If I were a gambling man, I would be happy to wager that we’ve all heard a similar story. An enthusiast has wandered out with their hard-earned cash in search of the classic of their dreams. They hit the jackpot, hand over their money, and drive off happily into the sunset in their shiny new pride and joy. However, the harsh reality sets in later when further investigation reveals that all is not as it seems. They have become the less proud and now pretty disgruntled owner of a clone. It has happened before, and it will inevitably happen to other unwary souls in the future. Potential buyers should not feel worried about this 1967 Shelby Mustang GT350. This is no clone because the seller holds documentation that verifies its authenticity. It presents beautifully, but it’s no trailer queen. It is a solid classic that is ready to be enjoyed by a lucky new owner if they pursue it further via its listing here on eBay. The GT350 is located in Beckley, West Virginia, and if the BIN figure of $155,000 is out of your league, the seller leaves the option to make an offer.
It appears that this GT350 might be an original and unmolested classic. It isn’t clear whether it has received any restoration work, but its Candy Apple Red paint holds a winning shine. It has a few chips and marks, but these would be acceptable if it is an unrestored survivor. There is evidence of a minor touch-up repair on the top of the driver’s side rear quarter panel, but that appears to be it. The panels are straight, and all of the distinctive Shelby additions like scoops and spoilers show no evidence of deterioration or physical damage. As a First Generation Mustang, we will always face the awkward question surrounding rust problems. The panels look extremely clean, but this classic’s beauty is more than skin deep. The seller indicates that while the underside isn’t Concours, it is structurally sound. There is no rust in the floors, torque boxes, frame rails, or shock towers. The welder and grinder can stay hidden in the cupboard with this baby. The tinted glass looks flawless, the stripes are crisp, the trim sparkles beautifully, and it appears that this GT350 needs nothing cosmetically.
While the fiberglass additions and spoilers are nice, they are little more than automotive tinsel if a classic car doesn’t have the muscle to back those looks. There are no such doubts with the GT350. The 289ci V8 under the hood started life as Ford’s already potent K-Code that produced 271hp. With some tweaking and tuning and the addition of an aluminum S2MS High-Rise intake manifold and a Holley 715cfm 4-Barrel carburetor, the power output rose to an impressive 306hp. Of course, all the power in the world is useless if it can’t find its way to good old Planet Earth. Our feature GT350 is equipped with a four-speed manual transmission, a 3.89 bulletproof 9″ rear end, power steering, and power front disc brakes. How profound were those performance upgrades? A 1967 Mustang GT with a K-Code under the hood could blitz the ¼ mile in an impressive 14.8 seconds. The GT350 would leave it in the shade as it completed the same journey in a neat 14 seconds. While this motor would seem to be original, it does sport some performance upgrades. Somebody has slotted in roller rockers and bolted on a set of headers and a Flowmaster exhaust. The Shelby runs and drives beautifully, which is verified by this YouTube video. It provides an excellent walkaround and allows us to hear the car running and driving. That little V8 sounds as sweet as a nut, with no smoke or odd noises.
When we turn our attention to this Shelby’s interior, we are confronted with more positive news. It appears that someone has bolted in a different Hurst shifter, but otherwise, it seems original and unmolested. The Black vinyl trim is in excellent condition, as are the carpet and dash. There is no evidence of wear or physical damage anywhere, and the presentation is close to faultless. Once again, all of the trademark Shelby components remain intact. These include the 8,000rpm tach, 140mph speedometer, the under-dash gauge pod with a Stewart Warner ammeter and oil pressure gauge, the roll bar and safety harnesses, and that beautiful Shelby wood-rimmed wheel.
By all reports, Carroll Shelby was a man who always had his eye on the prize. For him, that prize was to extract the maximum performance possible from every car that he touched, although there were times when he chose to compromise. There’s little doubt that without such compromises, the 1967 GT350 would have been a far more potent vehicle. However, the GT350 also had to retain refinement to make it a practical road car. He achieved this goal, and while the term “legendary” is over-used in the classic world, there can be no better word to describe any vehicle over which he exerted some influence. This GT350 isn’t perfect, but its BIN is highly competitive. Values continue to climb steadily, and the days where a spotless example will command a value north of $200,000 would not seem to be far away. This is by no means a cheap classic, but if those ongoing value increases continue at their current rate, it could represent a rock-solid investment that would provide more enjoyment than any Share Certificate. It is a point to ponder while you check your bank account, hoping that you can park this one in your garage. If you do, I’ll feel pangs of envy.
Dear Mr Author, I feel clones are a far better buy. Just make sure you know what it is before you hand over any cash. Why are cars all of a sudden an investment? I thought they were to drive, have fun with, and just glow in their presence. I can do that much better with a clone at a fair price.
No respect for a FAKE.
I would tire answering “no” every time someone asked me if it’s real. Unless you lie about it.
I would not tire saying “yes” if my car is real. I have too much respect for Shelby cars for owning a fake.
I would rather a nicely restored CORRECT 67 MUSTANG fastback over a FAKE GT 350, 500 any day.
Same wheels that came on my 67 GT-350 and yes I was the original owner.
I don’t see turn signals in the roof scoops which were illegal in some states. Pa. made me take the bulbs out for inspection, shoulder harnesses were also illegal in Pa.
Joey,
I wonder how Tony Branda would feel about your opinion? He (and many more, I would imagine) makes his living producing “replacement parts” for Shelbys. If I like the looks of a Shelby more than the look of a stock Mustang, and don’t misrepresent what the car is, what’s the harm? You don’t have to answer any questions, open the hood, and if the Shelby tag isn’t on the fender apron, most should know it’s not real.
I don’t think I have seen those wheels or wheel covers before What’s the story?
Those were the standard wheel covers that came on the ‘67 Shelby. They were actually the tbird wheel covers with a Shelby decal added.
There are different levels of clones now. In the quaint old days, it was mostly regular models receiving the Year One badge engineering treatment. Those were usually pretty easy to spot if you knew anything at all about the model you were looking for.
Unfortunately, as values, knowledge, and technology increased, we now have people moving serial numbers and data plates from a trashed muscle car to a lesser model and then recreating it with remarkable detail. And of course, there are cars which were so clapped out, they are now basically brand new replicas of what the once were, often with Chinese part content that rivals a Wuling Hongguang!
That is why with prices as they are now, I would insist on a 100% original car. I just wouldn’t be confident in what I was getting otherwise.
Whoever buys this , I hate them . Only because ,” I’m jealous . This is a rich man’s car . Not that I can’t afford a car just as enjoyable . But a classic piece of Shelby is for Barrett Jackson types ( deushbags ) .
Plenty of cars just as enjoyable or more, for less. I’m not going to name names because I’ll get attacked but yeah, you can get a fun car for a fraction of what this will sell for. And whoever buys it may very well not drive it. Or drive it very rarely.
I bet the tune would be different if you bought a Shelby in the early 80s. Lol
Something about the real thing people just refuse to try to understand.
There are certain “alpha” cars that will sell for way more than their peers, even though their actual performance numbers were not greater by the same proportion. That part of it is driven by the prestige of having what is perceived to be the best. Unfortunately, the type of people to whom that appeals are often not car enthusiasts.
I would want to know what is up with the seat access holes in the floor. All 8 plugs are missing and it looks like someone did some cutting around 4 of them.
Why do you bring up the issue of clones when the one in the ad is clearly not one? It makes for a lousy write up and comments that have nothing to do with this car..
Another great, informative write up by Adam Clarke. His balance of pedagogy and enthusiasm always makes for fun reading. As much as I love gawking at the cars in various states of repair on this site, I equally enjoy what I learn from both the editor’s write-ups and the reader’s commentary. The disgruntled, negative comments, not so much. Thanks Adam. I always appreciate your choices and subsequent perspectives.
Agree. It’s REAL! Get over it!
As there is only ONE original AC Cobra in South Africa to my knowledge, all Cobra’s became known as “Fake Snakes.” That didn’t stop me from owning three of them over the years but at least I knew that I wasn’t driving an original but nobody else did unles they had a chance to inspect it.
Wrong distributor. K codes were mechanical advance not vacuum. My brother had a 67 gt350 when they were cheap.
I was thinking the same thing.
That was the first thing that jumped out when I saw the engine compartment photo.
John,
You are correct. The first thing I noticed that it has a vacuum advance distributor and that is a problem on a 289 HP motor. It does appear to have the large harmonic damper. So what other issues are there with this GT350. The scatter shield is an aftermarket unit etc. I would be doing a significant amount of due diligence prior to part with a $155K for this one. By far the ’67 Shelby’s are the best looking of all IMO. I had a nice 67 GT350 while in HS so I do know a few things about these cars.
Carol Shelby once said that out of 10,000 Shelby Mustangs produced, only 17,000 remain (numbers quoted aren’t exact). To my mind, recreating the car of your dreams if you can’t afford the original is fine as long as you don’t try to pass it off as one. However, I’d rather have a well tuned and set up 67/68 convert than a Shelby if only because I’d be afraid to drive the Shelby on the street.
I agree. If I was building a “clone” anything I would call it a tribute and not include every nuance that the originals had… take a Pontiac Judge for example, I would install the spoiler, stripes but refrain when it came to the Judge decals. Back to this Shelby, awesome looking car and the inboards are the way to go!
Sweet, also has two other Mustangs listed.
Something like this 67 Fastback and it’s price tag is happily out of my league. I’m restoring a 66 Fastback, which I prefer over the 67 version. Warmed up 289, new 5 speed trans and rebuilt dif along with other goodies. And it’s more within reason and cost for most guys like me.
In 1970, I was a senior in high school. My friend’s older sister was looking for a new car to purchase for college. She knew I was “into cars”, so she asked my friend whether I might make some suggestions.
Would I??? Wow!
It just so happened that Paradise Ford (the Scottsdale area Shelby dealer) was closing out its Shelby line. This was the dealer where I had seen A/C Cobras in many flavors before I could even drive. This was the dealer where I had had the unbelievable privilege of sitting in a Ford GT Mk I.
But today, they had ’68’s, ’69’s and ’69/’70 Shelby Mustangs. Convertibles and coupes. Manual and automatics. Many had A/C. All were $3600 – take your pick.
He and his sister and I carefully reviewed them, but she decided that nothing quite hit the mark. It was horribly frustrating, but I knew what would do the trick. We went to Holiday Oldsmobile, and she fell in love with a pretty much garden variety (but well-equipped) Cutlass S 2-door. Sigh.
About 10 years later, my brother and I finally got our first Shelby (for $1000); a 1967 GT 500, 4-Speed. It needed a LOT of work. No rust, though. It had started life a light metallic green (lime gold), with black interior. It was now white (it looked like house paint, brushed on). It had diamond tuck Naugahide Datsun 240Z buckets, and all of the beautiful stainless steel interior trim had been painted purple epoxy, with green, yellow and blue stars surrounded by gold pinstripe. The Cobra in the center of the steering wheel was gone, but the wood wheel was still present. The list of ‘needs’ was depressingly long.
At that time, I joined the relatively new SAAC (Shelby American Automobile Club), since it seemed to me that more information on this project would be better.
As I began amassing the parts needed to bring the warrior back to life, Rick Kopec, the President of SAAC informed us that the first Shelby Registry was in the planning stages.
A few months passed, my pile of parts had turned into a small hill, and some of the body work had been completed. The Registry was ready to go to print, but there was a problem… SAAC didn’t have the money to finish the project. So, in a letter to all the members, Mr. Kopec asked whether the members would consider pre-paying, with the understanding that all monies would be returned, in the event there wasn’t enough interest. I still have my copy of the letter.
Our GT 500 is on page 225. I still have my copy (although the binding glue has since disintegrated, so the book lives in a plastic bag).
I have driven many Shelbys, both new and thrashed, but did not bring this project to completion. :(
I am fortunate to own the exact match, except for ten-spoke rims and traction bars) to this Shelby that I bought in 1975 for $2700. This one is number 2188 and mine is numbered of the 172 painted Candy Apple Red (#2008-A) of the 1,174 GT350s made. I too, noticed the vacuum advance distributor as opposed to the dual point in mine. I also noticed the non-stock mufflers (stock has resonators that went into a 1 transverse mounted muffler) and what appears to be a Lakewood blow proof bellhousing attached to a Blue, and not cast colored transmission . The stance also appears to be level from front to back as opposed to the rear being slightly lower on many stock ones. However, it sounds good and if I didn’t already own one I would try to buy it at a little less than is being asked .
This is a rea Shelby because it’s number is 2188 and I am fortunate enough to own number 2318 of the 172 Shelby GT350s painted Candy Apple Red (#2008-A). There were 1,174 ordered as GT350s and I purchased mine in 1975 for $2700. This Shelby has a vacuum advance distributor as opposed to a dual point, what appears to be a Lakewood blowproof bellhousing attached to a Blue, and not cast in color, transmission. It has muflers instead of resonators that should enter into a single transverse muffler exiting into dual exhaust. The stance is level as opposed to the rear being slightly lower that the front. However, it is a great looking Shelby and if I did not own one I would offer to buy this one for a little less than the asking price to bring it back to original starting with the Hurst shifter replacement.
Oops! Mine is number 2318 of the 1,174 of the 1967 GT350s produced according to my Marti Report and it is listed in the Shelby Registry.
There are more Shelby knockoffs than were ever actually produced and unless you go over one with a fine toothed comb inspection, you may be over paying for a clever clone. I don’t want or need a Mustang with that kind of pricetag. There are too many more affordable Fastbacks out there.
My old roommate had one of these with a quick change rear-end. He’d drop dime 5.?? Gears in the rear and said it became a vette eater ! He had pics on the wall of it. Sweet car and I’d love to have this one. Original not copy cat is the only way to go if you want an investment . If you want an imposter got drive the heck out of it. Cars were always an investment to the guys that had the$$ to do so.
Distributor was probably updated and changed when whoever did an engine rebuild. That could be changed back to mechanical instead of vaccum. But those things are details that are important determining if its the real deal. Personally, I’d be skiddish about driving a car like this on the street.. many would knock you in the head for it,, or worse..
I enjoy driving mine more than driving my ’14 GT500 (for short distances of 100 miles or less) but the Koni shock suspension has a tendency to beat up this “mature body”. I get many offers to sell but it’s too much fun.