'68
GT-500
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'68 GT500
VIN 8T02S143389- 01428
Description prepared by Bill Collins on May 7, 2011
AUTHENTICITY: Genuine ’68 GT500 fastback, Shelby serial
number 1428. The base vehicle was initially built semi complete by
Ford, then delivered to Shelby Automotive for finishing. The Ford
VIN was expanded at Shelby by addition of a suffix identifying their
sequential build number for this vehicle. The original Ford dash VIN
and door warranty tags were retained, supplemented by a Shelby
unique VIN plate incorporating the suffix number. This plate is
installed on the front driver’s side inner fender in the engine
compartment.
All identification tags, including Shelby VIN, build or "body
buck", dash VIN and door warranty are present on this vehicle. The
Ford VIN is believed to be stamped into both the left and right
inner fender aprons, but have not been actually observed.
The door warranty tag codes for this car are as follows: Body
63B: Fastback with deluxe interior. Color M: Wimbledon White. Trim
6F: Saddle non comforweave vinyl. Date 05A: Scheduled January 5,
1968 build date. DSO 8D2613: Shelby Automotive. Axle 8: Non-Locking
3:50 ratio. Trans 5: 4-speed manual.
The build or body buck tag codes are as follows:
035 - Rotation number (this vehicle's place on the assembly line
for that particular build)
33 -
Welding bay number
02A - Actual build date (may vary from scheduled date shown on
door tag) January 2, 1968
63B - Fastback body style with deluxe interior
FDS – Fold down rear seat
6F - Interior trim code – saddle vinyl (non comfortweave)
8T02S143389 - Vehicle identification number
M WHITE - Exterior color Wimbledon White - color code M
PS - Power steering
SHELBY - Shelby Automotive
PB - Power brakes
DE - Dual exhaust
IT – Intermittent taillights
TC - Tilt column
FD – Front disc (brakes)
ST - Standard transmission
The original Ford build sheet, which verifies the car’s color,
equipment, trim and build status as a "Shelby Unit" has not yet been
located. A "Marti Report" has also been secured. This report is
sourced from original Ford computer records and likewise verifies
this as a genuine Shelby VIN, together with the vehicle’s original
color, trim and equipment. The original owner’s manual survives with
the car and displays the first owner’s name, that of the selling
dealer, and various related information.
This GT500 is listed in the Shelby American Automobile Club
(SAAC) World Registry 1997 Edition pages 853 and 946. This is the
latest edition presently available for 1968 model year
cars.
HISTORY: Produced at Ford’s Metuchen, NJ
assembly plant on January 2, 1968 and shipped to Shelby Automotive /
A. O. Smith in Ionia, Michigan for completion. Completed by Shelby
and shipped February 22, 1968 to Jack Gibbons City Ford in Watchung,
New Jersey.
Purchased from Gibbons Ford by the first owner, Mario Patullo of
Bound Brook, NJ on April 2, 1968. Patullo kept the car until the
late 1990’s, whereupon it was sold to an owner in Maryland. The
identity of that person is presently unknown.
Acquired from Maryland by David Winkler of Newtown Square, PA on
December 11, 2001. The mileage was recorded at that time as being
81,750. Winkler is currently a member of the Board Of Directors of
the Shelby American Automobile Club, although he did not assume that
position until after he sold # 1428 in 2004.
Acquired by Bruce D. Montgomery of Bethlehem, PA on December 7,
2004. The mileage was recorded at that time as being 83,500.
Montgomery used the car very little, accumulating only a bit over
500 miles during his over six years of ownership.
The car was delivered to Bill Collins Collector Fords on April
25, 2011.
CONFIGURATION/CONDITION : Odometer
displays 84,011 miles as of April 25, 2011. This is believed to be
the actual mileage. It is supported by available records.
The exterior has been repainted to the original Wimbledon White
with owner added Guardsman Blue "Lemans" stripes in the style of the
1965-66 GT350. The saddle interior color is original. This Shelby is
equipped with reproduction ten spoke aluminum wheels. Other
equipment includes four speed transmission, 3:50 non-locking
differential and tilt / flip away steering wheel. The original AM
radio has been replaced with a modern aftermarket AM/FM/cassette
unit.
ENGINE / DRIVELINE: The engine is the 428 Police
Interceptor (PI) originally factory installed into this vehicle. The
block has a C7ME-A engineering number. The block casting date is
7M19 (December 19, 1967). The cylinder head casting is the correct
C8AE-H but the casting dates have not been observed. The exhaust
manifolds are the factory original C7OE 9430-C on the right and
C7OE-9431A on the left. The water pump is a generic replacement. The
cooling fan is the factory original with C8OE-E engineering number.
It is mounted on an original C8ZX-A clutch.
The factory original Cobra oval air cleaner unit with cast
aluminum lid and stamped steel bottom is in place. The carburetor is
a replacement Holley aftermarket unit. The aluminum intake manifold
is the original PI with C7AE-F casting number. The original Cobra
Lemans lettered aluminum valve covers are in place. The
distributor is an MSD brand aftermarket conversion unit with
external box.
The engine air injection emission system, "Y" tube PCV system and
thermostatically controlled idle compensator systems have been
removed. The engine exterior has been painted but is now showing
wear. The engine appears to have been rebuilt but no information is
presently available to confirm this. Inquiries are being made to
past owners in this regard. This description will be updated as more
information becomes available.
The driveline is all the factory-installed components original to
this vehicle. The transmission tag is RUG-S, confirming that it is
the proper "large input" 31 spline style correct for a GT500. The
vehicle VIN may appear on the top of the transmission case, but this
has not been observed.
The rear axle is the original nine-inch unit with the correct
3:50 gear ratio. The center section is the proper nodular style with
7M29 casting date (Nov 29, 1967). The axle ID tag is in place and
reads "WES-U". This decodes to 3:50 ratio, non-locking 4 pinion with
31 spline axles. The tag date code is 7MC, which indicates that it
was assembled during the third week December
1967.
The factory cast iron exhaust manifolds connect through a factory
style "H" pipe to a Flowmaster style system with dual flow
though mufflers as opposed to the original single transverse type.
The system appears to be recently installed and is in good
condition. It exits below the rear valence via original style ’68
"pipe within a pipe" chrome outlet tips.
The ten spoke aluminum wheels are reproductions. Tires are BF
Goodrich T/A radials, size 225/70-R15. The spare tire is
non-matching on an original plain steel wheel.
BODY: All Shelby exterior equipment,
unique identification and trim are intact. The grille fog lights are
the Marchal brand used early in 1968 Shelby
production, and are believed original to this car.
Overall body integrity is good. There is no accident damage or
evidence of accident repair. The outer metal is all OEM Ford. The
fiberglass is all factory original. Panel fit, straightness and
alignment are all very good, and the opening gaps around the hood,
doors and trunk are generally even. Windshield, side window and rear
glass is all the original Carlite, in good condition with no
cracks or substantial scratches. All weatherstrip is original. The
exterior trim is in good condition. The gas tank is a new appearing
replacement.
The exterior paint is of average body shop quality but quite
presentable, with acceptable smoothness and gloss. The finish is
touched up in various spots. Subsurface corrosion has resulted in
moderate paint bubbling on the outside front lower corners of the
doors and quarter panels. Portions of the rocker stripe have been
touched up with blue paint to mask this condition. These flaws are
not immediately evident upon casual observation, so upon first
impression, the car presents itself well overall.
The inside front corners of the doors have small patches using an
epoxy style material. The lower quarter panels have both received
rust repair aft of the wheel openings; their bottom areas have been
replaced and the inner trunk drops repaired or replaced.
The underneath of the car is lightly undercoated in some areas.
The floor pans and structural underbody are original, undisturbed
and in solid condition at both front and rear with exception of the
front torque boxes. The right side has been repaired and the left is
rusty and must be replaced.
The engine compartment is showing patina. Hoses, belts and
electrical components are generic replacements. The Shelby unique
export brace is intact, supplemented by an owner installed Monte
Carlo bar curved to fit around the oval air cleaner. The radiator is
an aftermarket replacement aluminum unit with a later OEM style fan
shroud. The windshield washer system has been removed to make way
for the MSD ignition box; only the cowl squirters remain. The power
steering cooler is in place at the front of the radiator support.
INTERIOR: The interior has its original dark
saddle dash pad in good condition. The dash gauge bezel and other
dash trim components are in very good condition. The speedometer /
tach are the correct 140mph/8K calibrations. The steering wheel is
an early production style, all saddle colored wheel rather than the
later wood grain faced version. It has a saddle color center pad
with Shelby Cobra identification plate. There is wear on the wheel’s
outer rim and it is discolored from age.
The original Shelby unique console is in place with embossed
snake logo armrest. The console gauges are the original Stewart –
Warner units, properly labeled "oil pressure" and "alternator". The
shifter handle is the correct OEM style with the pull up ring for
reverse, and is topped with the factory blue striped imitation
walnut knob.
The seat upholstery appears to have been replaced. The
installation work is not to factory standards and has also become
worn There is a tear in the driver’s seat back cushion. The light
saddle color of various interior soft trim items has faded at
varying rates, resulting in shade differences throughout the
interior.
The door panels and armrests are original and in average
condition; the plating on the plastic bright trim has rubbed off.
The correct metal grilles are in place on the lower door, with
integrated courtesy lights. The driver’s side grille is showing some
wear from repeated entries and contact with the seat belt. The
doorsill plates are in average condition and have the proper Shelby
Automotive logo plates.
The foldown seat assembly is intact, operates smoothly, and its
chrome trim is in good condition. The rear interior panels and trunk
access door are intact and uncut. The roll bar, inertia reels,
shoulder harnesses and all seat belts are intact with correct
"Shelby Cobra" logos. The headliner is in good condition.
The trunk interior is painted white to match the exterior. Some
black undercoat has been sprayed onto the lower areas of the quarter
panels where rust repair has taken place. There is a standard
quality mat. The jack, lug wrench and spare wheel holdown hardware
are intact. The Shelby unique cardboard tail light protectors are in
place.
OPERATIONAL: This GT500 drives very well. The
clutch engages smoothly. The transmission is shifted easily. The
rear differential is quiet. Handling and road manners are good with
stable steering and suspension. Handling is improved by the
installation of 600# rated aftermarket front coil springs. The shock
absorbers appear to be recently installed, both front and rear.
The power brake booster and master cylinder are working properly,
the car stops straight. Brake and fuel fluid lines are in good
condition, as are the front brake rotors and remainder of the brake
system. No fluid leaks are evident from the engine or any system.
The parking brake mechanism does not work.
The radio, heater and all gauges including the tachometer and
speedometer are in working order, except the clock. The automatic
flip-away combination feature on the tilt steering wheel is not
working. The manual tilt feature is
functional .
All of the interior and exterior lights, including the sequential
rear brake lights, turn signals and four way flashers, are in
working order. The horns work but one is weak. The windshield washer
system has been removed,
OBSERVATIONS: This is an average driver
example of the ‘68 GT500 fastback. The color and 4-speed
transmission enhance its desirability. The original engine and
driveline, documentation and largely known history add to its
integrity. This Shelby is recommended for the enthusiast on a budget
who can drive and enjoy it while enhancing its condition on an
ongoing basis.
PRICE: $79,500
Description prepared by Bill Collins on May 7,
2011 |
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