1967 Shelby - fiberglass nose - 2 pieces?

[Richstang]

Up until recently I had only read about a 2 piece fiberglass nose. I had never seen one, not even in photos. (Keep in mind I've been collecting photos of each and every '67 I find for several years now, about 850 so far.) I started looking for more info about it (roughly when they started and stopped), but can't find anything. They must be extremely rare. I don't recall the topic ever being discussed on the old forum. I'm hoping someone might know a bit more to share.

Recently, Randy (owner of #0031) sent me a photo of a red GT500 with this unusual 2 piece nose split right down the center of the grille. Neither of us know the ID number, but it is an early build with a slanted grille. I don't believe it's a double digit car since it has plates for the light mounting. It appears at the Mustang Roundup in Washington every few years. Maybe someone knows the car and can share the ID number.

Tonight I came across a second car with the 2 piece nose. It is another GT500 this time painted in Dark Moss Green. Unfortunately there is no ID on this one either. It is stated to be an early car built in 1966 (SJ or LAX is not noted, but I strongly suspect that is a SJ date). It also has a slanted grille and plates for the light mounting. It was restored by Dragon Wheel Restorations and is pictured on their website.

Anyone else know of another car with this 2 piece nose. Please let us know.


EDIT #1: List of cars known or believed to have a 2 piece fiberglass nose.

#0344  GT500 SJ build 12/22/66 -SA completion 1/24/67  Slanted grille (photos) added 5/19/21
#0345  GT500 SJ build 12/27/66 -SA completion 1/06/67  Slanted grille (photos/registry) added 10/28/18
#0376  GT500 SJ build 12/30/66 -SA completion 1/26/67  Slanted grille (photos)
#0403  GT350 SJ build 12/30/66 -SA completion 1/27/67  Slanted grille (owner note "KPHartley" on SAAC forum) added 5/15/18, update 12/5/18
#0413  GT500 SJ build 1/5/67     -SA completion 1/30/67  Slanted grille (photos OwenK)
#0458  GT500 SJ build 1/7/67     -SA completion 1/30/67  Slanted grille (photos RandyS)
#0467  GT500 SJ build 1/6/67     -SA completion 1/27/67  Vertical grille (Shelby forums owner note / photo JS)
#0482  GT500 SJ build 1/9/67     -SA completion 1/27/67  Slanted grille (SAAC forum note "Wedgeman") updated 11/28/18
#0486  GT500 SJ build 1/9/67     -SA completion 1/31/67  Vertical grille (owner notes plates not bands)
#0500  GT500 SJ build 1/10/67   -SA completion 1/31/67  Stanted grille (registry footnotes)
#0504  GT500 SJ build 1/9/67     -SA completion 1/30/67  Stanted grille (owner reported)
#0515  GT350 SJ build 1/4/67     -SA completion 1/31/67  Slanted grille (owner photos)
#0772  GT500 SJ build 1/23/67   -SA completion 2/27/67  Vertical grille (Survivor -SAAC 38 - Chairman's Award)
#0803  GT500 SJ build 1/24/67   -SA completion 3/3/67    Vertical grille (Survivor -SAAC 32 - Chairman's Award)
#0817  GT500 SJ build 1/26/67   -SA completion 2/16/67  Vertical grille? (registry photo)
#0906  GT500 SJ build 1/30/67   -SA completion 3/1/67    Vertical grille (photos from internet) added 11/26/18


EDIT #2; CORRECTIONS made to dates for #0500 5/21/2021

EDIT #3; added #0344
EDIT #4; added #0504 and #0817

[owenkelley]

#413 is currently undergoing a restoration and has the two piece nose. Nightmist Blue GT500.

[Richstang]

Thanks Owen,

#0413 has a 1/30/67 SA completion date. It appears to have a slanted grille (probably a 2 piece with the plates for the light mounting also)
That's a good start.

You may have posted 2 photos of #0413 on the old forum (painted white with a bold single black stripe over the hood scoop, roof and trunk.)
The 2 piece nose is hidden by a bent bumper in that photo.

[Wedgeman]

The Red 67 GT500 with the 2 piece nose is #458 owned by Mike Vercheak in Renton WA..member of WASAAC...

[Richstang]

THANKS Wedgeman,

Now we have two cars both with SA completion dates of 1/30/67 with the 2 piece nose.

[JD]

I have some images of a two-piece nose, which is thought to not be a factory version as per Bob's comment below.  Don't remember where I got them was either for sale on e-pay or the old "crashed" forum.

It's in primer and outside on the ground against a wall with a clamp holding the two side together. Rich is that one of the one you have?? 

It's unique, other than the two-piece construction, the fender light openings have deep pockets with a back that I think the head light bucket got screwed to with a hole for the wires and socket to fit through.

JD

[Bob Gaines]

I have some images of a two-piece nose, don't remember where I got them was either for sale on e-pay or the old "crashed" forum.

It's in primer and outside on the ground against a wall with a clamp holding the two side together. Rich is that one of the one you have?? 

It's unique, other than the two-piece construction, the fender light openings have deep pockets with a back that I think the head light bucket got screwed to with a hole for the wires and socket to fit through.

JD

JD I don't think that was a factory nose in the picture. I think the nose with the headlight bucket made into it was a early repro part.

[Bob Gaines]

The two piece nose was constructed of the fiberglass weave mat just like the one piece nose that was used before and after . It wasn't until much later the the chop gun texture fiberglass material was used . 

[2112]

I imagine they tried the two piece nose was developed to save installation time?

Abandoned cause I didn't save time?

Kelly, are you restoring local to you ?

[George Schalk]

GT500 #772 is a survivor with a 2 piece nose.

[JD]

JD I don't think that was a factory nose in the picture. I think the nose with the headlight bucket made into it was a early repro part.

Bob, OK - thanks for the education, I'll adjust the reply above.

[Richstang]

JD,

The photo you posted does NOT appear to be from either of the two cars I've noted with a 2 piece nose. Here's the link to the Dark Moss Green car restored in England at Dragon Wheels Restoration. They have a second DMG car restoration, so this link we direct you to the 2 piece nose car only. They show pictures of over a dozen Shelby restorations on their site. I'll only say that these photos should not be followed for reference.
http://dragonwheelsrestorations.co.uk/gallery_car.asp?cID=64&car=1967%5FShelby%5FGT500%5FDark%5FMoss%5FGreen

[Richstang]

GT500 #772 is a survivor with a 2 piece nose.

THANKS George...for noting #0772 as a survivor and with a 2 piece nose.
I noticed it was at SAAC 38 in Fontana winning a Chairman's Award, well done. The only photo of it I found of it is not very clear. It looks like it might have a straight/vertical grille. Is that correct?

I'll start a list in the first post here noting the SJ and LAX date for each car found with a 2 piece nose.
Maybe we can narrow down the time frame when they were produced and how they compare.

[Bob Gaines]

I imagine they tried the two piece nose was developed to save installation time?

Abandoned cause I didn't save time?

Kelly, are you restoring local to you ?

I believe it had a lot to do with how hard it was to fit the first early one piece fiberglass nose. They were being taken out of the molds early before totally curing causing them to slightly warp and making it hard to bend them into position for installation is my understanding . I suppose there was pressure on the mfg to turn out as many nose units as possible which lead to the situation. The two piece was supposed to help with that situation. They didn't look as good is my guess but there could have been other issues. They are interesting blip in the production time line but not as nice as the one piece IMO. The problem was discovered and solved by better fiberglass production practices at the very least because they went back to the one piece style nose for the rest of production.

[JD]

JD,
The photo you posted does NOT appear to be from either of the two cars I've noted with a 2 piece nose. Here's the link to the Dark Moss Green car restored in England at Dragon Wheels Restoration. They have a second DMG car restoration, so this link we direct you to the 2 piece nose car only. They show pictures of over a dozen Shelby restorations on their site. I'll only say that these photos should not be followed for reference.
http://dragonwheelsrestorations.co.uk/gallery_car.asp?cID=64&car=1967%5FShelby%5FGT500%5FDark%5FMoss%5FGreen

Rich & Bob, see attached image from the car Rich posted a link to that is in England.  It seems to match the one I posted in an earlier reply that Bob says is thought to be a repro of some sort.  I'm sure they made more than one of them - here's another or are there variations of 2-piece noses?  (just a thought for discussion)  Another image added...

Also, odd that the right (passenger side) inboard grille light mounting plate has two holes for the wiring and connector (maybe I can sell him 5 instead of the typical 4?).