Auction Highlight: 1967 Shelby GT500

There are many great names in the automotive history books; talented and charismatic individuals who have contributed to the expansive and evocative lineage of the internal combustion engine. Such people have played pivotal roles across all areas of the motor industry, from mechanical engineering, to design, safety, and other innovation. Many of these people are of course relatively unknown to all but serious automotive aficionados.

However, there are certain personalities that have almost risen to ‘household name’ status. One such individual was Carroll Shelby; the racer who would go on to create one of the most iconic American sports cars of all time, act as team manager for the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40 programme, and elevate the Ford Mustang to even greater heights of desirability and race-winning prowess.

With such a legacy, it is little wonder that authentic Shelby sports and muscle cars have become some of the most collectible and sought-after classic cars in the world. With limited numbers produced through the years, but a veritable sea of tributes and replicas, owning a genuine Shelby is many an enthusiast’s dream.

In February 2021, one such car came to market in the UK on the Collecting Cars platform. Not to be confused with the replicas, recreations, or otherwise standard cars with upgraded engines and aesthetics, this fully restored GT500 was a ‘numbers-matching’ example of the iconic American muscle car, which boasted a desirable colour scheme and exceptional attention to detail.

This Shelby GT500 was one of just 2,048 examples built in 1967, of which only 53 were specified with this particularly handsome paint/trim combination, and only 25 of those were fitted with the automatic transmission. Under the bonnet sat the original Ford 428-cubic inch (7.0-litre) ‘Police Interceptor’ V8, which was fed by twin Holley four-barrel carburettors on an aluminium manifold, and delivered up to 355bhp to the rear wheels via a three-speed ‘C3’ automatic transmission.

Alongside this potent powertrain, the model featured the correct purposeful Shelby-enhanced bodywork, including its fibreglass front end, bonnet, tail light panel, rear deck lid, and dramatic side scoops. To complete this Shelby GT500’s appealing aesthetics it was finished in the sought-after shade of Dark Moss Green with contrasting twin white racing stripes, and ‘GT500’ side decals, over a deluxe black vinyl-trimmed interior, featuring chrome and brushed metal-effect trim.

This exceptional example also boasted an intriguing and well-documented history. It was originally delivered from the factory to Ontario, Canada, where it was supplied via Rankin Ford Sales Limited. The first recorded owner, one Mr Richman, purchased the car in November 1967, and owned it for just two years before an unusual act of fate parted them. Mr Richman’s account stated that he drove the car to a dealership one weekend in 1969, where he took an Alfa Romeo for an extended test drive, leaving the GT500 as collateral. Remarkably, upon his return, the dealer had sold his GT500, and he was forced to keep the Alfa Romeo.

Later on, the car was purchased in 1971 by Mr Scaife of Ingersoll, Ontario, and it remained in the same family ownership for the next 43 years, though it was understood to have only been driven on the road for seven years before being parked up in a barn in 1978. There it remained until 2008 – two years after Mr Scaife Snr had passed away – when the police had found the vehicle and tried to track down its owner.

The GT500 had passed on to Mr Scaife’s son by inheritance, and during his ownership it was treated to some initial restoration, including an engine and transmission rebuild. After running out of funds, the car was sold on to another Ontario resident, before it was exported to the US in 2015, where it passed through the hands of another owner in Connecticut, and a Shelby Mustang specialist in Massachusetts.

In December 2015, the car was shipped to New Zealand. Upon arrival, it was sent to Classic & American Restoration Services, where it underwent a two-year ground-up concours-winning nut-and-bolt restoration. The workshop returned this iconic muscle car to its factory specifications, using the Marti report and Ford records, as well as the original order information.

Upon completion of the meticulous restoration this remarkable Shelby GT500 featured on the cover of New Zealand Classic Car magazine in June 2018. At around the same time the car was exported to the UK when the owner relocated, and at the time of sale it was taxes-paid and re-registered on British number plates. Having been used sparingly since its import to the UK, this Shelby GT500 was presented in wonderful condition; a testament to the skill and attention to detail of the New Zealand-based restoration team.

This 1967 Shelby GT500 was a rare and highly desirable classic American muscle car, which was one of just 2,048 examples built. It represented an unmissable opportunity for serious collectors and marque enthusiasts, attracted over 20,000 views during the auction, and sold with a substantial hammer price of £182,000.