby product we first owned.

Would be cool to see original pix, info, and the date(s) that you owned it.  Even better if you still own it.  8)

And can we please have no critiques, flaming, trolling or other negative comments on this thread?  This is about Shelby fun & memories.

I'll go first.

1968 GT500KR fastback, white with black interior.  4-speed.

Bought in 1982, in SoCal.   Promptly blew-up the 427 side-oiler the PO had installed.

Stupidly let the car sit without an engine for 20 years before (even stupider) selling it to Ron Butler's son. 

After painfully serving the appropriate penance, I bought it back from Butler in 2013.  Butler had kept it stored away and completely untouched.   

I installed stroked aluminum 427 side-oiler (553 hp on dyno) from Shelby/Denbeste in 2014. 

Added a few Day Two parts. 

Listed in the 1968 Shelby Registry.   

I will never let go of the car again! 

Bottom photo is soon after car was  finished, with NHRA's Phil Burgess (left) at our old hangout in Culver City, CA.
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

557

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2021, 03:52:04 PM »
Got my 67 gt500 in 82 as well.$6k from a penny saver ad in Hollywood ,Ca.Lifetime Cali black plate car.Owned it ever since.Still like it……a lot…. :D

98SVT - was 06GT

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2021, 04:45:50 PM »
Bought/traded for 6S843 in 1975. A friend was getting out of the Army and wanted a Shelby. I found this one close to home for $800 so we went and looked. It had 14x10 wheels on all 4 corners and 200 pounds of Bondo flares & trunk spoiler on it (Madam Guillotine would have approved of how the trunk closed). My friend passed said he wanted a project car not a career one. He later found a 65. Looking at it we weren't sure if it was real. Serial number tag - yep, aluminum engine parts - yep, but it had been red (now primer) and has an automatic. Wait I remember they put Tbars and cables on the rear axle - they are there so it must be real.
I offered the kid $500 and he passed. Said his motorcycle was getting repoed on Monday and needed $140 to pay it off. I offered him the $140 and a 68 Tbird a guy had given me for putting a water pump in his 62 Bird. He was reluctant and I told him I'd call Sunday night and could meet him at the bank on Monday to pay him and swap cars if he hadn't sold it. Met him Monday gave him the $ traded keys and I was off. It had been through 4 people without being transferred so I had to pay for all those since everybody had added their info to the title.
I put Maier flares on it then had an oops in a sudden rain storm while it had the Caldwell race recaps on it. Started to restore it had a friend replace the rear 1/4s and had it wearing it's first coat of red paint when other things took over. Richard (Deathsled) bought it and had the restoration finished.

The second one was a 68 GT500 Convert #135. A fellow COCOA member saw it at an Orange County body shop and asked about it. He said a kid dropped it off to get fixed and painted but then went back to Alaska. The shop said there was $370 owed on it and gave my friend the dad's number. I called him and he said I could have the car if I paid the shop and he would send me the title. I agreed, paid the shop and picked up the car. Every piece of fiberglass was cracked. It had Ford Econoline seats and no console. The 428 was gone replaced with a 390 and no Shelby parts under the hood. I kept it a couple weeks and another COCOA member offered me $700 for it - he kept it about a month and sold it for $1000. Rumors that it towed a fishing boat in Alaska are false. It was always a CA car with period correct black plates. It had been purchased by a kid whose lawyer dad an ex-Alaska senator had sent to SoCal for college. The kid decided he like playing on the beach more than school so dad made him fly home.
« Last Edit: September 21, 2021, 11:07:38 PM by 98SVT - was 06GT »
Previous owner 6S843 - GT350H & 68 GT500 Convert #135.
Mine: GT1 Mustang Track Toy, 1998 SVT Cobra, Wife's: 2004 Tbird
Member since 1975 - priceless

Rocket

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2021, 12:44:27 PM »
Bought 6S550 in 1967, as soon as Hertz turned it back to Ford. It's a great ride, and I feel like I'm 18 every time I fire it up. Ron
Original owner of 6S550. Owned since 1967. 64,000 Miles, all body original except hood and front valance. All glass original except windshield. Still has aluminum 4 speed. Has replacement Mico.  Also own 1966 Mustang convertible. They are drivers, not trailer queens.

honker

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2021, 08:21:18 PM »
Side-Oilers, great thread ! look forward to more replies.

My first Cobra !  forget the CSX #  ? bought in '63/'64 for all of a $1.50, a lot of grass cutting money back then ! As built in

 period,  still own it, and have been addicted to the Shelby marque ever since  ;)   ;D 

Mike
« Last Edit: September 22, 2021, 08:22:56 PM by honker »

Side-Oilers

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2021, 03:25:36 PM »
Seems like a bunch of people must have missed this topic...so giving it a bump.
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

owenkelley

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2021, 04:12:30 PM »
Bought our '67 GT500 in 1982 for $7800. A California car that was purchased by a Canadian classic car dealer who took it to Edmonton, had it painted and took it to the International Mustang Meet in Calgary which is where I spotted it. Still had the Black plates on it. I peeled all the stickers off back to the original 1967 sticker. My kids will most likely inherit it.

Bought our '87 GLHS ( I know, but it's fun to drive) in about 1997. Found it at a dealer's auto auction in Billings Montana. My kids probably won't inherit this one, although my two sons in law think it's kinda cool. The most rare car I own and the least valuable!

Bought our '07 GT 500 knew in the spring of '07. Will probably own this car until I tip over too.

Twenty year increments, '67, '87 and '07. Might have to see what's available in '27.

FL SAAC

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2021, 05:51:39 PM »
Great story and pictures, thank for posting

In the name of Shelby & Cobra enthusiasm, I can't recall seeing a thread about what Shelby product we first owned.

Would be cool to see original pix, info, and the date(s) that you owned it.  Even better if you still own it.  8)

And can we please have no critiques, flaming, trolling or other negative comments on this thread?  This is about Shelby fun & memories.

I'll go first.

1968 GT500KR fastback, white with black interior.  4-speed.

Bought in 1982, in SoCal.   Promptly blew-up the 427 side-oiler the PO had installed.

Stupidly let the car sit without an engine for 20 years before (even stupider) selling it to Ron Butler's son. 

After painfully serving the appropriate penance, I bought it back from Butler in 2013.  Butler had kept it stored away and completely untouched.   

I installed stroked aluminum 427 side-oiler (553 hp on dyno) from Shelby/Denbeste in 2014. 

Added a few Day Two parts. 

Listed in the 1968 Shelby Registry.   

I will never let go of the car again! 

Bottom photo is soon after car was  finished, with NHRA's Phil Burgess (left) at our old hangout in Culver City, CA.
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S7MS427

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2021, 06:43:42 PM »
My first Shelby was my '67 G.T. 500, No. 03040, which I bought in 1977 for $2400.  Read the whole story on my website.
Roy Simkins
http://www.S-TechEnt.com/Shelby.htm
1966 G.T.350H SFM6S817
1967 G.T.500 67400F7A03040

67 GT350

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #9 on: September 27, 2021, 09:56:08 PM »
My first Shelby was a 1967 GT350....I took a wrong turn on the intercostal water way and there it sat 2195. Talked to the guy and he said he did not want to sell it, he bought it NEW. I asked him if it would be OK if I stopped in in a couple of months, he said sure. I think I forgot about it soon after, and maybe 6 months later, I stopped in, rang the bell and he came to the door. He said, if you are interested in it, you can have it for 2500.00. It was mine! I had to take it to a body shop and we actually replaced the top part on one rear quarter and that was it. Fixed thing here and there, got it running, and what a nice car!!!

It would be so cool to buy it back.....I failed to mention, it was that lime green, I painted it medium blue. LOL
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honker

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2021, 10:09:15 AM »
Side-Oilers, thanks for the bump, and all the replies, great stories !

I thought I had put people off with my post about the AMT Cobra model being my first Shelby  ;)

Mike

Side-Oilers

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2021, 12:22:42 PM »
Hey Mike,
I thought it was great!  I had a Cobra 427 slot car.
Van
Current:
2006 FGT. Tungsten. Whipple, HRE 20s, Ohlin coil-overs, 3.90 gears. 210.7 mph.

Kirkham Cobra. 482-inch aluminum side-oiler. Tremec 5-spd.

Formerly:
1968 GT500KR #2575 (1982-2022)
1970 Ranchero GT 429
1969 LTD Country Squire 429
1963 T-Bird Sport Roadster
1957 T-Bird E-model 3-spd stick

rsmith

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2021, 01:30:52 PM »
1968 GT350 Conv, Gold Met with black inside. Auto

Bought in 1974 when I was 17, in Anniston, Alabama. Traded a 1955 Chev Belaire and $2000 to used car dealer for the Shelby. I paid $850.00 for the Belaire.

Still own the car. It has 115K miles. Original except for wear and tear. Hubcaps, CI intake (never been off), Autolite carb. Currently tidying it up (new belts, hoses, top, front seat covers, weather stripping, etc.

Listed in the 1968 Shelby Registry.

Steve McDonald Formally known as Mcdonas

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #13 on: September 28, 2021, 02:56:26 PM »
Bought mine in 1971 (Dec) for $1,000. Had 40,000 miles on it and now has 242,000 miles on it will have 50 years of ownership in Dec
Used to see it on the road in Annapolis Maryland when I was in High School.
Been in 38 states and 3 cross country trip and was driven to Bonneville for Speed Week in 1972, 73 and 74.
Will be at Hershey for the AACA Fall meet Oct 9th and the MCACN Hertz Invitational in Nov
Had a chance in 1973 to trade it for Cobra CSX2027 and $3500, didn't do it because it didn't have a roof or a heater, car was a Comp car retrofitted with a  289 (`originally a 260 car), Had two AFB's on the motor and the Webbers were in the trunk
Owned since 1971, now driven over 245,000 miles, makes me smile every time I drive it and it makes me feel 21 again.😎

mark p

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Re: What was your first Shelby/Cobra?
« Reply #14 on: September 29, 2021, 09:30:25 AM »
We bought the Tiger in February of 1985, and drove it for a few years before having the majority of the restoration completed in 1989/90.
We're the 3rd owners. Apparently the "red" calipers, hubs, and brake drums were a sort of trademark of the original dealer in York PA.
We've been cruising, touring, showing, auto-crossing, and enjoying it now for nearly 37 years 8)... our kids say that it was our "first child"  ???
Photo from the day I drove it home

Photo from the Tail of the Dragon, 2012

autocross

touring with Lehigh Valley SAAC (photo by Z-man)

« Last Edit: September 29, 2021, 09:59:23 AM by mark p »
"I don't know what the world may need, but a V8 engine's a good start for me" (from Teen Angst by the band "Cracker")

66 Tiger / 65 Thunderbird