Highlights
- Matching numbers vehicle, confirmed by the Marti report
- The Shelby Cobra - perhaps one of the most desirable Mustangs out there
- Attractive deep blue paintwork with white and chrome contrasting features
- Impressive 4.9L Windsor V8 powerplant with 3-speed automatic transmission
- Highly attractive wooden interior
- Lashings of impressive Shelby Cobra branding
- Part of the original Shelby/Hertz Rent-A-Racer programme
- One of only 223 GT350s that Hertz leased in 1968
The Appeal
In 1965, Shelby American entered a partnership with Ford Motor Company, taking the emerging legend of the quintessential Pony Car - the Ford Mustang - and souping it up into a high-performance, aggressive demon of a motor that demanded attention.
Hugely desirable, the American public clamoured for them, blocked only by the naturally inflated prices. It’s for this reason that an agreement was written up with Hertz corporation, who gave every American over the age of 25 (with a licence, naturally) a chance to rent one of the performance motors for only $17 a day (plus 17 cents per mile), which was a pretty damned good deal. Within time, a few thousand were available for the programme.
Even better, it gave people the opportunity for an unsupervised test drive. Within no time at all, the Shelby GT350 had become a legend in its own right and had quickly become the most aspirational Mustang on the market.
This example was subject to a complete overhaul in 2016 and now makes for a highly impressive car, running well and carrying a factory-spec Acapulco blue livery. These are an extremely rare sight - and should have any Pony Car enthusiast more than a little excited.
The History and Paperwork
- First manufactured in 1968 at the Metuchen plant
- Part of the Hertz Rent-a-Racer programme from 1968
- Purchased in 1982 with a mileage of 102,765 miles
- Reportedly remained with this owner for some thirty years
- Arrived in Germany by 2015 at the latest
- Inspected and subject to a substantial overhaul
- First registered thereafter in 2016
- Paperwork file includes:
- Original specification report from the Metuchen factory
- 2011 Certificate of Title from the Massachusets Department of Transportation
- Marti Autoworks report regarding the car’s heritage and specification
- Information file from House of Classic Cars, the now defunct German importer
- German Registration Certificate
The Interior
- Highly attractive wooden interior with black bucket seats
- Lashings of Shelby Cobra branding
- Original period instruments throughout
- Carpets renewed in 2016
By 1968, the Shelby Mustang's cockpit had been refined into a plush, comfortable but stylish cocoon for the discerning driver. Wood veneers and trims scattered across the cabin add a distinctly continental feel, with their lacquer and chromework creating a very real feeling of opulence. Sure, it’s not particularly racing-style to have all of that veneer crammed into your car, but the 60s American public appreciated it regardless…
Said wood trims are brightly presented with plenty of attractive grain, wrapped in brightly presented - if slightly aged - chrome. Every period instrument is clear and easy to read, wonderfully deep-set and joined by attractive Cobra branding.
The distinct brown steering wheel matches the arrangement beautifully, as does the shift gear, and the radio is original, still firmly in place and with no reports of defects.
The seats, which are still in their ‘Black-knit’ factory specification, are in good order with no obvious rips or tears. There’s a delightful level of patina that only adds a distinct elegance to the car’s sporty bucket seats.
The carpets and headlining look to be in good, solid order, and we can’t spot any rips or tears, and the boot looks to be clean, well-kept and solid.
Ultimately, for an interior of this vintage, you’d have trouble finding a better example.
The Exterior
- Highly appointed Acapulco blue paintwork, restored in 2016
- Underside sealed in 2016
- Wearing original Shelby rims
Originally decked out in an attractive Acapulco blue in 1968, this car has been kept in this attractive livery from the day it rolled off of the production line - and a glimpse at the car helps us see why. Resprayed and restored in 2016, the car’s an utterly resplendent looker, with the aggressive lines, high-beam headlights and rear brake scoops making this a perforated paragon of 60s muscle car culture.
The bodywork is all tightly knit and nicely appointed, with no dents or dings we can identify, and the paintwork looks superb. We’ve been unable to highlight any chips, cracks, flakes or blisters, save for a single defect on the top of the roof - which is small and does little to detract from the car.
The chromework and branding carry a soft sign of age-commensurate patina, while the glasswork is all bright, clear and free of cracks or fractures. The scoops and grills look to be nice and clean, and there’s no corrosion we’ve managed to spot in any of the problem areas.
The car is sitting on its original Shelby rims, which could do with brightening up, and is carrying a full set of BF Goodrich tyres, which look like they have plenty of tread available.
Underneath, we can spot some small signs of surface wear, but it’s exceptionally minor and now protected by a full underseal. As a result, there’s nothing of concern we’ve managed to highlight, and we’d hazard a guess that the car’s rarely encountered wet weather or gritted roads.
The Mechanics
- Powered by the highly impressive 4.9L Windsor V8 Engine
- 3-speed automatic transmission
- Matching numbers
- Engine overhauled in 2016
Flipping open the fibreglass hood of this Mustang reveals the Windsor V8 powerplant, which looks to be in fine fettle - with the distinctive cobra air filter proudly on display. These cars weren’t quite the most powerful Shelby machines, but still provide a hugely impressive jolt that could invigorate even the most experienced Mustang aficionado.
We can spot some light signs of wear and the odd freckle of corrosion, but it’s largely a superb example. The seller has reported no leaks or mechanical faults with the car, which is still starting, shifting, running and braking exactly as you’d expect - loaded with character and packed with torque.
Summary
These ex-Hertz Rent-a-Racers are still every bit as aspirational a car as they were when first built - if not more so. Beautifully appointed, this car has clearly been a much-prized motor from day one. It’s rare you’ll ever see Shelby Mustang in such fine fettle.
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