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Curious as to this light in a 67 Shelby GT350

AzPete

AzPete

Well-Known Member
FL0114-174322_9.jpg


http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_detai ... 114-174322

HIGHLIGHTS

- This 1967 Shelby GT350 was one of the first ones built: #117
- Unique with Red marker light in upper scoop
- Inboard lights in the grill, hood and trunk are hand laid
- Stripes were a dealer option and many did not have them
- Numbers matching engine and transmission
- Found in a land sea container in Chico, California where it had been stored for over 20 years
- Completed on Dec 8th, 1966 and shipped to Ron Tonkin Ford Sales in Portland, Oregon
- Purchased on Dec 31st, 1967 by its original owner, Dale Newton
- Extra cooling package
- Competition handling package
- Deluxe steering wheel
- Deluxe interior
- Integral roll bar
- Remote control outside mirror
- Tachometer oil pressure gauge and ammeter
- Power steering
- Power disc brakes
- Factory shoulder harness
- Magstar wheels
- Rally stripes

DESCRIPTION

ESTIMATE: $160,000 - $180,000
Behind any collector car that remains unrestored to the present day is a story. In the normal course of affairs, cars, especially a car built as a weekend racer like the GT350, suffer wear and damage that gets repaired later on when they become collectible. 1967 Shelby GT350 #0117, however, escaped both fates. Completed on December 8, 1966, it was one of the first built yet must have been one of the last sold, as Dale Newton didn’t buy it from Portland, Oregon’s famed Ron Tonkin Ford until New Year’s Eve 1967. The slow selling may have had to do with a high sticker price, thanks to a long and very appealing option list. Shelby’s 1966 GT350s had sold to hard-core enthusiasts and casual buyers alike, but after the furor died down, those who weren’t into the weekend racing scene started to tire of the car’s uncompromising performance mission. So for the 1967 models, Shelby quieted the car down and made it more civilized, repurposing it from boy racer to civilized GT with an edge. Power steering and brakes became standard and the ride was notably less stiff. You still got the Shelbyized 289 making an advertised 306 HP, along with an improved fiberglass hood that foreshadowed the Shelby’s look for 1968. Increased curb weight sent 0-60 times down by about a half-second, although actual top speed increased notably, tested to 129 MPH with a 4-speed and 3.89 axle by Sports Car Graphic, again in keeping with a GT’s mission. That made the GT350 more suitable for daily use, and #117 was reportedly used as a daily driver by Newton’s wife in Ashland, Oregon, including taking their kids to school. She was clearly no leadfoot, as it retains its matching numbers engine and transmission. It ended up stored for 20 years in a shipping container in Chico, California, thus preserving a wonderful degree of originality. Fully decked out with convenience and performance options and substantially original, #117 is everything a Shelby collector could want.

Information found on the website is presented as advance information for the auction lot. Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Mecum Auction does not verify, warrant or guarantee this information. The lot and information presented at auction on the auction block supersedes any previous descriptions or information. Mecum is not responsible for information that may be changed or updated prior to the auction. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the lot at the auction site prior to the auction.
 
That light is unique to the first 100 (or 200, I forget) production cars. Never seen one in person with those lights but they are original. My dad bought a '67 GT350 when I was sixteen years old (#21??) and its the one Mustang I wish I still owned. Wonderful driving, amazing looks etc etc. Dont know what he sold it for but he paid somewhere around $4700 IIRC. Almost killed myself in a head-on driving it home from the purchase. I LOVED everything about that car . . . still do.
 
I have seen a couple of them at shows. I think it is an ugly option and don't have a clue as to what it's usefulness is.

Mel
 
Simple marker lights to be more like aircraft that's all. I think California law at the time stated no lights above a certain height and made Shelby remove them.

I've seen a few out her.
 
As a little trivial side note; in addition to that light the early 67's also came with a half round cut out for the exhaust tips a standard rear valance . The area was also surrounded by a stainless trim piece. The later cars just used a GT style valance. BTW, those stainless trims pieces were rear valance exhaust trim used on a 65/66 GT and then trimmed in half just below the attaching bolts! This detail lasted later on into production then the upper light did.

For comparison:

Early
1967-shelby-mustang-003-3.jpg


Later
65422646_3-1967-Shelby-GT350-Mustang-Cars.jpg
 
"KBMWRS" said:
I think California law at the time stated no lights above a certain height and made Shelby remove them.
Click to expand...

+1 When I've looked close enough at the upper scoops on non-lighted cars, there seems to be a slight depression in the fiberglass where this light would be mounted, not sure if this was meant to be drilled out for the light or just the way the piece is formed.
 
California regulations also dictated that the driving lights in the grill of the '67 models be more than 18" apart causing Shelby American to move them to the outside edges of the grill. I always liked the look of the lights close together versus the ones spaced far apart.
 
I saw one with these lights at a show and they looked out of place. I think we all would like them more if we had more exposure to them. Being so rare we hardly see them.

I also agree I really like the inboard lights in front they look awesome.
 
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