The Shelby Hertz Rent-A-Racer is likely one of the most famous rental car promotions of all time. We all know that owning, maintaining and putting fresh tires on a weekend track car gets expensive, so it only makes sense that anyone wanting to experience some form of racing would love the idea of a rental racer that Hertz has to maintain. These cars generated interest not just for Shelby’s Mustangs, but in Hertz and were such a success that there have been a number of Hertz racers throughout the years. This example is one of the 150 Shelby GT350s built for Hertz in 1969 and can be found here on eBay in Fairhaven, Massachusetts as an unfinished project.
Later Shelby GT350s aren’t the same kind of animals as the earlier cars since Carroll Shelby was no longer involved in their design and production. There’s still lots of collectors that love these cars though and are willing to spend considerable money on them. This one is going to need to be finished, but it appears much of the major restoration work has already been completed.
The 351 V8 is out of the car and there’s no word on its current condition or whether it’s the matching numbers unit, but hopefully, it’s in good condition and correct to the car. This engine was rated at 290 horsepower, which is the same output as the 351 found in the 4V found in the regular Mustang that year.
While these later GT350s are collectible, being a Hertz car is what makes this one interesting. It’s #48 of the 150 built and definitely deserves to be finished. It was originally painted Grabber Yellow, which would sure make it stand out!
I wasn’t aware that there were Hertz Gt350’s cars past the first generation Mustang ‘s. Prove me wrong, also the Shelby involvement after the first generation was much less. Later GT350 and 500’s were built in house, not by Shelby American.
The Marti report for another 1969 Shelby indicates it was intended for Hertz so it looks like the program went past the first gen.
http://www.forristalls.com/1969%20Shelby%20Hertz%20GT%20350/1969%20Shelby%20GT%20350%20Hertz%20Marti%20Report.jpg
The 1969 Model was always my favorite style for the Shelby Mustangs.
My recollections are about like yours, Jim. I remember the GT-350H, but no others. I’ve learned never to say “never,” though….
Also, from the days when all the “Rent-a-Racer” stuff was going on, I remember hearing that most, if not all, of the stories of engines being yanked from rentals to spend a weekend racing were apocryphal.
Race drivers depositing rentals in hotel/motel swimming pools back in the day are a whole ‘nother story, though. Not that anyone did that with Mr Shelby’s Mustangs as far as I know.
In 1968 Hertz offered a special Mercury Cougar rental known as an XR-7G. The Hertz cars were equipped with the S code 390 engines. If you went into your local L-M dealer you could also get the F code 302-2V, the J code 302-4V, the X code 390 2V and the R code 428-4V engine. The program continued into 1969 and 1970 using the SHelby GT-350 and the Mercury Cougar Eliminator. As far as I know all the 1969-1970 cars were M code 351-4V.
Luckily Hertz didn’t use the GT 500 for a rental racer, that could have led to some real trouble for Ford, not to mention for other street racers as well. Happy 4th!!!
Nice to see the tags are removed !!!!
Where’s the other car they came off?
I say no thanks to fakes or assembled multi cars in hopes of big bucks !
Removing of tags cuts values by 70% in my book!!
I agree. No tag, no proof.
No reason to remove vin plates, I see that and my BS meter pegs. Thanks but no thanks.
Anyone doing a complete and correct restoration on a Mustang, or any other Ford product of this era, would remove the tags. I would. Plus it looks like the left door may have been replaced so the original tag could have been removed from a damaged and/or rusted out original door. The SHELBY tag may have been removed to repair rust that is normal on the inner fender aprons. Even if rust was not a problem you would want to remove the tag to properly repaint the engine bay. The other 2 tags shown in the ebay listing go on the engine and the rear axle. Again both of those tags would be removed to do a proper restoration. Having the tags off would not bother me at all. I would more concerned that both the fender apron VIN stampings are still present and that they match the VIN on the removed tag and the title.
Per Wiki; There was a black and gold mustang in 2005-6 that carried the name GT 350 H. And, it to was a rental car through Hertz.
Have a 05 fastback and an 06 convertible both one of 500 made for each year. Selling for a friend with health issues…
24k?? You don’t want to know the sound I made when I saw that price.
There’s so many vin stamps on a 69 mustang lol you don’t need the tag
That looks more like a 71 to 73 body style, not anything like a 69. I think somebody is really dreaming if they think it is a 69 Mustang body style.
It didn’t matter how they advertised the car, the 69 Shelby was no racer. As stated above SA’s involvement was over. The Shelby was by now merely a styling exercise and a way to mark up the price. Additionally Ford performance was putting all it’s efforts into the Boss program. I had a 69 GT350 that I bought remembering my brother’s 66. Boy, was I ever disappointed!! The 351 Windsor in my car was sluggish at best. The Holly carb had to have new gaskets in the float covers every season when it came back out. The squeeze horn ring imbedded in the rim of the steering wheel was difficult to work and the film on it peeled off in your hands. The center of the wheel was ugly as sin. But it was beautiful on the outside and had that roll bar inside. So if you just smiled at people and didn’t try to put your foot in it, then nobody would know what a miserable dog it was.
Miserable dog, LOL! I don’t know if was That bad but certainly, you raise a good point. The original plan was to make the 1969 GT350 a Shelby version of the Boss 302 but, alas, they cheaped out at the last minute and went with the standard 351 4V Windsor motor.
This engine was standard Ford fare at the time, and was available on pretty much every Ford product, from the Galaxie to the Fairlane. It was hardly a race motor by any stretch.
I still think it was reasonably quick but nothing like the 1965-67 GT350s with their solid lifter 289s. This is basically a tarted up Mach 1 with the 351.
The seller started this special car, lost or misplaced some of the important things. I always loved these bodies when they were on the street back in the day. There was a GT500 that got traded in for a Granda Giha (first gas crisis). I saw the GT owner last year, he’s been kicking himself ever since!! Hope this one gets finished.
Lets separate facts from arm chair experts. Vin is actually present on factory/untouched apron and tags there- real deal gt350H according to the shelby club (saac). They track the history of every vintage shelby are the experts so check with them on this or any shelby for accurate info.