1969 Shelby GT350 in Ft Worth, Texas

Vehicle Description

What makes a muscle car valuable? Use this 1969 Shelby GT350 as your guide. Great colors, matching numbers, a manual gearbox, lots of options including factory A/C, and a meticulous older restoration. You want a cool Shelby that delivers on the promises made by its reputation? This beautiful GT350 totally nails it.

Bright Candy Apple Red was obviously a popular color for the high-performance Shelbys, and I think I like it even more on the sleek, elongated Shelby than I do on the regular Mustangs, but then again I'm a sucker for cars that talk the talk and walk the walk. The revised nose erases almost all traces of Mustang, which is only really apparent in profile where you get arguably the best-looking fastback ever created. The tail got its own makeover as well, and thanks to the wonders of fiberglass, they could create the new look without a major investment. The restoration is a few years old, but it was done to a very high standard and quite honestly, the fiberglass hood and trunk lid fit a lot better than they did originally. We don't know a lot about its history, but looking at the finished product, it's obvious that you won't find a straighter Shelby for less money anywhere else. It's extremely nice in every sense of the word.

Inside it offers Ford's handsome black bucket seats with red inserts, just to make it look a little racy. Shelby added their usual roll bar and shoulder harnesses, and experts will note that this car carries factory A/C (it needs to be serviced). The markings on the gauges are still crisp and sharp, including the two on the center console, just ahead of the shifter for the close-ratio 4-speed. Plenty of faux wood emphasized the Shelby's luxury/touring intentions, and the clock mounted on the passenger's side is a thoughtful touch (sadly, it's not operational). The original AM radio still lives in the center of the dash, perhaps reminding you where your priorities should be when you're driving a Shelby. The back seat is in excellent condition, probably because it's a hassle to climb back there with the shoulder harnesses, so it hasn't been used much. The trunk is also finished correctly with a nice-fitting mat and a spare tire with factory jack assembly.

As it should, this Ford carries a matching-numbers M-code Ram Air 351 Windsor V8. It snarls and cackles like a true performance car should, yet remains very docile and easy to handle. The small block is standard for the GT350, making a great-handling car that's certainly no slouch when you drop the hammer. The engine bay was detailed when the car was restored, but you can hardly blame the owner for wanting to drive it, so it isn't quite up to show standards today. However, that means that it's still up for doing what Shelbys do best, and you shouldn't be afraid to bury the pedal and open all four barrels every chance you get. The car's history shows most clearly underneath, where it's rust free and highly correct, including red oxide floors, restored suspension components, and a correct exhaust system with glasspack-style mufflers. 3.25 gears in a Trac-Lok 9-inch are a great compromise between acceleration and cruising comfort, and those pretty alloy wheels were created especially for the '69 Shelbys, with these wearing correct E60-15 Goodyears.

Your heart knows why this Shelby is cool. But it's also the kind of car that can convince your mind that it's a smart investment. Call today!