My Shelby Before and now....

 You could say it started for me when I was 16 years old and finally had the chance to purchase my first car.  It would cost me $1,400.00, that was every penny I could save working at McDonald's. It was a 1970 Ford Torino GT with a 351 Cleveland engine, and needless to say I was ecstatic.  I had it about a year until one day I started driving my friends 1967 Mustang fastback.... WOW!!!

 From that moment on  I knew I had to get me a Mustang.  After researching the classic, I found out about the Shelby Mustangs. So the hunt was on to find one, no matter what, even with the limited funds I had. 

After exhausting all my recourses and a ton of gas ( mind you gas was $0.75 a gallon) trying to find one.  I found a guy who had a 1969 Shelby GT 500 ( 428 Cobra Jet w/ C6 automatic CJ) sitting in his backyard on blocks.  It took some rough negotiations, more money, and trading my mint condition Torino GT which was running great, but I finally had myself a Shelby.  It was painted primer red, had no rims or tires and needed a ton of engine work, yes indeed another project car.

At that time I was economically challenged (broke) and any spare money I had went into the car. I was in the Marines at the time, so any leave to go home was spent building the car. That didn't go over well with the Misses, a lot of nights spent sleeping in the garage. 

I did finish it and it looked great, but all good things must end and after 9 years with the car a mishap occurred in my life I had to let it go. In 2005 I began my quest to get back into the Muscle Car circuit. I started out looking for the same 1969 Shelby GT 500.  I was surprised to discover that prices have gone up since then and any Shelby in decent condition was at least 100K or more.

I stayed in touch with the latest Auto Magazines and read what Ford was doing in their program with retro Mustangs.   I read an article on the new Shelby they were going to debut. I must have read it over and over trying to find out what they were going to look like, what kind of motor, horsepower, transmission, reared, suspension etc etc. You guys know what I'm talking about I just couldn't get enough info. Thank God for the INTERNET, as I was on that site every other day, (I may be stretching that).

Anyway, at that time you had to leave a 500.00 deposit just to get a number that will confirm that you are going to get one.  My number was 05345 don't ask me what that means.  I had no idea if it meant that's how many their going to produce or whatever...... I didn't care.

It is now 2006 and no word on when the cars were coming. I must have driven the people at World Ford Pembroke Pines crazy. Finally they call me, and ask if I was still interested?  Guess what my answer was, “Yes, Yes, Yes”.  Here's what they said, “OK we need $5000.00 down and choose three color schemes you would like”.  My first choice was White w/Blue stripes. In that same year they came out with the Hertz Shelby GT car so I rented it for three days “what a Blast” I burned rubber everywhere....He He!!!

The call came from the dealer that my Shelby is in the first one they receive with White and Blue Stripes and if I don't come soon they have seven person who would like to purchase it. This in  February of 2007, I made a B-line over there and became a proud owner of a Shelby GT 500 again. What a journey but I am a Happy Camper now.

Later that year I found out about the packages they were offering regarding the Super Snake, 40^th Anniversary models.  I decided that the 40^th Anniversary would fit my budget the best and they were only going to produce 500 of them. So in May I placed my name on the list, and in July I shipped the car to Las Vegas where the Mod Shop was for Shelby and hence my car looks like it does to this day. Hope you guys like the Pictures.

Dennis

“The White Stallion”