1967 Ford Shelby GT350 Tribute

Bought for $500 dollars from my best friends sister in 1991, it was her college car! It was at that time the “RUSTANG” for sure. EVERYTHING had been restored and replaced! The main shell is mostly original with all bolt on components replaced or new. The car sat parked in the garage while I raised my kids and was their soccer coach and life happened. I had a very small budget for a long time and just did very small projects while I re-searched and collected parts when available. During Covid, I took it upon myself to jump back in to the project, and started restoring as much as I could by myself, and with the help of my brother. Fortunately, a friend recommended a body mechanic who was able to come to my garage to help finish the bodywork and get me into paint! Late 2024 the car was in paint and early 2025 start at the reassembly! The research on the car show that it is a one of one from Ford by the Marti report. The options list, which make it that are Dark Moss Green, Parchment Interior, Air Conditioned, 289 V8, GT Fastback that had AM radio with the Fold Down Sport Deck Rear Seat option. Deciding what to do with the car turned into a focus of a Tribute to a one of one Shelby GT350. 1967 Shelby America produced 4, GT350s in Dark Moss Green, with Parchment Interiors, 3 were automatic cars and one had a Four-Speed Manual Toploader Transmission, car #1159. In 1967 at the owners request, the dealer never installed the (OTT) Over-the-Top Lemans White Racing Stripes. Which is how I have kept this restoration. The only other option would have been that car #1159 was shipped with Mag Stars Rims instead of 10 spoke rims, which I preferred. While not a copy in every detail, I have kept it as true to a tribute of a accurate GT350 with options that I picked on top of the Shelby America build.

In 2025 I started showing the car when not complete and did OK with the judging! Now complete the 2026 car show season has been very good to me so far. The main picture is it the result of an essay to win a photo shoot with the Washingtons Crossing Historic State Park, Fife and Drum Corps photo shoot. This was at the Rebels and Redcoats Car show. Half the show field is British and German and Russian cars. The other half of the Show field is American and French cars. The photographer challenges entries into describing why their car should best represent their side.

My reply to Brian Wagner, the official Park photographer, was this:

“ Well, I think the sight of any Shelby would drum up the feelings of rebellious behavior and Carol Shelby himself was as rebellious as you could get. Against doctors orders he was racing while taking nitroglycerin pills. He also pushed back Ford corporate officials to become one of the most world famous , successful and widely recognized, racing teams in American racing history. It is an American dream car, and besides, it’s pretty damn good looking as well!”

It’s a wonderful car show, and we had beautiful weather, and the faife and drum corps members were terrific. He also photographed a beautiful Bentley.

The engine was rebuilt by myself and my brother who at the time was an employee at Frank Bash Engines in Langhorne Pa. The car received custom headwork of porting and polishing and larger valves that stock and a Wolverine, Blue Racer cam. Blue printed, and balanced, with the help from the guys in the shop I received upgraded internal parts as well as had my four-speed Toploader rebuilt through their transmission contact.

All Shelby parts were supplied by Tony Branda Shelby and Mustang Parts, Altoona Pa. Exhaust System by PYPES from Hatfield, Pa is a 2 1/2” full stainless steel system with their Race Pro Mufflers and 2 1/2” oval exhaust electric cut outs from Dave Kindig design.

Rear 4 1/2 mid eye leaf springs from Street or Track on a GT500 Ford 9” rear with 3.25 Ford Motorsport posi. Ecklers rear disk brake conversion kit using 1985 Buick Riviera rear calipers with slotted and cross drilled rotors. Front lower control arms had a steel plate reinforcement kit and Street or Track adjustable strut rods with Heim joints. Upfront are the 1967 Kelsey Hayes 4 piston calipers from the Factory GT package. Rear Viking adjustable shock absorbers and front Viking Coil Over adjustable shock absorbers on upgraded bearings.

Classic auto air, air conditioning with retro sound radio, 4 JVC speakers with Rockford Fosgate Punch 10” DVC subwoofer and 2 amplifiers in the trunk, (1500w x4 and 500w x2)

Front suspension also has the Shelby / Arning 1” upper control arm drop with custom alignment specs and a Randalls Racks from British Columbia, Canada rack and pinion steering unit.

The car is very stable and very fun to drive!