What makes a muscle car valuable? Use this 1969 Shelby GT350 as your guide. Matching numbers, a manual gearbox, lots of options, plus a known, interesting history from new, complete with documentation. You want provenance? This amazing Shelby practically defines the word. Only a handful of cars were built in Grabber Yellow, and I think I like it even more on the sleek, elongated Shelby than I do on the Boss 302, but then again I'm a sucker for yellow cars. The revised nose erases almost all traces of Mustang, which is only really apparent in profile where you get arguably the best-looking fastback ever created. The tail got its own makeover as well, and thanks to the wonders of fiberglass, they could create the new look without a major investment. The restoration is a few years old, but it was done to a very high standard and quite honestly, the fiberglass hood and trunk lid fit a lot better than they did originally. As a lifetime California car (including the first owner who kept it until 1992), it's never needed any replacement sheetmetal, and you won't find a straighter Shelby on this side of the six-figure mark. Inside it offers Ford's handsome bucket seats with red inserts, just to make it look a little racy. Shelby added their usual roll bar and shoulder harnesses, and experts will note that this car carries an ultra-rare Swing-Away tilt steering column. The markings on the gauges are still crisp and sharp, including the two on the center console, just ahead of the shifter for the close-ratio 4-speed. Plenty of faux wood emphasized the Shelby's luxury/touring intentions, and the clock mounted on the passenger's side is a thoughtful touch. The Marti Report says an AM radio was original equipment, but you'll surely appreciate the correct AM/FM stereo unit that lives there now. The trunk is also finished correctly with a nice-fitting mat and a spare tire cover in the same material. Ford didn't make it easy for us to verify matching-numbers today, but this car carries a full set of photographs documenting all the hidden and hard-to-access numbers throughout the chassis. That is the original 351 Ram Air engine, and it snarls and cackles like a true performance car should. It was detailed when the car was restored, but you can hardly blame the owner for wanting to drive it, so it isn't quite up to show standards today. However, that means that it's still up for doing what Shelbys do best, and you shouldn't be afraid to bury the pedal and open all four barrels every chance you get. The car's California history shows most clearly underneath, where it's rust free and highly original, save for the snarky dual exhaust system. 3.25 gears in a Trac-Lok 9-inch are a great compromise between acceleration and cruising comfort, and those pretty alloy wheels were created especially for the '69 Shelbys, with these wearing correct F60-15 Goodyears. Documentation includes a Marti Report, original warranty card, original owner's manual, receipts, and an owner history dating back to Day One. This car has tons of really cool California registration records, all nicely organized in a binder to take along with the car. Your heart knows why this Shelby is cool. But it's also the kind of car that can convince your mind that it's a smart investment. Call today! This vehicle is located in our Dallas/Fort Worth showroom. For more information, please call (817) 764-8000 or toll free (855) 877-2707.
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