1967 Ford Shelby GT350 Tribute

;-) I purchased my Mustang GT for $500 dollars from my best friends sister in 1991. It was, at that time, the “RUSTANG” for sure. EVERYTHING has now 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.

Most of the early work was done with parts and help from The (original) Mustang Barn in Souderton, Pa. Thanks Fred and Randy and Dan and crew!

Early 2000’s my brother and I started by removing the motor and getting to see how much was really needed to fix and restore. The motor was built and transmission rebuilt and not much else for a while. During the Covid shutdown I took it upon myself to jump back in to the project, and started restoring as much as I could with the help of my brother. Fortunately, a friend introduced me to a body mechanic who was able to come to my garage to help finish the bodywork and get me into paint! Thanks Rich Hall and Davidsons Auto Collision! Late 2024 the car was in paint and early 2025 we started at the reassembly! The research on the car showed that it is a one of one from Ford by the Marti report. The options list making it a 1 of 1 were Fastback body in Dark Moss Green exterior, Parchment Interior, Select-Aire, Air Conditioning, 289 V8, GT Equipment Group that had the AM radio with the Fold Down Sport Deck Rear Seat options. Deciding what to do with the car turned into a focus of a GT350 Tribute to a one of one Shelby GT350. In 1967 Shelby America produced 4, GT350s in Dark Moss Green, with Parchment Interiors, 3 were automatic transmission cars and one had a Four-Speed Manual Toploader Transmission. This was Shelby car #1159. In 1967 at the owners request, the dealer ( Jack Loftus, Ford of Hinsdale, IL. ) 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 Kelsey Hayes 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 the result of an essay to win a photo shoot with my surrounded by the Washingtons Crossing Historic State Park, Fife and Drum Corps Band. This was at the Rebels and Redcoats Car show. Half the show field is British, 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 of the revolution. 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!” To this Brian said see you at 9 for the shoot!

It’s a wonderful car show, and we had beautiful weather, and the Fife 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 motor received custom headwork of porting and polishing and larger valves that stock and a Wolverine, Blue Racer cam. Blue printed, and balanced internals with the help from the guys in the shop. I had my four-speed Toploader rebuilt through their transmission contact, Greg at Northeast Transmissions.

All Shelby parts were supplied by Tony Branda Shelby and Mustang Parts, Altoona Pa. It has exhaust from PYPES, Hatfield Pa and is a 2 1/2” full stainless steel system with their Race Pro Mufflers. Custom installed 2 1/2” oval exhaust electric cut outs are 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 stock 1967 Kelsey Hayes 4 piston calipers from the Factory GT equipment group. Viking adjustable shock absorbers in the rear 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” 500watt DVC subwoofer with custom rear quarter trunk enclosure powered by two amplifiers (1500w x4 and 500w x2)

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

The car is very stable and very fun to drive especially with the exhaust cut outs wide open!

Thanks for reading!