25K mile '69 GT350

[2112]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-shelby-mustang-gt350-3/



This 1970 Shelby Mustang GT350 fastback was built on February 11, 1969 and sold by Canyon Ford in Phoenix, Arizona on January 25, 1970 to its original owners, with whom it remained until 1989. The car was purchased by Craig Jackson and resold to its next owner in Phoenix the same year, and was stored by that owner's family from his passing until the selling dealer's acquisition in January 2021. Finished in Acapulco Blue over black knitted vinyl, it is powered by a 351ci Windsor V8 mated to a four-speed manual transmission and features power-assisted steering and front disc brakes as well as air conditioning, a fold-down rear seat, and an eight-track stereo. This GT350 shows 25k miles is offered with copies of its original sales paperwork, early invoices and registration documents, a Deluxe Marti Report, and a clean Arizona title.

Production of the Shelby Mustang ceased after the company's partnership with Ford was terminated midway through 1969, though approximately 780 unsold final-year GT350s and GT500s were marketed as 1970 models and assigned corresponding VIN numbers. Styling revisions distinct to the 1970 model year included a chin spoiler and twin black hood stripes. This example is one of only five 1970 GT350 fastbacks finished in Acapulco Blue (65) with a black interior according to the Marti Report. A 1992 invoice notes a $146 repair for refinishing of the right rear quarter panel. Paint meter readings are provided in the photo gallery below.

Five-spoke 15" alloy wheels wear Cobra center caps, polished lips, and Goodyear Eagle RH tires. The car is equipped with power-assisted steering and brakes, the latter of which feature Kelsey-Hayes discs up front and drums out back. A 1973 Arizona license plate bearing the number PJH-340 is mounted at the rear, matching the number seen on registration documents beginning in 1973.

The cabin is trimmed in black knitted vinyl with horizontal red stripes on each of its high-backed bucket seats. Color-keyed upholstery covers the optional Sport Deck folding rear seat and door panels, while faux teak accents the doors, dash, and center console. Additional options include SelectAire air conditioning, an AM radio and eight-track player, the Visibility Group package, and a seat belt warning light. A roll bar with inertia-reel harnesses was standard on the Shelby Mustang.

A three-spoke steering wheel frames a 140-mph speedometer and a tachometer flanked by coolant temperature and fuel indicators, while an oil pressure gauge and ammeter are mounted ahead of the shifter. The five-digit odometer shows 25k miles.

The 351ci V8 breathes through a four-barrel carburetor fed by a NACA duct in the hood, with similar ducts to either side provided for engine bay cooling. The powerplant was factory-rated at 290 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque. Service since the selling dealer's acquisition included an alternator rebuild as well as replacement of the fuel pump and battery. The removed fuel pump is included in the sale.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a wide-ratio four-speed manual transmission and a 3.00:1 rear end. Additional underside photos are included in the gallery below.  The buyer's order lists options and the original delivery date as well as a total price of $5,236.80 before a $4,100 trade-in credit. Copies of registration cards from 1970 through 1986 are shown in the gallery along with a 1989 letter from the original owner's wife describing the car's early history.

[shelbymann1970]

Nice car. I'm trying to find out if it has a dist advance and which one is on it.

[557]

Cool color combo.Louvers should go.

[2112]

I love the louvers. Period correct and functional.

[1175]

Being on the overall lower end of the Shelby Mustang price spectrum, this is a very nice combo!

Jon

[shelbymann1970]

While considered on the lower end of the spectrum I consider a 68 302 auto the lowest. A 4 speed air car is rare. There are many in the south who want air for their classics and have to settle for an automatic. Being a factory 4 speed air put the demand higher for a car like this plus the originality IMHO. Michael I love the louvers on this car also. They look great. Gary

[Survivor]

Did I miss it in the description-has the car been restored or is it being listed as a survivor.

[shelbymann1970]

Did I miss it in the description-has the car been restored or is it being listed as a survivor.

Many years ago Mopar Muscle did an article on how to tell original paint. They used my friend's 1971 HEMI Challenger as a test. To a TEE they said original paint cars the paint is thinner on top and thicker on the sides because of paint breakdown, waxing and polishing. My friend's cars reading bore this out. On repainted car the top sides the paint is always thicker. Paint readings on this car the thinnest areas appear to be the lower sides and the top surfaces thick. So you be the judge on this. Gary

[Survivor]

ok-I'm no paint expert so I have no reason to question your feedback.  Is there a "paint" guy out there that could weigh in on the meter readings as shown in the auction photos.

[shelbymann1970]

ok-I'm no paint expert so I have no reason to question your feedback.  Is there a "paint" guy out there that could weigh in on the meter readings as shown in the auction photos.

I just did a search for finding out paint thickness on classic cars. Didn't find what i was looking for. I remember the article on my friends car and it stuck in my head what they said about the thickness on horizontal surfaces and vertical ones from original paint and a respray. I will not say this Shelby was repainted but I posed it to the seller since the cowl panel was removed and it appears some black paint sprayed where it shouldn't be in the cowl area. The seller does not claim original paint as far as I have read. I'm not claiming it isn't either just that the paint thickness if he is measuring right seems to go against what I have learned about original paint. Maybe Jason B or Chris B can shed some light as expert restorers? Still a really nice original car.

[Survivor]

Agreed on what appears to be a very original car.  Spoke to a very reputable shop yesterday afternoon about the paint.  With respect to the thickness rule, he noted that often times the factory "paint guys" would get lazy/inconsistent in the manner in which they sprayed i.e., not bending down along the bottom half of the car, rushing thru the process etc.  Easy enough to understand and, while he does agree with the common sense rule that the top paint should be thinner than the sides, his point makes an accurate determination all but impossible-that is unless the seller can prove otherwise.  And this seller has not done that as far he could tell from the documents and info. provided.  He also questioned the paint quality/consistency around the driver side door plate-he felt the area had been "scratched/rubbed" to the point where a different shade of blue was visible.  A better/higher resolution picture of that area would help answer that question.  Anyway, without the benefit of a thorough on sight inspection and/or documentation from the seller and all things being equal, he felt it was not likely the car was "all" original paint which begs the question-why would an extremely low mileage car receive paint work... especially one that seems to have been so well cared for.  They also found some incorrect and missing pieces under the hood-nothing major but again, inconsistent with this type of pedigree.  Just their $.02-not mine.  Still a terrific car.

[polyglas]

If the sheet metal has more than 4 mil reading on the Elcometer it has most likely been repainted. Typical 69 Dearborn Paint was 2.0-3.5 mil. My 2021 truck is about 12.5 mil average. Hard to duplicate  60's paint using current products.

[2112]

If I am reading his gauge correctly, it seems to range from 1.43 to 2.89 mil.

[polyglas]

Perfect reading for original paint!

[2112]

$143,000 all in.