1969 Shelby GT 350 Mustang Convertible

1969 Shelby GT 350 Mustang Convertible
Yarmouth, Maine 04096
 

Features:

VIN #: 0F03F128444
Mileage: 25,197
Transmission: Manual
Condition: Excellent
Exterior: Grabber Green
Interior: White

Description:

A very rare 1969 Shelby GT 350, 4 Speed, Convertible Tribute Replica  

Introduction

I chose the 1969 GT 350 convertible because only 194 were ever produced, including the 52 carry over 1970 cars. No production of 1970 Shelby GT350 and 500 models was undertaken; however, unsold 1969 models were given 1970 vehicle identification numbers under FBI supervision. Only 32 of these GT350 Conv. cars are known to exist today (including any color and automatic and manual transmissions). The Grabber Green is the only color yet to be re-released on the new Shelby cars, making this even more valuable. Other features that make an original GT350 Shelby extremely rare: 4-Speed tans, grabber green w white interior. light teak woodgrain, FM radio. Everything about the rebuilding of this car, except the engine upgrades, is original or highest quality repro. possible. With the exception of the VIN number, this is a truly rare piece of American/Shelby history.   

The car started off life as a 1970 mustang convertible with a 3-speed, 302, 8” rear end. The original VIN is 0F03F128444.  The nice thing about the 1970 mustangs over the '69's is there were a few upgrades, such as bolt-in windows vs the glue in, a 22 gallon fuel tank vs 20 gallon, larger front disk brake spindles and improved steering box. This car has that plus....

I have searched years, high and low for the donor car and many of the Shelby specialty parts. I have painstakingly built this car with Shelby originality as my number one goal.  I’ve been personally collecting parts and building this car for over 18 years. The front fenders, front bumper shroud, trunk lid and extensions, tail light panel, tail lights and lenses are original Shelby parts. Almost all the other Shelby specific parts are from either "Tony D. Branda" or "Shelby Parts and Restoration" in Green Bay, WI. 

The donor car was in exceptional condition when I purchased it in 2010, still in original factory paint. The car was stored on a concrete floor in a heated garage since 1983 when the previous owner purchased it from the original owner.  There was no rust in the rear fenders, or rocker panels and very little rust on the driver’s door and drivers floor pan, which I replaced.  The car was as solid as any original 60’s mustang I’ve ever seen. Besides the couple hundred miles I have put on the car, it has not been on the road for over 38 years. Meaning the car is only 13 years of used/driven life on it.

The Transformation

The car’s transformation includes almost everything that the original ’69 Shelby had with the exception of the VIN. The new replica VIN tag on the driver’s door is true to what the car now has in it 9T03M480027, body code 76B, color Z, Trim 3WA, Date 04G, D.S.O. 842505, Axle S, Trans 5.

Grabber green with a deluxe white interior, 4-speed top-loader transmission and a completely rebuilt 1969, 351 Windsor producing 458 Pounds of torque and 405 HP. More about the engine later but it has the original exhaust manifolds. The front H pipe and Shelby specific transverse muffler and aluminum collector with dual center outlet port are all brand new. The rear end has staggered shocks and the front shock tower supports have been professionally welded in. (see picts). KYB gas shocks all around. Currently the car still has its original 1970, 8” rear end but comes with the correct 1969, 9” rear end with 3.25 gears (3.50 are original for the 350GT). I planned to sand blast and restore the rear end and use the 3.25 gear for better highway performance. The spare 9" rear end goes with the car.

The power steering has been completely rebuilt and does not leak a drop. The steering is original 1970 gear box and has very little play as compared to many classic PS cars. I replaced the front sway bar with the larger Shelby specific 1.25”. All front end bushings and shock rubber replaced. All new brakes and new 235/60/15 Cooper Cobra radial tires.  

Interior and Top

The entire interior, engine compartment and underside of the car was was stripped and repainted with POR-15 rustproofing primer and then factory correct paint code colors. I installed a waterproof Bituthen membrane on the entire floor of the car to help dampen noise and vibration. All new floor insulation and carpets and seat reupholstered with the highest reproduction, Shelby correct covers (off white, not bright white). I converted the dash and steering column from 70 to 69, I swapped the entire body wire harness from the fuse panel out with all Shelby replacement harnesses, front and rear, including the tach wires and Shelby fog light harness . The console switches are not hooked up and the fog lights are not working yet. The convertible top is power (most 69’s were not), the top has a glass rear window not plastic. Every single piece of weather stripping has been replaced with the highest quality brand. The top, the windows and the doors shut solid, tight and perfectly aligned like off the assembly line. 

The Steering wheel was restored to Shelby specification but the rim blow horn is not working for some reason.  The console gauges are there and correct to original as I could find. The oil pressure gauge worked after the restoration but the oil line cracked so replaced with a pressure sensor. Everything is still there for the gauge to work again.

The interior is the more rare teak woodgrain with the original Tach gauge. The  woodgrain and chrome is in excellent shape but the tach is not working and needs to be sent to a shop like “The Tackmaster” for a rebuild. The clock has been rebuilt.

Drivetrain

The motor is a 1969 351 Windsor completely stripped, dipped, resurfaced and magnafluxed. The block has competition boring rebuilt with a 393 Stoker Kit, 4.0” bore, 3.8” Stroke. "Ford Motorsports Factory Racing Aluminum Heads" with a better flow than Boss 302 heads. Has a Milodon low profile 7 QT oil pan with high volume oil pump. The carb is a date correct rebuilt Holly 650 sitting on an Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum manifold. The motor was balanced and dyno tested producing 458 Pounds of torque and 405 HP. This output is with a mild street cam but could easily reach north of 500hp with a different cam.

Other

I’m sure I have forgotten or not mentioned so much so please feel free to ask. I have folders and folders of paperwork and receipts of all the work performed by who and when and all the parts purchased where and when. I have years of purchase and restoration pictures that I will burn to CD’s. 

Summary

During this restoration and transformation of my car, I have seen many Shelby replica’s at shows and in pictures and I have also seen many many original and restored ’69 and ’70 Shelby’s. I can honestly say and believe (with a little pride and prejudice) that you not find a better 1969 Shelby GT 350, 4-Speed, convertible as nice as and as close to original as this one. I can also say that this restoration is better than some of the original Shelby car restorations that I have seen, especially when it comes to body panel alignment.

ONLY 32 1969 Shelby GT 350’s are known to exist (including automatic and manual transmissions). These original cars are selling for over $200,000. Do you see these cars on the road? NO!, nobody in there right mind would drive one. This car was built to drive. Talk about a head turner!