Factory sunroof ordered by Shelby in 1969 ???

[Coralsnake]

I reviewed that bulletin. My copy is not very good, however this is my take away

The memo refers to Cougars and Thunderbirds (not Shelbys)

Shelby engineering was likely doing research for Ford at this time.

There is nothing in the memo to support a Mustang version

[Coralsnake]

Here's a 1969 Galpin ad with a " hardtop convertible "

[J_Speegle]

Here's a 1969 Galpin ad with a " hardtop convertible "

Nice find Pete. Yes appears that Galpin, as usual was doing things other dealers were not.

Here are a couple of additional pictures on the subject

Believe both of these examples are Galpin cars now that I look at them and notes. May be the same car (at different stages of live while at Galpin) or different ones. Easy to see that both are ASC style design. With the car below wonder how many parade that one was in.





To of the page of one of their newspaper ads announcing the rumble seat option. Easier to read this way Galpin was not your "normal" or typical Ford dealer by any means IMO





And a 68 San Jose built coupe with sun roof - not listed on Marti. Originally sold by Towne Ford in Redwood City




And lastly - this post. A close up of what was left of the companies sticker applied to a 65 or 66 coupe they added a sun roof to at some point





This whole discussion reminds me of the vinyl top fastbacks that we use to find from time to time in Calif. Same sort of adding things to make cars stand out and sell especially in the later months of the production year when sales slumped. That was an Acme Top, out of LA thing. But that's another thread and discussion.   

[98SVT - was 06GT]

Shelby engineering was likely doing research for Ford at this time.

There was no "Shelby Engineering". Ford did all the engineering on Mustangs (even on the 427 Cobra chassis) All the 1965 chassis changes were developed by Ford. Ford sent their guys to SA to design the 67 (there were no "Shelby" chassis changes). The 68 was done at Ford (again Ford styling and available Mustang mechanicals only). SA had closed down as a manufacturer mid 67. Shelby Automotive was created and wholly owned by Ford (to isolate them from any Shelby American liabilities) and Ford engineers/stylists did all the work.

As of the 5-10-68 date Shelby was merely the advertising face of Ford's Shelby Automotive. His Shelby Racing Company had a contract to run in the TransAm series. They did no engineering on those cars either. The 67 cars were built by SA to specs provided by Kar Kraft. The 68 and 69 cars were built and provided by Kar Kraft. The 68 cars were sold (last years race car) and when Shelby's race contract expired (end of 69 TA season) the 69 cars went to Bud Moore since they could easily be converted to 1970 cars. 

[Coralsnake]

There was no "Shelby Engineering". Ford did all the engineering on Mustangs

You are mistaken. Shelby engineers were Ford employees however there work was separate and distinct from the parent company. They had their own facilities in Ionia that were not in the AOSmith building. Several came from California.

The group and their work is referenced in numerous documents

Some of the work was subcontracted out of that department to other vendors and engineers that did not work for Ford.

One example is the 1969 EFI program, Shelby Engineering worked with the subcontractor Conelec to develop and test the cars. Ford had very little involvement in the actual program  and the actual work was done in New York.

The archaic characterization of Shelby not being involved after 1967 is false. The 1968 - 1969 cars were created and produced by three separate entities, Ford, Shelby and AO Smith. That is what ultimately doomed the program.

You also state 68 and 69 cars were built by Kar Kraft. That is also incorrect. They were built by AOSmith. 1970 cars were modified by Kar Kraft, but only after being built as 1969 models by AOSmith. Engineering vehicles were not modified by Kar Kraft, but rather Shelby Engineering

 

[98SVT - was 06GT]

There was no "Shelby Engineering". Ford did all the engineering on Mustangs

You are mistaken. Shelby engineers were Ford employees

That's what I was trying to point out. They were Ford engineers assigned to Ford's Mustang model that carried the Shelby name. Just like F150 or Pinto engineers they had no tie to or input from CS. The same business model happened again with the 2005 GT500. It was done totally inhouse by Ford engineers before CS ever set eyes on it. Ford marketing had found that SVO, SVT and even the Cobra moniker did not produce the amount of sales needed to justify building performance Mustangs. Someone struck upon the idea of again using CS as the face of Ford Performance and sales went through the roof.

[TA Coupe]

"This whole discussion reminds me of the vinyl top fastbacks that we use to find from time to time in Calif. Same sort of adding things to make cars stand out and sell especially in the later months of the production year when sales slumped. That was an Acme Top, out of LA thing. But that's another thread and discussion.  "

Jeff, don't forget that 6s001 had a vinal top.

    Roy

[tesgt350]

"This whole discussion reminds me of the vinyl top fastbacks that we use to find from time to time in Calif. Same sort of adding things to make cars stand out and sell especially in the later months of the production year when sales slumped. That was an Acme Top, out of LA thing. But that's another thread and discussion.  "

Jeff, don't forget that 6s001 had a vinal top.

    Roy

I used to own a Red 1970 Fastback Mustang.  White Interior, I6 Engine with Automatic Trans and it also had a FULL White Vinyl Top.  I do have a Photo of it.

[shelbymann1970]

Here's a 1969 Galpin ad with a " hardtop convertible "

This whole discussion reminds me of the vinyl top fastbacks that we use to find from time to time in Calif. Same sort of adding things to make cars stand out and sell especially in the later months of the production year when sales slumped. That was an Acme Top, out of LA thing. But that's another thread and discussion.   

I first saw this 70 Mach1 in 1984. Yellow with a vinyl top. A good friend later owned the car. The 69 Shelby vinned Boss 302 is next to it in its "1984" trim.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

"This whole discussion reminds me of the vinyl top fastbacks that we use to find from time to time in Calif.

to

Dealer added to up their profits. They always had a little extra sticker next to the maroni that listed thing like vinyl top, mag wheels, wheel locks, alarms, etc - all at twice the price you could get them for on the open market.

[68blk500c]

Stumbled upon this Golde Sunroof ad from April 1965:
see attachment

[69scj]

Here's a 1969 Galpin ad with a " hardtop convertible "

Nice find Pete. Yes appears that Galpin, as usual was doing things other dealers were not.

Here are a couple of additional pictures on the subject

Believe both of these examples are Galpin cars now that I look at them and notes. May be the same car (at different stages of live while at Galpin) or different ones. Easy to see that both are ASC style design. With the car below wonder how many parade that one was in.





To of the page of one of their newspaper ads announcing the rumble seat option. Easier to read this way Galpin was not your "normal" or typical Ford dealer by any means IMO





And a 68 San Jose built coupe with sun roof - not listed on Marti. Originally sold by Towne Ford in Redwood City




And lastly - this post. A close up of what was left of the companies sticker applied to a 65 or 66 coupe they added a sun roof to at some point





This whole discussion reminds me of the vinyl top fastbacks that we use to find from time to time in Calif. Same sort of adding things to make cars stand out and sell especially in the later months of the production year when sales slumped. That was an Acme Top, out of LA thing. But that's another thread and discussion.   

They do have different wheels but could still possibly be the same car.