1969 Shelby GT500 2-dr Convertible

Designer: Carroll Shelby, Matt Donner

Estimate: $135,000 - $170,000 Without Reserve

Chassis Number: 9F; 03R482546

Decoded: 9=1969; F=Dearborn, MI assembly, 03=Convertible; R=428 cid V8; 48=Shelby American; 2546=2,546th Shelby Mustang scheduled for production.

Engine: 428 cid "Cobra-Jet" V8

4-barrel Carburetor/360 bhp

3-Speed Cruise-O-Matic Automatic Transmission

Power Assisted Front Disc Brakes with Hydraulic Rear Drum Brakes

Odometer: 30,300 miles

Heritage Verified by Marti Report

High-Impact Colors, High Performance

Hot When New, Hot in the Market Today

The Model - When first born, the little sport compact called Mustang was developed from the popular Falcon. It had classic composition for a light performance vehicle and was economical to purchase and operate. That is until a Texan who loved to make cars goes fast got his hands on one. Carroll Shelby made his Mustang based cars into legends overnight. By the late 1960's, Shelby had personally stepped back from the Ford Mustang program, but the cars bearing his name were just as potent and he had a hand in their design and development. For 1969, the Mustang GT's featured a totally different front end, and many said the hand-selected engines put in the Shelby's had just a bit more kick than the regular Ford products. There were few other machines from 1969 that could match the mighty GT500. And what few other performers could do was produce a car in striking colors and then offer it as a convertible.

The Car - One of just 42 GT500 convertibles finished in Grabber Green, according to documentation associated with this car, its original owner was Dennis Walsh, Regional Sales Manager. Shipped by rail to East Point Ford in Georgia, Walsh used the car to show off the performance of these mean machines. Showing just under 30,300 miles on the odometer today, the car was in the family for over 20 years and has always been cared for. According to the family, the car was equipped with a special intake manifold that was to be evaluated by Walsh for future planned production. It is reported this car retains it numbers matching engine with a deviation of the VIN stamped on the back of the block. Given a full restoration, it has been presented a number of awards and trophies since it was completed in 2005. It is fitted with factory AM-FM radio, interior Décor group, tilt-steering wheel and its original NACA air-induction hood. Topping off this car's history is a copy of the Marti report which details the factory specification for this car. Well documented from birth, the next chapter in this astonishing car's history should be in your collection.