Now this is the kind of sight I dream of! I just wish I had been there when this Shelby GT350 was revealed from the original owners barn, and not because it is worth silly amounts of money, but because of its incredible story! For me, meeting the owner and getting to listen as the story of their life and their car unfolds would have been incredible. Before we get into that amazing tale, if you are interesting in throwing in a bid on this certified GT350 you can find it here on eBay in Oviedo, Florida with bidding already over $80k.
The seller, I’m not sure if they are just helping the original owner sell it or if they actually purchased it and are flipping it, relays the tale of how this desirable pony ended up being parked in the barn. This story starts with a 17 year boy, a Shelby brochure and his mother’s hopes for him. One day, this 17 year old came home from a local Ford dealer with a brochure for his dream car, the new Shelby GT350. The boy’s mother hoped her son would decide to go to college and get an education, remember these were the days when most young men skipped college and went straight to work. The family owned a very successful parts store and a machine shop, so they clearly had the money for him to go to school, but he wasn’t all that interested. So his mother made a deal with him, if he went to college, she would buy him one of those Shelbys.
The deal was made, what 17 year old wouldn’t make that deal? So she sent him back down to the dealer with a $50 check for the deposit and the next day wrote him the check for the full amount of the car. Soon he was the proud owner of this ’67 GT350, he even kept the original brochure that started it all, the bill of sale, and both of his mother’s checks, which are still with the car! He followed through with his end of the deal, but he didn’t stay in college long. He started working full time, bought himself a Dodge Dart to use as a daily driver and put his Shelby into storage with just 20k miles on the clock.
It stayed parked in the barn till sometime in the ’80s, when he decided to get his old Mustang back out of storage and freshen it up a bit. He had it repainted and new upholstery installed. Since his family owned a machine shop, he had the engine rebuilt and a few upgrades installed. I don’t know if that was the point when he had a Hillborn Fuel Injection system installed or not, but given that he had to “piddle” with it, I’m guessing it was. I’d also guess he couldn’t get it to run quite right and that’s why he put it back into storage, where it has remained ever since!
It’s now out of the barn and with just a little work, is running. As you can see, the barn did a good job of protecting this classic and making it a real show stopper shouldn’t be much of an issue. I’m a little sad that it has been repainted, but the paint still looks good. It’s hard to even imagine the memories and feelings that must be tied to this car, it’s incredible the seller is willing to let go of it, but I’m sure they just want to see it go to a good home (I’m sure the money helps just a little!). I have a feeling this car will go for serious money and that this won’t be the last time we see it on the market. So who here wishes their parents had offered to buy them a brand new Shelby GT350, just to go to college? I know I do!
Interesting that he changed the wheels, I wonder if he still has them?
I believe those are hub caps. Good choice of wheels(’67-’68).
But the original carb is not on it.
Typical – why detail a car when you can paint it?
Wow and it’s the ultra rare “Carl Shelby” model! LOL
Heck I couldn’t get my Dad to cosign for a 70 Cuda 340 6 pack / 4 speed car in 71 when I got my first full time job. It was $3800 and I had $800 to put down but his reasoning was you will either kill yourself, someone else or end up in jail. Naw my 65 GTO with a 389 / 4 speed didn’t have any of those problems. This GT-350 is a nice high dollar car I can’t afford.
Too bad the heads were pulled, Shelby’s came with “k” code heads didn’t they?
Yes, and it would be a shame if they weren’t included with the sale.
Given that the Ebay seller seems to be acting for the original buyer-owner and that he thinks the car was created by someone named Carl Shelby, the story on the car might…or might not…be true. It’s odd that he would draw attention to the Mecum auction that’s coming up in a few days in nearby Kissimmee yet be offering the car on Ebay. I would think the car would get a better price at Mecum, especially if the real owner is there with the car and has all the original paperwork that’s mentioned.
Some nagging questions…..why paint the car the original color and rebuild the engine with less than 20K miles on it? The owner had a machine shop, so maybe…’Because I can’ is the answer for the engine.
Good point about Mecums, Dolphin.
Maybe he is afraid about the scrutiny the car and the story will receive.
^^^^^ +1 Dolphin
This is 10 minutes away from home…
I agree, this smells a bit fishy.
Like Dolphin said, 20k with a repaint, rebuild and don’t forget new upholstery job.
I think there is more to the story as to why it was parked. It belonged to a teenager after all. Could have spun a bearing, cracked a head, any number of things. Interior & paint not taken care of when new. But now a bigger question may be just why the heck was the Shelby trim tag removed?
I was wondering the same thing about the VIN tag that is supposed to be mounted on the fender apron.
Anyone want to invest in a barn? We’ll make a fortune. We’ll buy a barn, the worse condition the better and we we can rent it out to every genius who has a viintage car for sale and wants to “prove” it’s a barn find by parking half in the barn. I think “the car is being sold straight out of the barn in patina storage condition” means don’t blame me when you spend $90k on a repainted car with a bad motor!
Wow!!!
I’m sure it’s a nice car, but it’s pretty far from an immaculately neglected survivor.
I’m sorry but I’m not seeing the huge detail everyone is screaming about. Yes, it’s a Shelby and I love them BUT in no way is this an “original” car. Motor rebuilt, modified, repainted, interior replaced, wheels replaced, etc.. WTF is original? Sorry but I just don’t see it
A convoluted story at best.
“Well, the wait is over I have just located another true barn find that has been in storage for more than 45 years” This quote from the add.
“It is my goal to buy and sell the highest quality vehicles possible. We will describe our vehicles accurately.” This quote from the fine print at the bottom of page.
The phone number is for Mac’s Movie Cars. the car is either consigned or being flipped.
“It’s a 20 year old car so what!” So many people had this nonchalant attitude towards paint, interior and engine work. Many could not for see that the long term value was been stripped from the car. Hind site is 20/20.
Appears to be equal parts fiction and facts. Makes for a good auction tale and price.
weird story with lots of mixed info. Why would it have been painted? Bad storage or just did it cause I could,rebuilt the engine just because I could. To bad for this Shelby.That should hurt its selling price.I love orig. even if its not good shape. I,m getting a 56 ford 2 door next week and its original,but rusty and the int. is barly there. But just sitting in it and looking at it is cool It even has its original v-8 that runs $300 What a deal Same place also gave me a 65 17′ Monk Design speedboat with somekind of inboard v-8 $250 for that. Sorry this is about the Shelby and I ran of at the mouth on my latest find-just excited I might post both of these if I can figure it out. im computer challenged. Love this site. And I find stuff all the time.
Congratulations on the old Ford erikj! I share the same feeling of just sitting or looking at the old girl. Best of luck. Lets see some photos. Take care, Mike.
This guy is puffing the Shelby story to the point that if it seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.
This is a neat story but why would you need to paint a 20k car and put a int don’t make sense to me To bad