5s007 - Sports Car Graphic 10.000 Mile Test - which Number Plate

[Szabo]

Hello,

the Story is surely known, but das anbody know the exact Numbers on the PLate

i can read only ??MFG 013, wich indicate that this was an Shelby American Car...

does anybody knows the first 2 Letters ( 1A or 1Y or 1D or so)







Thanks a lot

Stephan from Germany

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Those first numbers start 1A 1B through 1Z then 2A 2B etc. That is how they identify the individual plate. The "MFG 013" remains constant. The plates belong to the company and are not assigned to an individual car on any DMV paperwork. The dealer plates follow the same system.

[Bob Gaines]

Those first numbers start 1A 1B through 1Z then 2A 2B etc. That is how they identify the individual plate. The "MFG 013" remains constant. The plates belong to the company and are not assigned to an individual car on any DMV paperwork. The dealer plates follow the same system.

+1. to add,the MFG plates get switched around from car to car depending on which car is being tested or driven on public roads.

[Cobra Ned]

I think he's trying to determine if anyone knows which exact set of plates are being used here.

[Szabo]

Thanks all of you ...

you have all right,
i knew that the License Plate are rotate in SAI and sometimes where in different Cars the same plate used

so when i found a pic with plate from a early timecode and have one from a later timecode with the same
Plate (example 1Z MFG 013) it not proofed it is the same car (example 5S007)

but in this case i tryed to found out which plate was on the Car at the Timecode from the 10.000 Mile Test.

Best regards

Szabo / Stephan

[Side-Oilers]

I like the angle of the 10,000 mile test.  Who wrote it?   

If it was Titus, then I'd guess the car was part of his unofficial deal with Shelby.   He probably just drove it around in his normal life, racked up 10,000 miles, then decided to write it up as that.

I doubt that any car mag writer (even Titus) went to CS in '65 and got the approval to simply do a 10,000 mile test on a GT350 for a magazine article.  Not good return on investment for Shelby.   In that same 10,000 miles, Shelby would've gotten 10 or more different magazine tests out of the same car.

[CharlesTurner]

I like the angle of the 10,000 mile test.  Who wrote it?   

If it was Titus, then I'd guess the car was part of his unofficial deal with Shelby.   He probably just drove it around in his normal life, racked up 10,000 miles, then decided to write it up as that.

I doubt that any car mag writer (even Titus) went to CS in '65 and got the approval to simply do a 10,000 mile test on a GT350 for a magazine article.  Not good return on investment for Shelby.   In that same 10,000 miles, Shelby would've gotten 10 or more different magazine tests out of the same car.

John Christy from Sports Car Graphic.  Came out in June/July '65 issues of SCG.  I think the story goes that after the 10k mile test, he bought an early '65 GT350.

[Side-Oilers]

Interesting additional info, Charles, thanks.    We'll probably never know the "behind the scenes" details.

Doing 10K miles in a GT350 is a cool story to read, regardless.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I like the angle of the 10,000 mile test.  Who wrote it?   

If it was Titus, then I'd guess the car was part of his unofficial deal with Shelby.   He probably just drove it around in his normal life, racked up 10,000 miles, then decided to write it up as that.

I doubt that any car mag writer (even Titus) went to CS in '65 and got the approval to simply do a 10,000 mile test on a GT350 for a magazine article.  Not good return on investment for Shelby.   In that same 10,000 miles, Shelby would've gotten 10 or more different magazine tests out of the same car.

Lots of editors hit up manufacturers for loaner cars under the guise of a long term test. The bottom line is (using 1980s figures) a page of advertising cost $24,000 if you bought 3 issues worth. A 4-6 page endorsement of your car in a leading magazine was gold. I know several editors who bought these test cars for $1 when they were finished with their test or build articles.
Titus & Shelby had been friends ever since he worked on Shel's Maserati while employed as a mechanic at Bill Fricks in NY during the 50s.
BTW - Titus never had a loaner daily driver from Shelby. He did however own a Volvo that he had tested.

[Szabo]

I like the angle of the 10,000 mile test.  Who wrote it?   

If it was Titus, then I'd guess the car was part of his unofficial deal with Shelby.   He probably just drove it around in his normal life, racked up 10,000 miles, then decided to write it up as that.

I doubt that any car mag writer (even Titus) went to CS in '65 and got the approval to simply do a 10,000 mile test on a GT350 for a magazine article.  Not good return on investment for Shelby.   In that same 10,000 miles, Shelby would've gotten 10 or more different magazine tests out of the same car.

John Christy from Sports Car Graphic.  Came out in June/July '65 issues of SCG.  I think the story goes that after the 10k mile test, he bought an early '65 GT350.

Thanks for all the input in this thread ...

he buys SFM013 after the Test
(i read that in the SAAC Registry)