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428 Super Cobra Jet! 1969 Shelby GT500

This 1969 Shelby GT500 may or may not have spent time in a barn before its restoration in 2015, but few of our readers would kick it out of their barn or garage or carport. Up for auction here on eBay, the Ford Mustang-based Shelby comes with a list of shows it’s entered, a Marti report detailing the car’s options and relative rarity, and Carroll Shelby’s signature on one visor. If you’ve seen enough already, click Buy It Now and $139,000 seals the deal. If that’s beyond your means simply join the three bidders who have driven the market value beyond $56,000 without meeting the seller’s Reserve. While this car’s Super Cobra Jet Drag Jack and automatic transmission may have drifted away from the early Shelby Mustangs’ road-racing roots, there’s no question that it would run like a scalded dog, and that certainly befits a car bearing the name of the man who said “There is never enough horsepower……just not enough traction.” Thanks to reader Larry D. for spotting this Edmonds, Washington classic.

Holy factory perfection, Batman! It might get demerits for looking better than any Ford / Shelby-built specimen did new. The functional ram-air setup sucks in fresh air from the aero-friendly recessed hood scoop. None of that bling can stop the 428 SCJ from tearing down the quarter-mile, though. Officially rated at 335 HP, the 428 SCJ made at least 400 HP if you believe in mathematics and dynamometer testing. For a heart-pounding dose of 428 sound and fury check out this vintage drag racing movie.

Shelby and Ford had moved the GT500 up-market by 1969, the last real year of the collaboration (some held-over ’69s were sold as ’70 models) but you got more than different front and rear end and some snake logos. Shelby brochures touted the suspension as being “the toughest setup this side of Daytona,” a race track reference certainly chosen to reflect market recognition more than to suggest a place that inspired the GT500 or was likely to ever see one turn a lap.

The profile view shows the elongated nose. The ’69 Shelby doesn’t exude the corner-carving track warrior personality of the earlier Shelby models, but what is probably the factory ride height matches this car’s obvious slant toward straight-line acceleration.

Sequential turn signals inspired by (and sharing parts with) the Mustang’s Mercury Cougar sibling used a Rube Goldberg-ish motorized switch box to do what probably takes three computers and 9000 lines of code to accomplish on today’s Mustangs. The days of fixing up and driving your uncle’s old Shelby have probably come and gone. It’s hard to imagine anyone buying this concours-ready specimen and wringing it out in anger, but it would certainly make Shelby smile. Is this Grabber Orange museum piece too nice to thrash?

Comments

  1. Avatar Bluetec320 Member

    There was a 1970 Shelby GT 500 featured on Fantomworks that was very similar to this car. It was more of a reddish orange though. I believe that the owner had about 70K in the restoration at the time. I don’t think they are going to get 139K for this, but I bet it will be north of 100K. Very nice Shelby.

    https://fantomworks.com/project/1970-shelby-gt500/

    Like 5
  2. Avatar Troy s

    You could eat breakfast off that engine its so clean!
    There was no shortage of different 1969 hot Mustangs,,, Mach 1’s, Boss 302, Boss 429, Shelbys like this one, I’m sure you could order just a fastback with all the go fast parts.
    Sure looks sharp and to be honest the road carving thing, come on…it was all about blistering straight line acceleration! I saw that Cobra Jet video ten years ago and never get tired of seeing…..or hearing Hubert Platt beating the heck out of that factiry racer..

    Like 3
    • Avatar Don Sieger

      You are EXACTLY RIGHT! We didn’t buy these cars to go road racing, we bought them for straight line drag and street racing, screw all those “ground dragging” good “handling” suspended cars!

      Like 0
  3. Avatar CCFisher

    Carport? Who buys a car like this and puts it under a carport?

    Like 2
    • Avatar Don Sieger

      nobody!

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Lance

    Is it just me or does the front end of this car look like a Javelin?

    Like 4
    • Avatar Don Sieger

      It’s just you! No comparison!

      Like 0
  5. Avatar Howie Mueler

    Sweet!! $85k now but reserve not met. I hope it sells.

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Pauld

    The front end looks very similar to a 71,72, and 73 Mustang. Wonder if Ford let this out early with the Shelby?

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Steve

    Second day in a row I’ve seen or heard an incorrect comment about the ’68-’70 Shelby taillights. The taillights on these are from a 1965 Thunderbird, NOT a Mercury Cougar. I wish people would learn the facts about these cars before writing incorrect items about them.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Dave Mazz

      Steve,
      I think the $130,000 asking price is a somewhat higher stumbling block than misidentified taillight origins. :-( :-(

      .

      Like 1
  8. Avatar wuzjeepnowsaab

    Beautiful right down to the color. I expect it will get to 6 figures but not sure if it will make reserve.

    Like 2

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