THE RAILROAD CARS

[67_1183]

Hi Rail fans,
A quick note 2621 also had body damage which was evident when you looked inside the trunk,right 1/4 panel was replaced-it was bought at a deep discount, which we assume was due to this
repair,and first registered as a 1967 Chevy G.T. 350  in California. So far that is 3 cars all with damage on the right side. Now you know what I know. Thanks to all who continue to attempt to
figure out a 51 year old case.
Regards R.R.

Chevy must be a typo, a bad typo.

[gt350cs]

I don't believe that was a necessarily typo. I seem to recall some cars being sold through Chevrolet dealership, but I could be wrong. California DMV has been known to make mistakes like this due to uneducated staff. That is not a dig on these people. I am simply saying the we do not know what we do not know as Donald Rumsfeld would say.

[Richstang]

Another Train Derailment car found!

Brittany Blue GT350 ...Based on the owner noted in the article it should be #2240.

direct link to photos;
http://www.mustangandfords.com/features/1904-infamous-train-derailment-shelby/photo-gallery/#/

or

direct link to article;
http://www.mustangandfords.com/features/1904-infamous-train-derailment-shelby/


EDIT: This is the same car 'TLea' noted in reply #40 and 'cbrown" mentions a few posts later

[JD]

Alert Road Reptile!!  More here than we've had in years.  Thanks

[Richstang]

Imagine the amount and variety of swear words that came out of CS's mouth that day!

Considering the 'late June / early July' date of the derailment, Ford likely had taken over the entire Shelby production operation by that point.
CS wouldn't have even blinked an eye at the disaster, maybe he didn't even know about it. since it wasn't his mess to deal with.

With hoards of '67 inventory to move, Ford (or CS) would benefit from the accident. It was 14 (or 15) less units to move through dealers.
The article mentions the undamaged cars were sold at invoice. Seems the railroad was responsible for the entire lot of cars.
I do think there were 15 cars (each rail car had three rows; 5 cars per row make sense.)

[Richstang]

Another one of the 14 (or 15) Railroad derailment cars #2270 just sold on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Shelby-GT350-/183765873297?hash=item2ac94cb291%3Ag%3AOycAAOSwIGBcqo%7Em&nma=true&si=TICahwO8prJxiSfDy6TlUqF7nLg%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Most of you may already know the Marti Report notes 'Southern Pacific Rail Road' as the Dealer
One of the 'Z' stamped VIN plate cars too.

[greekz]

One of the four ( including my #2339) being sent to Larry Lange Ford, Cedar Falls, IA.  Hopefully, the new owner will join us here and I can add his/her name to my spreadsheet.

[GT350DAVE]

Another one of the 14 (or 15) Railroad derailment cars #2270 just sold on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Shelby-GT350-/183765873297?hash=item2ac94cb291%3Ag%3AOycAAOSwIGBcqo%7Em&nma=true&si=TICahwO8prJxiSfDy6TlUqF7nLg%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Most of you may already know the Marti Report notes 'Southern Pacific Rail Road' as the Dealer
One of the 'Z' stamped VIN plate cars too.

I think this eBay listing just ended and the car did not sell.

[2112]

Another one of the 14 (or 15) Railroad derailment cars #2270 just sold on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Shelby-GT350-/183765873297?hash=item2ac94cb291%3Ag%3AOycAAOSwIGBcqo%7Em&nma=true&si=TICahwO8prJxiSfDy6TlUqF7nLg%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Most of you may already know the Marti Report notes 'Southern Pacific Rail Road' as the Dealer
One of the 'Z' stamped VIN plate cars too.

Nice looking car.

[Richstang]

This YouTube video was just sent to me by Brian Styles.
Although it focuses on brand X, it is informative on the basic methods of shipping from the factory to the dealers in that era.
It seems the biggest issue was theft from the cars being exposed when sitting stationary on the rail cars.

Certainly we can see that (on many cars) in the '67 footnotes with missing spare tires and antennas that were shipped unassembled in the trunk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTtcPxSag50

[roddster]

  Richstang and all:  Yes, back then the railroad cars were open.  I worked at the Chrysler (Dodge and Plymouth too) predelivery center at 101st and Stoney Island ave in Chicago.  It was next to a rail delivery yard (to also transfer the new cars to transport trucks).  Often parts were borrowed by "Midnite Auto supply" personnel.  Especially cool items like the hood pin lanyards, pins and plates.

[Shelby_r_b]

Great info!  This also helps explain why some of the 66s came missing simple items.  Apparently, cigarette lighters were a hot item...pun intended 

[Side-Oilers]

Great film, Rich, thanks for sharing! 

I wonder how long those Vertipak carriers for Vegas (and/or other cars) were used?

Seems like a really bad way to transport a car, in terms of what happens to all the fluids when it's standing on end.

[KR Convertible]

Vegas were probably designed not to leak when vertical.  Horizontal was a whole different story!!   

[Side-Oilers]

Ha!  I wouldn't doubt it.