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While the
historical significance and rarity of the 1967 G.T. 500
Convertible has been long-known in the Shelby community, it
wasn't until after another decade of fact-finding and
published research that the rest of the automotive community
reveled at just how significant this car actually is. This
Shelby G.T. convertible (0139) and the coupe (0131) are the
world's rarest production automobiles.
Rarity & Significance as a Shelby American G.T.:
- The first
Shelby G.T. 500 Convertible built.
- The only 1967 Shelby
G.T. convertible built.
- The only G.T.
500 convertible built by Shelby American.
- The only G.T. convertible
ordered with and
factory-equipped with dual-quad carburetors.
- The
third G.T.
500 to be serialized and completed by SAI.
First was a fastback #0100, second was a coupe #0131,
and third was the convertible #0139.
- The
highest-optioned and highest priced 1967 Shelby G.T.
built by Ford. In addition to the 428-8V with Automatic,
Selectaire A/C and Exhaust Emissions, #0139 had two options that no other 1967 G.T. was equipped with: a $52.95 'White Power Top' and a $32.44
'Convertible Top-Glass Backlite,' which resulted in a
$4,450.51 retail price according to the FoMoCo invoice.
- Valued at $4,249.76,
the convertible was the most expensive G.T. 500 in
Shelby American's company car inventory (per the
Vehicle Fixed Asset Ledger 07/31/1967).
This number doesn't include the
$7,396 worth of handcrafted '68 styled fiberglass from A.O. Smith
(in 2014 dollars, that's an additional $50,000 of
parts).
- One of two
(possibly three) known 1967 G.T. cars that appear to
have been fitted with black
Connolly leather covered seats. The other car is the G.T. 500
coupe #0131, and the third might be car #0100.
- One of two 1967
model year vehicles to be upgraded with 1968-styled
fiberglass for photographic (advertising) purposes. The other car was an Acapulco Blue
fastback #0463.
- Claimed by Carroll Shelby
to be his "personal driver."
- One of the most photographed and publicized Shelby G.T. cars
ever built.
This was the convertible pictured on the cover
of the press kits, dealer literature
and featured in every print ad introducing the 1968 Shelby
Cobra G.T. models.
And since this G.T. was born on the Ford Mustang assembly
line:
- The only
multi-carbureted Mustang
convertible ever built.
- The only 1967
Mustang convertible factory-equipped with a 428
engine.
- The first
Ford Mustang convertible to receive a 428 cu.in. engine
(and the only 428-equipped Mustang convertible to be built at
Ford's San Jose plant).
- The second
Mustang (all body styles) with a 428 cu.in engine to be
serialized by Ford.
- The third
Mustang (all body styles) with a 428 cu.in engine to be
completed by Ford.
(The first two were also '67 Shelby G.T. 500 cars, a
Fastback #0100 and a Coupe #0131)
- Recipient of
first Ford reinforced C-6 "PCG-R" automatic gearbox,
tag # "PCG-R 000001".
Rarity as
compared to all pony/muscle cars:
- In addition
to this car's significance to Ford and Shelby history,
it's also worth pointing out that this is the only
known CONVERTIBLE pony and/or specialty car that
received both dual quad (2x4bbl) carburetion and air
conditioning from the factory. The only other
convertible pony cars to get dual-quads would be the 426
cu.in. 'Hemi 'Cudas & Challengers... and not one of those ever
received factory air conditioning!
** all
rarity statistics are based on like 'production' vehicles;
i.e. built by
a regular process on the normal assembly lines,
intended for use on public roads and conforming to all
federal safety standards for the vehicle's model year. *** |
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