This 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 was bought new by Buster Crabbe who was a Hollywood film star that portrayed Tarzan, Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Crabbe also won a gold medal in swimming in the 1932 Olympics. The car is not offered by a private seller in Milford, New Jersey. The GT500 is a convertible, A/C, and 4 speed car. It is currently bid to $87,000 with 9 days remaining and is listed here on Hemmings Auctions. We appreciate Mitchel G. sending us a tip on this car listing.
The black interior shows very nicely and frankly looks immaculate surrounded by the Candy Apple Red exterior paint. Crabbe ordered the car with a number of options including air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, shoulder harnesses, AM radio, tinted glass and a tilt-a-way steering column. There were only 402 convertibles produced in 1968 and this one comes with a Marti report. The car has the Shelby serial number 2975.
Even though the Hemmings write up says that it is not a numbers matching car, the seller states that it is equipped with its original numbers matching Police Interceptor 428 cubic inch V8 engine. The car is said to start and run well with no leaks underneath or smoke coming from the exhaust. The engine compartment is very clean and appears correct. Shelby really new how to make an engine look great. The car’s original 3.00:1 rear gears have been swapped out for 3.50:1 ratio.
The car received new paint in the correct color four years ago and looks very good in the pictures. The car is said to be rust free and there are a number of excellent photographs of the car and detailed pictures of the components. The fog lamps in the grill are not correct and look good but were not the model as the originals that came with the car when new. The white convertible top appears to be in good condition but I think the car looks better with the top down. This car has a reserve on it but it looks to be in excellent condition and should bring top dollar.
Reading the title my mind immediately went to the Queen soundtrack for the early 80’s Flash Gordon movie. Funny how the mind works. All kidding aside I’m more of a coupe guy vs. convertibles but this one represents beautifully. The actor history I’m sure adds to the resale value a little. I have never driven a early Mustang convertible but I’m sure she is a flexible flyer.
Alphasud, we must be born around the same time. When reading the Flash Gordon comment, I immediately tried to remember when Sam Jones drove a Mustang in the 80’s version as well. I did have a 67 Stang convertible – 289 with an automatic so I’m sure the driving experience was much tamer, but still much fun. I ended up selling it as I lived in Arizona and it had no A/C and black vinyl seats – I can still remember burning the back of my legs sitting down!
Great Ceasar’s ghost! The Buster’s horseless carriage legacy!
What’s Buster up to these days?
I’m guessing he is pretty dusty. Nice car, but is it really worth more because of an actor from 70 years ago? Maybe if it was a Clark Gable Dussie or something. I think I would pay more for Pee Wee Herman’s Volvo.
I wouldn’t pay a penny for anything PWH touched.
The way I see it, the fact that Mr. Crabbe was the original owner doesn’t add any “celebrity value”. What it does add is the value of having a highly optioned car. Buster had the resources to order it with everything he wanted and not have to compromise or economize. Those options are what should set the price.
Yes, I am old enough to have watched TV when Tarzan was played by Olympic Gold Medal swimmers. Johnny Weissmuller was my favorite.
Buster has been dead since 1983
I luv Mustangs and have a 67 vert modified with shelby trunk , side scoops and lights.
I am drooling over this one.
Hmm 🤔 will seller take a numbers matching 340 HP Split Window and modified Stang😜 The 67/68 GT500 is the only car that could pry my Split Window away from me..
I bet it hits off the charts as the market is 🐻 ing much much on these bad boys.
Good luck with sale.
Sadly, Buster passed in 1983, quite a career as an Olympic swimmer and actor. Hope he got to really enjoy this ride
He did make a cameo appearance in the 80’s Buck Rogers TV series. So he was still out and about then.
Fame is fleeting and largely irrrelevant to succeeding generations. But at one time, Buster Crabbe was in all those campy space serialsfrom the thirties and forties that flickered across the black and white TV of fifties kids. So its kind of interesting that he owned it. The bigger issue value wise is the fact that the car is not original , I think. Isnt there a Shelby register? That aside I aways liked the loook of these as convertibles…..screams California………when it was California.
“Shelby really (new) how to make an engine look great.” I think the word needed is (knew).
Much like Shelby’s signature, the Buster Crabbe connection is essentially a meaningless anecdote. That Crabbe ‘apparently’ ordered the vehicle isn’t a selling point. AFA Carroll’s signature I have one on a Mustang glove box door which has never seen the inside of a FoMoCo product.
It looks like a nice car but the trivia doesn’t make it any more desirable.
I’ve always heard that Shelby would sign anything for 5 bucks…
Buster Crabbe lived in my home town, and I remember seeing this exact car when I was a kid.
So Mr Crabbe would have been 70 years old when he bought the car? And a stick shift?
I’m 70 and have a Nissan 350z Touring Roadster with a six-speed manual, and a Nissan King Cab with a 5-speed manual … sure, getting in and out of the Z with a clutch hip replacement can be challenging but some us old guys still have a love of manual transmissions … my wife loves her Buick SUV with AT …
@Jon.in.Chico Two thumbs up to you, Sir.
According to your write-up, “ The car is not offered by a private seller in Milford, New Jersey.” So, I wonder, who is offering the car?
Probably should read now instead of not.
typo
Hemmings video is simply the same images with a narration. It would have been great to actually hear this beast running.
Motor doesn’t look like a big block to me!
No radiator expansion tank looks like small block valve covers ! On the Hemmings site the owner has not answered the question on motor and tranny Id tags !!
It looks like the FE big block from what I can see, and the shape and design of the valve covers are the first clues.
So…replacement block of unknown condiion, wrong rear end, wrong grille lights, repainted, replaced top……….and owned by Flash Gordon and bid to 95 grand!!!
You cant fix stupid…………and I like the ’68 Shelby verts…………..
Sez original numbers matching 428
Yes Please! This car checks all the boxes for me! I have to admit that I didn’t know the name “Buster Crabbe”, but it sounds like he was an interesting and successful person. I found the information on him very enlightening. I’m guessing that the high bidder will place some value on his ownership.
This is a beautiful Mustang!
I would keep the split window unless the Shelby came equipped with a 427 425, 4 speed. And then I would change out the 350 gears for the 411, and twist it up. Although I have quality problems, they are not of this caliber
I grew up with this car as part of my dad’s collection. Always a family favorite on sunny days. Lots of fun in straight line, not so much in the corners. Best I can remember, it’s been in the collection since the’70’s.
Paint Crabbe’s name on the side, perhaps how much you pay for it, and maybe folks at cars and coffee will be suitably impressed. Otherwise it seems extremely overpriced for what it is.
I will be 79 years old in October of this year and I ordered a 2020 Ecoboost Mustang coupe last July with the High Performance ecoboost engine, 6 speed, handling package, all the fast stuff Ford offered. It is a blast too drive and surprisingly fast for a 4 cylinder.
Buster lived in my town at that time Rye
NY used to see him and the car all the
time. He coached swimming at a local
Pool and it was way cool too see him
Cruising around town with the top down.
Bill. Do you remember Buster driving a teal and white 69 Shelby convt. the next year? I own that car and was told it was his summer car that he drove to the swim camp and also drove it into the city where he sold stock for his swimming pool company on Wall Street. He also owned a winter 69 Shelby, all white at his home in Scottsdale AZ. ….. Tod