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Autobiography 1969 GT-500 Serial 9F02R480873
Author: Ron (more...)
MY LIFE’S STORY
by R. Shelby.
I was born on February 10, 1969 in Dearborn Michigan, as a 1969 Mach
1 Mustang.
But when I glanced at my Build Sheet and saw a DSO of 842564, I knew
I was sort of special. And sure enough, in just a few days, I was
shipped to Shelby Automotive’s plant in Ionia, Michigan, for
conversion
to a Shelby GT – 500.
Right away, it seemed travelling was in my blood, because I was soon
on my way to Bill Watkin’s Ford on Camelback Road in Scottsdale,
Arizona, where I sat in a nice, shiny all glass showroom.
I must have looked real pretty, because just a few days later, two
brothers came in to the showroom and when they saw me, they fell in
love with my Royal Maroon paint and white interior. And the options!
Air conditioning, AM – 8 track and practical things like, power
steering and brakes; a fold down rear seat, and a tilt-a-way steering
wheel
plus the visibility group.
In fact, they liked me so much they took me home. To enhance my
appearance, they had the local Ford Dealer install rear window
louvers. And to tame my rather wild nature, the same dealer installed
a Detroit Locker rear end.
What fun we had; all over Northern Arizona and the Phoenix area. Life
in the fast lane was real good.
Maybe too good!
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A few years later, my owners found and purchased a 1969 GT – 500
convertible – a companion for me, so I thought. But, with 2 Shelbys,
it now meant I was driven less and less, until finally, I was
relegated to just sitting around in the sun – nice work if you can
get it – but I never
realized that it would be 8 long years! And then another man from
just up the road in Laveen saw me, and he took me home.
What a sight I was! - I was dirty! - every part of me, inside and
out, was caked with Arizona clay… My paint had faded!… My interior
was “cooked” – 8 years in the sun will do that! - but I was all
there.
And so my new owner repainted me a nice Candyapple Red. He gave me a
new white interior. But before he could complete the restoration,
and just as I started to settle down, some problems forced him to put
me up for sale, something he swore he would never do. I was about to
move again.
A very nice man from Orlando, Florida heard about me and took me home
to live with him, “temporarily”. But I sensed that this time, the
move was different. Something better was in my future.
He took me all apart and sent my engine and transmission out for
rebuilding. Now that is uncomfortable – can you imagine not knowing
where all your parts are? I was scrubbed, and had all my parts
brought back to original. Things that had not worked in years now
functioned normally. I felt like new again.
So I just knew that things were going to get much better. He
obviously saw the “real me” hidden underneath all the dirt and grime.
Once again, I sensed that change was in the air. A foreigner, a man
from way up North came to see me. I really wasn’t much to see when he
came, because I was still in pieces – not a good feeling, that! But
at least all my parts were now in one place where I could see them.
And they looked real good.
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We clicked right away, this stranger and I, and after all that
intensive cleaning and refurbishing, I was re-assembled and I looked
just like new!
Pretty soon I was once again on the move to a Northern land called
Canada – actually, not too far from where I was born in Dearborn
Michigan – just across the river, really.
Somehow, this move was extra special. Immediately, I felt wanted, and
pampered.
I was bathed and waxed and polished and cleaned until I just shone. I
even have my own carpeted space in a nice garage.
I have grown to like my Japanese companion (he sits next to me in
the garage and is learning Canadian too)-but he doesn’t have carpet
under him.
I now feel at home. I am loved. I have visited lots of shows and am a
regular at many local cruise nights.
I get anything I need, and much of what I want from my new owners.
And while Canada is much different than Arizona, I like it! I have to
admit kilometers and liters still sort of stick in my carburetor, but
I am beginning to catch on.
In July 2001 my owners drove me to the SAAC 26 meet in Charlotte,
North Carolina and I was entered in the Concours Division show.
Although it was a long way from my new home (775 miles) I behaved
like a gentleman and I think my owners appreciated that. I felt real
important in a row of equally dressed up Shelbys. 5 nice men called
judges checked me all over for about an hour writing lots of things
on what they called a score sheet. That night at the banquet they
announced that I had won a silver award signifying between 90 and 95%
correctness. My owners were ecstatic and so was I (I sort of knew we
had done well). And then on September 21, 2001 we received a nice
walnut plaque verifying the silver award.
This has been a good year.
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I have met several of my brothers and sisters in this great land
called Canada and they too are content and well taken care of. In
fact, there’s this real nice 1966 Wimbledon White GT- 350 Hertz with
gold stripes - but that’s another story!
Maybe, at last, my travelling days are done.
After some 30 years, it is nice to be home, at last!
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