The final iterations of the Shelby-branded Mustangs from the original series arrived in two variations: the GT350 and GT500, both available as either sportsroofs (Fordese for fastback) or ragtops. These cars were all manufactured in 1969, but sales did not align with production plans, resulting in some examples still without owners when the 1970 model year was introduced.
To address this, Ford took a unique approach to the “old” car – nothing extravagant or costly, but with a distinct front-end appearance. The rest of the vehicle remained unchanged, except for the reassignment of Vehicle Identification Numbers to align with the 1970 sequence. This adjustment was approved by the authorities, enabling Ford to sell the remaining legendary Shelbys as new model-year cars.
The new feature was a set of hood stripes and a chin spoiler borrowed from Ford’s muscle family, the Boss 302/429 street thugs. With this simple addition, 380 units of the 1969 Shelby Mustang GT500 fastback were transformed into 1970 models – no other differences were made. While these cars are quite rare, their counterparts from the previous year still generate significant interest among buyers, especially when they retain their original factory specifications after 55 years.
One notable example from 1969, part of the production run of 2,366 Shelby Mustangs that year, spent ten years in use before being placed in a climate-controlled basement where it remained dormant. The original owner purchased this four-speed 428 Cobra Jet fastback in 1969 and carefully stored it away in 1979. For undisclosed reasons, the car never returned to the road or even started, preserving its originality from the paint to the tires.
It’s not surprising considering the tires have only covered 26,344 miles (42,387 kilometers) since leaving the factory. This ’69 Shelby GT500 stands out as a super-rare survivor due to its color combination of Grabber Green over White – only four other big-block Shelbys of the same year sported this chromatic pairing in the sportsroof style. Among those four, this particular car is one of the three equipped with the 3.50 Traction-Lok rear differential.
If we want to be meticulous, we can mention that only two of those four cars were equipped with a radio (AM-only), and this specific vehicle is the only one of the pair that was ordered with a Tilt-Away steering wheel. While some purists may consider this a one-of-one, that description would not be entirely accurate. Nevertheless, it remains a rare find, accompanied by all the necessary documentation to verify its authenticity.
The original 428-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8 engine is still mated to the matching-numbers close-ratio four-speed manual transmission, and this Mustang also features power steering and power brakes. Currently located in Buford, Georgia, the car is available for purchase at a price of $175,000, which is a reasonable value compared to recent transactions involving similar time capsules.
According to the Source autoevolution.com