Automotion
My 1966 Shelby GT350 |
Story By Lou Salvalaggio
I’ve had a passion for Shelbys most of my life. I saw my first Shelby back in 1967 and knew instantly that I loved the car. As I learned more about them and the history of how they came to be, I became fascinated with them and have never really looked back.
Shelbys were world manufacturer’s champions in 1965 and 1966. The boys from Detroit beat Ferrari at their own game. They came, they conquered then they left. Shelby did everything they could do to make the car a hot rod; only they did it from the factory. That is part of why the values are the way they are today.
I do not possess the necessary talent to put into words the mystique of understanding what a Shelby really is. It can be described as a feeling of perseverance that Shelby has taught me and has at some times become a mentor in my own life. The words, “No, I can’t do it,” were just not acceptable. Shelbys are much more than steel and glass. For me it is an honour to possess one. As a matter of fact, I had to build another 1966 Mustang with the same paint scheme just to see that hood in front of me and drive it more often.
After a long wait, it took about five years and several road trips to finally find this piece; a rust-free, accident-free, four-speed with matching engine numbers and correct date coded body panels. This car is fully documented with no issues of authenticity.
What makes this Shelby unique is that it has these special features: under-ride traction bars, a fibreglass hood with a steel frame, hollow-letter style valve covers, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, locking rear axle gear is 3.89:1, a standard fold down rear seat and the exterior paint colour is WimbledonWhite with a Guardsman Blue LeMans racing stripe.
In 1994, this car had a rotisserie restoration from Legendary Motorcars in Milton, Ontario. The 289 engine was built by Holman and Moody in Charlotte, North Carolina. We are the third owners of this pristine vehicle.
The fact that this Shelby GT350 has increased in value so much and the folks at Barrett-Jackson Auction call every year to see if it would be for sale, is a compliment but actually meaningless. The value of the car is the perspective it lends to life.
We do drive our Shelby, maybe not on a Friday afternoon on Great Northern Road, but maybe…just maybe if you’re going to Gros Cap at 3a.m. on a warm summer night, you just may see a white car with a blue stripe that will take your breath away.
Photos by Thomas E. Stephenson - click on any thumbnail to get a larger image.
Note: Shown in the last few photos are the car owner Louis along with one of Townies' editors - Carol Zarudenec Smith. Carol was in tears after sitting in the seat of this car as she used to own one.
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