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RICHARD'S 1967 SHELBY GT 350 #2811
Author: (more...)
My grandfather founded Dorsey Gray Ford in Prince Frederick, MD
in 1917, and the dealership operated there continuously until 2000.
My granddad worked there until his death in 1978. My father started
working there in 1936 and remained until his death in 1993. My
brother began working in the dealership until he finally sold it 2000
because of Ford's shabby treatment of small town dealership. So it is
fair to say that the automobiles of Ford Motor Company have been an
integral part of our lives.
My siblings and I have owned various types of Fords, including:
1957 T Bird (still owned)
1959 Sunliner
1963 Fairlane
1965 Mustang (6 cyl)
1966 Mustang convertible (289, still owned)
1967 Shelby GT 350 (#2811, still owned)
1968 Mustang GT (390 w/factory air)
1969 Mustang Mach 1 (351)
1969 Torino GT (351)
1970 Boss 302
1970 Ford F-100 XLT (390, with short body)
1970 Cobra (429 SCJ)
1971 Pantera
1971 Boss 351 (2 vehicles)
Indeed, the last vehicle sold by Dorsey Gray Ford was a 2000
Excursion XLT, which I bought in June 2000.
But I guess one of the favorites was the Shelby GT 350 my dad
took in trade on November 9, 1973 was Donald Phillips of Lusby, MD.
Mr. Phillips had acquired the car on March 14, 1972, and when he
traded it in, it had 46,728 miles on the odometer. I remember the day
it arrived. The vehicle was in rough shape, with scratches all over
it, and I recall that it had shackles on the rear. But it was
interesting, only not as interesting to a 17 year old as my Boss 302.
It was a late model ’67, with outboard lights (a California
requirement, I am told), a 4 speed, and no LeMans striping.
The following summer, I was driving the vehicle late one
night. In a moment of youthful indiscretion and excess speed, I
plowed it into a bank. I remember we had to replace the nose cone,
the left front fender, the front bumper, and the windshield. I also
bent the steering wheel, and also damaged the steering. In any event,
my dad would not let me drive it anymore. After he had it repaired,
he then stored it in a container on our farm. It stayed there for 20
years or more, and my brother and I inherited it in 1993 when he died.
In 2000, my brother decided to sell the dealership, and I
provided him with counsel on the sale. Some months later, he and his
wife took my wife and me out to dinner to thank me for the assistance
on the transaction. I was both shocked and delighted when he handed
me the keys to the car as a sign of his appreciation.
The Shelby was moved from its storage location to my home in
the summer of 2002. With the help of a little starting fluid, the
HiPo 289 started right up. Although the engine and the carb needed
tuning, it was still a thrill to pop the clutch and bang the gears!
In fact, my wife told me that one ride was enough, and that she would
never set foot in the car again! We will see about that.
The car has been sent out to have the engine freshened. Then
I will start the restoration process. The pictures presented at this
point portray the car in the condition it was in last summer, and I
will update them as the restoration progresses.
The vehicle now has only 51,000 miles on it, thanks to my dad
storing it for two decades or more. So far, it appears to be rust
free, except for a spot under the battery tray. Just about all of the
original parts are there, down to the original stickers instructing
on the proper use of the shoulder harnesses.
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