It’s hard to believe genuine Shelby Mustangs still turn up in project-grade condition, but here’s yet another one that needs rescuing. This time, it’s a 1969 GT500 equipped with an automatic transmission. It’s been stripped of most of its original Royal Maroon paint but you can still see patches of it on the hood, and it’s plainly visible in the door jambs. The engine is non-matching, but the seller believes it to be a service block. With a solid body and no evidence of major accident damage, this seems like an example worth restoring. Find it here on eBay with bids to over $28K with the reserve unmet.
Accident damage is a big deal, as powerful cars like these were prone to finding themselves going in the wrong direction in a hurry. The Shelby wears California blue plates, and in general, looks to be decently preserved despite its factory finish being almost completely baked off. The signature Shelby taillight lenses are in good order with no obvious cracks, and the seller notes several new trim and body parts will be included, such as: a new front bumper, new lattice for the trunk and extensions, new hood locks, NOS hood molding, NOS fog lights, and new fender eyebrow moldings.
While the engine may be non-matching, enthusiasts tend to be a bit more forgiving when it looks like a factory replacement block. Especially with high performance cars, where high revving and other abuse can often shorten the life expectancy of an otherwise highly durable engine. Numerous details help to confirm this is a genuine Shelby mill, including that the engine retains the correct C8OE heads, the C8OE intake and exhaust manifolds, the correct dual point distributor, along with the valve covers and C9AF-9510-N carburetor. The seller notes the original radiator is also included.
The interior sports lots of cool Shelby details along with factory options, like the trick fold-down rear seat. Other features include the Shelby door panels and roll bar, along with steering wheel and in-dash tachometer. The Teak-style woodgrain trim still looks quite nice inside, and adds an air of sophistication to this otherwise bruising muscle car. The seller notes the interior will be pretty easy to restore, and I tend to agree. And if the exterior is as sound as the listing promises, the overall path to back to road-going use shouldn’t prove too challenging.
I bet those owners wished they had a Mopar when it came time to replace spark plugs!
Not if they owned a 440.
My FE Stang was a bear to change plugs…..would rather change a BB mopar anyday……of course a fresh motor would have helped both !
Might be a good solid car to start with, Lots of stuff missing. That distributor is an aftermatket- wonder if he has the correct original. Good luck and stay safe!
Cheers
GPC
money pit…stay clear!!!
It’s hard to do a back yard restoration on a Shelby car because authenticity is a big problem!! I know a guy that crunched his passenger side fender!! A local body shop replaced the fender and color matched it!! The metallic strips on the fender are reflective and it was not a great job when finished!! It brought the value of his car down significantly!!!
Wait 2 years. I’ll show up again as a perfect, numbers matching ‘find’ for 6 figures.
I owned two of these things back in the day. The 69 and 70 Shelbys are TURDS. Chrome hood strips were held on with tabs bent over. The emblems and insert on the trunk lids were held on with double back tape, and not the good stuff they make today. To stiffin the front suspension they installed rubber blocks. The power steering cylinder was unique to the Shelby. The hoses were mounted low and would catch on stuff damaging them. The fiberglass hoods bowed and cracked from stress placed on them by the hood springs. Stuff falls off of these cars as the sit in the garage, and fly off while going down the highway. I owned my cars in the early 70″s and had nothing but problems. I can’t imagine what 50 years of wear and tear will make these cars better. This car is missing so much, it will be very difficult to obtain all of the parts to put her back together.
Current bid at $31,000. $31,000 in a jar would look alot better . Buying another car in better shape and driveable. I can,t see fixing one up and just look at it in a garage. I read along time ago when they were new with the 428. To change the plugs. You either pulled the motor or cut holes in the inner fenders to change them. That alone turned me against them. With todays cheap low octane gas. I,d go with a small block. You would have to get av gas to burn in the hi- po big blocks. Drive it and enjoy it.
Removing the valve covers makes changing the plugs possible. Not pleasurable, but possible.
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