It truly does not get any sadder than seeing the burnt-out remains of a once-great collector car. This 1969 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 convertible looks like it was an absolute stunner before the fire, wearing cherry red paint with white decals and stripes. Perhaps the interior was white as well, but it doesn’t matter what color it was – this is a tragedy no matter the color scheme. The car is located in Denver, which puts it in the geography where a massive wildfire swept through Boulder County, one of the biggest the state has ever seen. Was this Mustang a victim? Or did a mechanical failure spell its demise? Find it here on Copart where it’s slated to be sold at an upcoming auction.
I’ve always liked this generation of the Shelby, with its long nose panel and sequential taillights on the rear. The convertible was always a looker, too, with its formidable roll hoop. They are special cars, like all Shelbys, but I like this later model for being a bit of a black sheep of the family as the earlier models are the ones even non-enthusiasts think of when asked to picture a Shelby Mustang. White body, blue stripes, hardtop – that’s the Shelby everyone envisions. But these later cars always looked stronger to me, as if they can somehow command more personal space on the road just by thundering by. It’s like comparing a Porsche 911 to a 928 – the latter is a brute, the former is delicate.
While there’s still some shades of paint on the rear quarters, the front and middle of this Shelby bore the brunt of the firestorm. What can you even do? Unfortunately, I suspect the only value left in this car is its VIN number, which will likely find it’s way to another car. It’s hard to imagine walking down to your garage and seeing this, knowing there’s no chance of it coming back to life (at least not within reason, as even a collector car policy would likely total this Mustang out in a heartbeat). While there’s always the occasional YouTuber who claims to be able to restore a fire-scorched car, they almost always retreat once they start digging in and see how extensive the damage is in any vehicle affected by open flames.
There’s always the chance a mechanical failure like a ruptured fuel line cause this flambe, but we’ll never know. I had a good friend lose a car this way when the fuel line got pinched after installing a new fuel pump, unbeknownst to him, the car was spraying fuel inside the engine compartment and it quickly went up in flames. That’s the other thing: the amount of time that elapses from seeing the first lick of orange to total encapsulation is staggeringly short, meaning even the best of us would likely struggle to locate the fire extinguisher and extinguish the threat. Which begs another question – was there a fire extinguisher nearby when this happened? If not, this crispy Shelby is as good of a reason as any to get one.
Torch Red?(Sorry, I couldn’t resist):)
Fire Engine Red.
Re-sale red.
Whoever buys this must have money to burn! Unfortunately, it’s worth nothing, IMO.
That car CAN be fixed, and it’s worth prob 20K dollars in burnt condition.
FIRE SALE! I’ll let myself out now! :-) But seriously, it’s heart wrenching to see something like this (or ANY classic car) destroyed!
Fire consumes all,,,
It’s a singe this won’t be turned back into a firebreather. BUT – there’s a match for every drivers’ seat…frame…
Ugh.
That was one heck of a burnout!
Yeah,buy this & you’ll get burned and under water at the same time.
Just Scrap It
I have never seen a vehicle burned so badly. I really feel for the owner of this Shelby convertible. It does look like the left quarter and both rear wheels are in good shape although the wheels may be as true as old wagon wheels.
If Copart has it, it’s an insurance case. The owner probably got his money out of it.
Retired firefighter. Taught to look from least amount of damage to the most to help determine the origin of the fire. Doing so here point the the engine area which would lead to believe that it was an engine fire. If it wS a wildcard fire, the car would have been most likely burned evenly overall. I have to agree, the vin tag would be the only value piece here and that I’d definitely melted away. Too bad, not my favorite year as they became to big and boxy but still a shame.
Obviously fuel fed. It would be interesting to check the fuel lines to see if they are all metal or maybe they were rubber.
From the factory the fuel lines are mostly metal but there are several sections that are rubber.
Last year, a member on another forum I am on lost his entire shop (it was part of a larger building, divided into separate shops). And its the same old story – another shop was working on a car, welding carelessly, no fire extinguisher nearby, and the car went up before they could push it outdoors.
He lost everything, including a number of vintage formula racing cars, a well-restored AMX, all the tools, etc. There were other vintage cars in there as well. And when the pictures were posted, believe it or not, you couldn’t make out anything that looked like a car – everything was burned worse than this poor Shelby. Literally to the ground.
I feel bad for the Shelby owner. Makes me heartsick.
cheers,
BT
VIN tag sale. These should be crushed and crushed again but dishonesty and greed run rampant through the collector car world
“dishonesty and greed run rampant through the collector car world” how right you are with that statement! Unfortunately, it seems to be getting worse by the day, and that is my assumption from only viewing Barnfinds, Ebay and BaT. To be honest, with the crashing economy, I only see things getting worse and not better, and that is just sad for all of us honest car people who truly love this hobby.
Don’t Forget Barrett Jackson and Mecum….
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You’re one of the “honest car people who truly love this hobby” simply because you value certain old cars at much, much less than the free market does? Talk about arrogance. Self-righteousness, anyone?
The prices that vintage vehicles sell for on auction sites like Ebay, Bringatrailer, Mecum, B-J, etc., are the truest indicators of value that exist, because everyone, everywhere has the same shot to buy the car. Highest bidder wins, and the car is worth what someone is willing to pay. If you can find local, private sales in which the seller is willing to let you buy the car for less than it would be worth if the whole world knew about it…well, great – you got a bargain.
But that doesn’t make either the buyers or the sleers of cars at auction dishonest or greedy, as you seem to think. It’s called the free market, the basis of our American economic system, and you’re just whining “sour grapes” about things you can’t afford.
Are there fads, and inexplicable high prices for certain cars currently in vogue among millionaires? Sure – Porsches, early Broncos, collectible Shelbys, and on and on. But there are PLENTY of vintage cars in the marketplace at reasonable prices that anyone in the hobby can afford to buy, fix up and drive. Some go begging for buyers. You’re just pissed because you can’t have the best stuff at the lowest prices so you call everyone who can dishonest.
No problem with your points so long as my tax dollars do not go to bail these people out when the market adjusts. Sure, some of it is rich people who can afford the nice stuff, but its also people borrowing from their 401(k) or cashing out their home equity. I fear those people are going to be hurting soon.
Since @cyclemikey attacked me with name calling, I hope this doesn’t get deleted again.
@cyclemikey – Judging from your defensive reply, I must assume that you are one of the people that I was talking about. Whatever makes you sleep at night, bud!
Also, since you mention the “free market” please explain all of the shill bidders on almost every auction on EBay, and please don’t tell me that they don’t exist…
I have made my living as an “HONEST” self employed business owner for the last 30 years, and yes, you are correct that I have NO time for dishonest and crooked people that take advantage of others, and it has nothing to do with the “market”. If someone has to deceive and lie to sell a product, they’re nothing but a low life crook.
You are correct about the dishonesty and greed in this industry. It’s the single biggest reason I seek other careers. Unfortunately (or fortunately) , the collector car world is all I know. Oh well. It is what it is,lol.
The VIN is left off the listing. Not even a partial number shown. Wouldn’t surprise me if the owner that lost this pulled the VIN tag before it was hauled off by the insurance company.
The metal dash VIN tag would have been totally melted by this fire. The VIN will still be stamped into the top of the inner fender aprons. I see no evidence that those VIN stampings have been cut off the car. The Shelby Registry folks keep pretty good records. It would not surprise me if this car was not already shown in their records as being destroyed by fire.
Where was his fire extinguisher? I would have had that fire out before the paint on the hood was bubbling. If I had the cash to waste I would send it to a Pro to go through because these cars are getting harder to find and priced through the roof.
Not if it was in the Marshall fire you wouldn’t.
Easy to say in hindsight. Maybe the owner tried. Have some respect.
Maybe he wasn’t thinking straight & in a hurry he took his old nag (wife) instead of the mustang! Live & learn I say! I bet he won’t make that mistake again!
Well, that’s probably what’s going to happen, whether BF mentions it or not Too much money is at stake and with modern technology, people can defeat the 50+ year old anti-theft measures.
Why don’t they just post the VIN so that anybody a year or so from now doing research on a freshly restored Shelby that they’re interested in will see that it’s connected to a burned out ’69?
It wouldn’t happen if the lure of quick cash got out of the hobby. Pathetic, though if some rich idiot gets taken, I could care less. Not like they belong to the working class if they can afford a restored car like this. The real losers are everyday people who might otherwise be able to own and truly appreciate something like this, not just have it for bragging rights and sit dusty in some vast forgotten collection.
For those who would use the VIN number on another vehicle, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say (or do) will be held against you in a court of law.
I like that it’s “valued” at 39K by copart…Ha, thanks for the grins.
Damn shame. I went to grab a buddy off the hwy aftwr his car caught fire. struck me how thin the metal in the steering wheel was. The whole car was melted. Cause ?
The auto transmission line blew and sent the fluid all over the hot motor.
Only sight worse then this, was when Reggie Jacksons warehouse in Berkeley caught fire. Convert Hemi Challenger and Cuda along with a host of other notable Muscle cars. All stacked on top of each other. At least this one isn’t at the bottom of a pile.
Anyone know what happened to any of those cars? The Hemi drop tops were just vin tags from what I saw. Anyone know?
From what i remember about Reggie J’s collection and fire was the one car that did make it out without damage was his 1969 Trans Am. He must have loved that one pretty much.
Looks as if the car was burning for a very long time, extra crispy. This fire sale should read, They pay you $10.00, you haul away. I see scrap metal but, someone might have a use for the frame and maybe a couple of other pieces. I’d take it for free or take
money to remove it to its final resting place. {scrap yard}
What frame?
Der Ford ist leider Schrott , ich bin traurig !
Die Gier ist leider ein grosses Problem !
I believe this is going to bring more money than most people think because with the sale you A frame and a title with a good donor car and someone who knows what they are doing they will be able to fix it and the unsuspecting buyer will get what they believe is a true 69 shelby
And the crook will get away with it.
Anyone with any sense who is in the market for a classic Shelby would be well advised to submit the VIN of any car that they are considering buying to the Shelby Registry to see what they have on file about that car. If this car is in that registry and has been reported as destroyed by fire that information can be passed onto a potential buyer. THen the buyer can decide if they are still interested or not.
Put it on a rollback & take it to the scrap yard, it trashed !!
Please, just give it a decent burial
Are you serious???? Just look at this P. O. S. !!! Junk it Use your common sense!!
39K?!?-dream on-I wouldn’t give you $39 for that piece of scrap
I know the sick feeling of losing cherished items , I feel it almost every day. beautiful 08 Ls3 corvette, my beautiful 500inch roller bbc jet boat. I kick myself often, had plenty of time to save most of my toys with a wide open park parking lot around the corner from where I lived. Didn’t think the fire would reach my neighborhood. Wrong, by the time I realized this monster was out of control, too late. Grabbed the old dog jumped in my Jetta and fled just in time. Camp fire , Paradise California.
It looks like the motor is still there. And it’s a 4 speed. If it’s a GT500 the drivetrain could be worth a lot of money. 428CJ engines go for big bucks!
Sorry guys, but this is fixable. And I think I know the guys that can do it. Stay tune. There should only be about 4 guys that can restore this monster
Is he a television repair man with an ultimate set of tools?
Located in Denver, CO
Knew a wealthy business man who owned a steel building and about
6 or 7 old cars, the kind W/aluminum bodies and a couple W/wood wheels
This was in early fall, drove his 49 Hudson in and noticed a slight gas leak
so put a pan under it, was “I’ll git it tomorrow” tomorrow never came, either the water heater or gas heater came on, only piles of melted aluminum, steel left..really sad
In 1989 I was living in Nederland, CO up above Boulder. A few months earlier before I moved there, Sugarloaf Mountain burned to the ground. Houses, cars, everything destroyed. When they finally opened the road to the mountain, hubby and I took a drive through. The damage was heartbreaking. So many cars sitting where garages once were on their rims. Literally nothing left of them.
I forgot to mention there is a great video of a couple selling a ’68, (I believe) Shelby Mustang that they had owned for many years that the wife had bought at the time because it looked pretty. They really did not know much about the car and she just drove it from time to time. The youtube channel guy knew of that couple and another couple looking to buy just such a car. So as a service to both the youtube channel guy arranged to have a certified Shelby judge look over the car. What he discovered was eye-opening to both the Sellers and potential Buyers.
Finally someone sees what I do. DST1965, you understand that when it charred like that, it’s beyond repair.
Drivetrain would be ideal for an older 1967-70 mustang. I would expect some bids for it.
It’ll be a VIN Tag and title sale, nothing more. A donor car, a pile of NOS and repop parts and it’ll be on the auction slate. Maybe 10% of the final product will actually have a real connection to this car. I’m sure they can scavenge a couple square feet of sheet metal and the block and heads.
Prob an ins job. Who wants to try & sell something for $150k+? Check in 30 days or less with J’ish lightening lol
The VIN tag riveted to
The dash on the 69 Ford is stainless steel and would’ve survived the fire.
A few years ago, the late Jim Osborn of Osborn Reproductions had a gorgeous gulfstream aqua GT500 4 speed convertible. An electrical fire burned it beyond recognition. I’d bet money it was “restored”. I know of another local 69 GT350 that was stolen and burnt to the ground. I
Personally cut the remains up and hauled it to
The metal yard. The guy who
Had bought it from the insurance company kept the tag and title. I don’t recall the VIN, but a few years ago it was listed in the Shelby registry as alive and well in Florida. Gotta wonder how many of these cars made out of thin air exist.
1-800-gotjunk
Interesting that Bluetec320 put in quotes his “Honest” dealings.
First of all, you don’t know me, so to make any assumption of my honesty just shows what kind of person you are. Second, I made a mistake with the quotes, I had to repost the reply twice since it was deleted the first time. Sorry, I’m not perfect! Third, my wife and I have owned a successful small business for last 30 years, which is currently being transitioned to our children for the next generation. If you know anything about business you would know that you simply don’t stay in business that long and retain your clientele if you are not honest and treat people fairly. I could make an assumption of you from your snarky comment, but it certainly would not be fair to do so, so please show me the same respect.
The ” Black sheep” of Shelby’s? We’ll, it’s certainly black, or most of it is.
RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.
Greed and dishonesty are part of human nature, as far as high prices, its whatever the traffic will bare. Car x on craigslist last month sold for 3500$ or less , a rotted out desireable car. The next week it sold on Ebay for 13500. The guy who made the 10 grand was not greedy in my opinion, just smart. Had he sold it on ebay for 4500& to you , would you buy him a cup of coffee? A steak dinner? Ots just Buisiness. Ive sold cars cheap( wont do that again) only to have them resold, sometimes twice in a row. My question to the peanut gallery today on this car is. If the Vin tag is melted off and gone, Even the title is useless? I doubt you can find someone to repop a Shelby vin, am I correct? Or is nothing sacred and even VINs are being repoped. Thanks Guys
How is this car being sold for any amount …
Disaster situation
Tony award = Title only
I would like to buy this gt 500
Must have been a real hot fire. The metal melted into a ’71-’72 model. Amazing.
Upon further review, it is a ’69. Marker lights and door handles are that of the ’69 design. Funny how the small details held up in this charred mess.
This is a challenge for anyone who is not a dealer to try and do business with this company. Had a membership with them several years ago and I don’t think I would bid on this even if it wasn’t burned.