Little Red - Documentary

[Tired Sheep]

Ehat evidence do you have the coupe went to Ao Smith?

[67411F--0100-ENG.]

What evidence do you have the coupe went to AO Smith?

After Shelby American, Inc. closed up in late July/early August of 1967, the first three GT500s (0100, 0131, and 0139) were all eventually shipped to Shelby Automotive and continued to be assigned to the Engineering Department.  The cars' serial numbers appear on multiple Shelby Automotive inventory documents.  Per Walter Nelson, while there 0100 and 0131 were both both updated with '68 fiberglass.  0100 even received 1969 Cougar XR7 leather front seats.  Both of these cars were part of a package sale of six engineering cars that went to Courtesy Ford in Littleton, Colorado in the spring of 1969 to be sold as used cars.  You have seen photos of 0131 with '68 fiberglass in the documentary.  I have attached a photo of 0100 that was taken in 1977 which shows the '68 fiberglass.  The other attached photo shows the interior of 0100 in early 1980, note the '69 Cougar XR7 leather front seats.

Thanks,
Eric 

[Tired Sheep]

Doesnt look like it according to this.

[67411F--0100-ENG.]

Doesnt look like it according to this.

Here is a copy of the what I believe is the last or very close to the last Shelby Automotive Engineering Department inventory list that 0100 and 0131 appear on prior to being sold to Courtesy Ford.  Note the date: January 24, 1969.  Also note that on my copy 0131's Ford VIN has been blanked out.  Jason Billup's has a copy that shows the Ford VIN and it appears in the documentary.  0131 is the first car listed and 0100 is the third car listed.

Eric

[Tired Sheep]

So every car on the inventory sheet was in Ionia?

[67411F--0100-ENG.]

So every car on the inventory sheet was in Ionia?

Yes.

[67st102]

When Shelby operations moved to Michigan in August, 1967 – they set up an engineering garage in Ionia, Michigan that had been a former car dealership.  This smaller sized building was located a block to the East of AO Smith.  There were maybe 15 employees that worked out of this facility including Chief engineer Fred Goodell, and painter Sonny Fee.  There was also a Shelby office located in the Southfield / Livonia area just outside of Detroit.  This was only an office and did not have any provisions for working on cars.

While in Ionia, the Shelby engineering garage was not fenced off or secure so if the cars were not being worked on inside the engineering facility, the other vehicles were either in the prototyping department at AO Smith or in the AO Smith lot, which was fenced off and guarded.   

There is a Shelby Engineering Cars Inventory document that exists dated January 24, 1969.  On this 2 page document are 14 vehicles with a simple inventory number assigned to it.  Little Red was inventory number 67st103.  The 1967 Shelby GT500 prototype was inventory number 67st102.  1967 GT 500 #100 is listed on the document as 67st109 and the gold 1968 GT500 number 101 conelec vehicle was assigned inventory number 68st203.   Three of the vehicles mentioned above ended up getting sold through the dealer in Littleton, Colorado – so that helps explain how that could have occurred.

In those hand written notes questioned – that obviously did not happen and  am thinking at that time Ford did not care what Carroll "wanted" to occur.  The car he was probably envisioning was what ended up to be the Green Hornet – which was Inventory number 68st133 – painted by Sonny Fee and made in Ionia, not California. 

As a side note to Eric's comments - 67st102 – the 1967 Shelby GT500 prototype was also shipped to Ionia from California and sat in the Ionia engineering garage and was a 1968 fiberglass and fit test car for the duration of the 1968 year – so another 1967 car that received 1968 fiberglass.  This was explained to me by Fred Goodell Jr about 20 years ago. (I still have the email)  The car still wore that 1968 fiberglass while serving as a shop class car in an Ionia prison for over thirty years.  67st102 is not listed on this inventory document because it was donated to the prison on December 31, 1968.  The car still has the dried label maker adhesive of 67st102 on its windshield today.

[propayne]

Wonderful info -

- Phillip

[whiteykr]

Thanks to all of you.Gary,thanks for the photo of the front of the car. I find this a fascinating and interesting topic.
Brad

[BGlover67]

I really expected the documentary to be better.  Did I miss them mentioning the connection of the first GT500 fastback (100), first GT 500 Convertible (139) and first GT500 notchback (Lil Red).  I think that's where the story gets interesting. 

[Richstang]

Thanks to everyone for continuing the discussion on LR after Shelby American closed in August 1967. These are some excellent details. After decades of the stories of a 'CRUSHED" 'Little Red', we really do have to question everything written in the past. Asking for proof to substantiate those points is the best approach to dismissing fact from fiction.

I don't recall seeing any documents specifically stating when LR #00131 was sent to Ionia (or AO Smith).

That hand written letter, likely from late July, listing Jobs to be completed in California, does notes it should remain in CA (after the Shelby American LAX location closure). There is no indication it would be shipped to Michigan at that time. Perhaps that was only the SAI plan. Ford may have had other requirements since they took over the Company a month prior. http://www.1967shelbyconvertible.com/documentation/original-documents/ionia-move-jobs-yet-to-be-completed-in-california.asp
This next link below, again to the handwritten letter, is the only place I recall seeing #00131 referred to as "GT EXP"...not exactly official and not exactly the same as the side stripes lettering 'EXP 500". http://www.1967shelbyconvertible.com/documentation/original-documents/ionia-move-vehicles-remaining-in-california.asp

That January 24, 1969 Shelby Automotive list of Engineering Vehicles posted above certainly does indicate LR was already in Michigan. When it was sent is a great question! As mentioned, we see the paperwork in the documentary that Craig Jackson talks about. It refers to #00131 as a 'GTS-500/65'. This confirms it's the hardtop by the 65 code. The engine is referred to as a S428-4V, No AC, Auto, & Steel Wheels. That supports the first owners' recollection of #00131 in the documentary. Since the 428 was not certified by the EPA to sell with a Paxton, that had to be removed legally to dispose/sell it. The "EXTRAS" noted are only a '69 sequence flasher.

I also wish both documentaries shared more detailed information on the cars with less promotion on Barrett-Jackson. They briefly mention the other two cars of the first production GT500s trio. Both documentaries were likely made for the entertainment of the masses of auto enthusiasts, not necessarily our Shelby community who strive for more detailed info. It might be disappointing to us, yes, but it was still entertaining and good for the Shelby community as a whole.

[Side-Oilers]

Rich, great info as always.  But, just as a point of discussion...

"Since the 428 was not certified by the EPA to sell with a Paxton, that had to be removed legally to dispose/sell it."


The EPA wasn't created until Dec 1970.

I would think that the decision on removing the blower probably had more to do with product liability than with smog.

Other thoughts?

[Richstang]

Rich, great info as always.  But, just as a point of discussion...

"Since the 428 was not certified by the EPA to sell with a Paxton, that had to be removed legally to dispose/sell it."


The EPA wasn't created until Dec 1970.

I would think that the decision on removing the blower probably had more to do with product liability than with smog.

Other thoughts?

Thanks Van!!!
Excellent point on the EPA. That handwritten letter only mentions Federal Certification on a few cars, likely for the '68 model year. (Thanks for the info on the EPA not yet in the conversation until late 1970.) To your point, neither might have mattered since it would have been sold as a used car.

Yes, absolutely, a product liability concern would warrant the removal of the supercharger. another great point!

[roddster]

  Although true that the EPA was started in 1970 (ah, President Nixon, got that libbies?) there was Federal Emission Requirements, EI - the PVC system required in California based sales in 1966, then all 50 states in 1968.

[1968]

Does anyone know why it has air conditioning registers in the dash?  It looks like there is no a/c compressor or other a/c parts under the hood.  I presume that the a/c setup would not work/fit with the dual Paxton superchargers?