Car: Shelby GT500 Fastback
Year: 1969
What makes it special: The Shelby is a high performance variant of Ford’s Mustang built by Shelby American from 1965 to 1968, and from 1969 to 1970 by Ford. Following the introduction of the fifth-generation Mustang in 2005, the Shelby nameplate was revived as a new high-performance model, this time designed and built by Ford.
What made it famous: The GTs lost their Cobra tag for 1969 and once again were marketed simply as Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500. The GT350 and GT500 for the 1969 model year received an extensive face lift, the body alone increasing in length by 4 inches with some reaching 10 inches. Ford was involved with design and style decisions, with Shelby having little input. The GT350 was now equipped with a 351 cu-in V8. Carroll Shelby terminated his agreement with Ford in the summer of 1969. The Shelby GT500 was equipped with the R code 428/335hp Cobra Jet Ram Air engine with 3.50 traction-lok rear axle and close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission.
Why I would want one: It’s a Shelby. No matter what year or production year situation, if you’re into cars and can get a Shelby, you go for it.
Fun fact: No production of 1970 Shelby GT350 and 500 models was undertaken, but unsold 1969 models were given 1970 vehicle identification numbers under FBI supervision. A total of 789 were re-VIN’d.
