Author Topic: GT500 Tribute Build  (Read 5174 times)

mlplunkett

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GT500 Tribute Build
« on: March 29, 2020, 07:11:42 PM »
I've been in parts collection mode for several months and have now collected enough parts that I'm ready to get serious about wrenching on my GT500 tribute car. I hope that by documenting the build I can provide a reference for others who may admire the Shelby marque as I have for all these years but not be able to justify the cost of an original. I'm a retired engineer and just had my 65th birthday so the early days of the Shelby legend were headline car news when I was a preteen building scale models of GT40s and a host of other performance automobiles. I've been a Shelby fan as long as I can remember and decided probably 25 years ago that I would eventually build a 67 GT500 tribute car when I was done funding the education and marriage of my 4 kids. Having no plan for striking it rich and having no rich relatives I never really considered that I would ever be fortunate enough to own an original. At any rate this is the kickoff of that project. These photos show where I started when I purchased the car in Atlanta from a guy who had owned it for about 25 years. He started his restoration with a brief flurry of activity about 15 years ago (new 351 motor, new seats, new brakes, etc.) and then he parked it for most of the 15 years since then. I won't be using much more than the shell but at least I get to see how it comes apart so I'll have an idea how to put it back together. This is how it looked when I got it.
67 GT500 tribute under construction
65 R-model tribute under construction

JD

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2020, 08:05:01 PM »
Good luck, (also as you may know there maybe some good parts on that car that you don't need but others do)
'67 Shelby Headlight Bucket Grommets https://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=254.0
'67 Shelby Lower Grille Edge Protective Strip https://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=1237.0

SHELB66

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2020, 08:48:00 PM »
From the pictures, it appears as if you have a good starting point.  Finding a decent body is half the challenge.  As JD mentioned above many of the parts that you will not be using can be put towards the parts you will be needing, either by selling or trading.  Good luck!  Keep us posted on your progress.

Craig R.
66 Hertz 6S1564
06 Hertz #446
64 Ranchero V8 4spd
02 Explorer Sport Trac

2112

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2020, 08:50:09 PM »
Going with an original color combination?

Side-Oilers

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2020, 08:50:46 PM »
Yes, good luck and thanks for posting. Many of us are in your age group...or a bit below/above.  We share in your time-frame of growing up and becoming interested/obsessed in Shelbys. 

Glad you're getting to do your project.  There's no time like the present.
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

mlplunkett

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #5 on: March 29, 2020, 09:01:54 PM »
My color scheme will be a version of the nightmist blue. Here's my trial run on my 67 Donzi that got the Shelby treatment. I might have to mount a trailer hitch on the GT500 just long enough to take a picture of these two in tandem.
67 GT500 tribute under construction
65 R-model tribute under construction

JD

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #6 on: March 29, 2020, 09:07:03 PM »
My color scheme will be a version of the nightmist blue. Here's my trial run on my 67 Donzi that got the Shelby treatment. I might have to mount a trailer hitch on the GT500 just long enough to take a picture of these two in tandem.

Do trailer the boat all the time - that will stop traffic !
'67 Shelby Headlight Bucket Grommets https://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=254.0
'67 Shelby Lower Grille Edge Protective Strip https://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=1237.0

Side-Oilers

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #7 on: March 29, 2020, 09:19:44 PM »
My color scheme will be a version of the nightmist blue. Here's my trial run on my 67 Donzi that got the Shelby treatment. I might have to mount a trailer hitch on the GT500 just long enough to take a picture of these two in tandem.

I remember when you posted that Donzi pix before...very cool!!!
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

cbrown

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #8 on: March 29, 2020, 09:37:03 PM »
Pretty sure Kid Rock has one too.  40 footer!!!  8)  rolling lake St Clair...

Chris

The Going Thing

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2020, 10:12:55 PM »
It looks like you bought a solid base.  If you didn't invest in the Osborne manuals, buy them all. You'll need them I guarantee you!

mark p

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2020, 10:58:52 PM »
My color scheme will be a version of the nightmist blue. Here's my trial run on my 67 Donzi that got the Shelby treatment. I might have to mount a trailer hitch on the GT500 just long enough to take a picture of these two in tandem.

Do trailer the boat all the time - that will stop traffic !

That sounds like it would be very cool 8)
"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

JD

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #11 on: March 29, 2020, 11:37:12 PM »
It looks like you bought a solid base. If you didn't invest in the Osborne manuals, buy them all. You'll need them I guarantee you!

^^^^ +1 (get the whole series of the '67 books, don't get just a couple)
'67 Shelby Headlight Bucket Grommets https://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=254.0
'67 Shelby Lower Grille Edge Protective Strip https://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=1237.0

2112

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #12 on: March 29, 2020, 11:50:18 PM »
I didn't catch the Donzi from before. Looks fantastic. I am a big boat guy, have had 3, all blue.

mlplunkett

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #13 on: March 30, 2020, 12:53:22 AM »
The before and after on the boat was pretty dramatic. About a 2 year project. It will sling grandkids off a tube like nobody's business. We take it over to Louis Smith Lake in AL every July 4th for a family reunion. If you care to see what's involved in a boat overhaul you can page through the whole process on the Donzi forum.
https://www.donzi.org/forum/showthread.php/5855-Restoration-of-16-441
67 GT500 tribute under construction
65 R-model tribute under construction

FL SAAC

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Re: GT500 Tribute Build
« Reply #14 on: March 30, 2020, 09:21:03 AM »
Good luck on your build,  but most importantly do what brings you happiness!
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