Ford Mustang fans, especially those with a soft spot for Shelby editions, will be dreaming big dreams this weekend as a rare 1967 Shelby GT350 goes up at auction, at an event in Houston, Texas hosted by Mecum Auctions.
As it is equipped, only 52 units of the model were produced. In all 1,175 of the GT350 were built for the 1967 model-year.
So split open your piggy banks and get your cheque book out, because the bidding is expected to reach dizzying heights in Houston. The rarity of this edition will certainly be a factor driving up the bidding, but its history – always a substantial factor for collectors - also counts for a lot.
The same family
When this particular car first rolled off the assembly line, it was shipped to Dallas, Texas, and it has stayed in that vicinity ever since. Even better, it has stayed within the same family the whole time, with father passing it on to son in 1986.
The car was restored at one time, but thankfully care was taken to preserve its original character. The restoration process was even overseen by two judges for the Shelby American Automobile Club, tasked with ensuring that the GT350 remained wholly authentic.
Under the hood is a 289cc V8 engine that makes 206 hp (in this version). That unit works with a 4-speed manual gearbox; both are the same components found in the model 52 years ago.
This is what’s called a “Matching Numbers” car in the milieu.
This Shelby version is also equipped with power steering and power brakes, and it still sports its original Wimbledon White colour, enhanced by blue stripes.
The car being auctioned comes with newspaper clippings from the period, as well as vintage photos of the car. The cherry on the cake is a copy of the original sales contract, which is practically priceless for collectors. Even the original window sticker from the dealership is included.
There has been no pre-appraisal of the car ahead of the auction by Mecum Auctions, but it’s expected that the winning bid will be in the six figures.
